Llanelli Branch recognised for Llanelli being the most epilepsy aware town in the UK
Llanelli Branch of Epilepsy Action has won two national awards in recognition of its work for the UK’s largest member-led epilepsy charity. People from Llanelli are invited to attend the presentations and celebrate the branch’s sixteenth birthday.
The Llanelli Branch will collect the Branch of the Year Award, and David Morris will collect Epilepsy Action‘s Branch Member of the Year Award. David, a dedicated member of the branch, has been active in helping those with epilepsy through his devoted commitment to Epilepsy Action and its work. Both Awards will be presented at the branch’s annual general meeting from 6.30pm to 8.30pm on Wednesday 14 April at the Caemaen Day Centre, Coleshill Terrace, Llanelli.
The meeting is open to anyone with an interest in epilepsy. Professor Mike Kerr, professor of learning disability psychiatry from the School of Medicine Welsh Centre for Learning Disabilities from Cardiff University will give a talk during the meeting, and a buffet will be served at the end of the meeting. There will be opportunities to access detailed information about living with the condition and to learn how to get involved in raising epilepsy awareness in the area. If you are interested in joining the branch or attending the event, please contact Ann Sivapatham on 01633 744 302.
Ann Sivapatham, Epilepsy Action’s regional service manager for Wales said: “The branch’s recent work to promote the Epilepsy Aware scheme in Llanelli shows just how committed they are to supporting people with epilepsy and their families. All the pharmacies and GP practices in Llanelli have now signed up to Epilepsy Action’s epilepsy aware scheme. Llanelli has more pharmacies and practices signed up to the scheme than any other town, making it the most ‘epilepsy aware’ place in the UK. They have also campaigned for a Sapphire nurse in west Wales and recently been awarded £4,848 from Awards for All Cymru to help continue to raise the profile of epilepsy.”
Ann continues: “The branch started in 1994, and have had an active social calendar, organising evenings out, and supporting other branches become established. They organised ten advice and information days during 2009. They have involved members of parliament and assembly member, Helen Mary Jones, in their meetings.”
David Morris, who has been involved with the branch for around eight years, said: “I was both surprised and delighted to hear that I have won the Branch Member of the Year Award! I have enjoyed being involved with the branch and raising awareness of epilepsy, which is often misunderstood by the general public. I look forward to celebrating on our well-timed sixteenth birthday.”
Epilepsy Action is a registered charity and has a network of branches throughout the UK. Last year the organisation directly helped over over 688,000 people through its wide range of services, including its Epilepsy Helpline (0808 800 5050), advice and information centre and the organisation’s award-winning website, www.epilepsy.org.uk