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Accredited volunteer service provision

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Our Volunteers are trained to provide basic advice and information services in their own free time.

They are based throughout England, Wales and Northern Ireland and have knowledge of a range of epilepsy related topics such as:

  • The condition

  • Medical care and treatment

  • Pregnancy

  • Community care

  • Driving

  • Education

  • Employment

  • Insurance

  • Welfare benefits

  • Leisure activities

  • Disability Discrimination Act

  • Safety

  • First aid

Our volunteers provide their advice and information services in the following ways:

  • They give advice and information on an individual basis either face to face or over the telephone.

  • They give presentations to local groups.

  • They distribute epilepsy information materials to local services at request.

    • The Accredited volunteers also try to help with any other epilepsy related issue not included in the bulleted list above. Where they cannot help directly, they will do their best to provide contact details of another service or organisation better able to help with the query. In doing this, the Accredited volunteers are not making a recommendation.

    Our Accredited volunteers provide confidential advice and information to anyone living with epilepsy but will not tell them what to do. They can give general medical information but cannot offer a medical diagnosis or suggest treatment. They can give general information on legal and welfare benefit issues specifically related to epilepsy. They cannot take up people’s cases on their behalf.

    The service provided by Accredited volunteers is not a substitute for the medical advice of GPs, nurses or any other health care professional. For anyone concerned about health related matters they should consult their own nurse/doctor for specific medical advice.

    For anyone needing legal advice they should see a solicitor or contact their Citizen Advice Bureau, as the Accredited volunteers are not trained to deal with such matters.

    Our Accredited volunteers receive ongoing supervision and are trained annually on a range of epilepsy related issues and Epilepsy Action’s volunteer policies and procedures. The training is provided by Epilepsy Action’s advice and information services officers and conference and volunteer co-ordinator and, where available, local epilepsy specialist nurses.

    The Accredited volunteers are accredited (being assessed as having met set standards) to provide basic advice and information. In depth advice and information is provided by Epilepsy Action’s advice and information services team at the head office.

    Our Accredited volunteer Agreement is renewable annually with each volunteer. The agreement specifies the remits of the Accredited volunteers’ work and Epilepsy Action’s commitment and support for its volunteers.

    The Accredited volunteer service is provided by Epilepsy Action, which is a charitable and independent organisation.

    How to contact your local volunteer:

    • Telephone the freephone Epilepsy Helpline on 0808 800 5050 and explain what service you require. The lines are open Monday-Thursday 9.00am to 4.30pm, and Friday 9.00am-4.00pm.

    • Telephone Epilepsy Action’s head office on 0113 210 8800 and ask to speak to the conference and volunteer co-ordinator.

    • Email Epilepsy Action’s conference and volunteer co-ordinator: redgar@epilepsy.org.uk  

    • Write to the conference and volunteer co-ordinator free of charge at:
      FREEPOST LS0995
      Leeds
      LS19 7YY

    Epilepsy Action welcomes any comments about our services. We have a formal complaints procedure that we are happy to forward to you. Alternatively write directly to Monica Cooper, Epilepsy Services Manager.

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