Our Chief Executive, Lesslie Young talks about our Epilepsy Friendly Award.
Many people with epilepsy are anxious about accessing their local community, businesses and services for fear of having a seizure in public.
Also, People living with epilepsy worry about suffering injury. They also worry about being verbally abused, since the condition is often misunderstood.
As Scotland’s national epilepsy charity, we want to make sure that people can access businesses and services confidently and safely.
Our Epilepsy Friendly Award (EFA) educates businesses and their employees to be more aware of epilepsy and what to do if someone has a seizure. Also, the EFA recognises businesses that have made adjustments to ensure that they are accessible to people with epilepsy.
Furthermore, the award demonstrates an ability and willingness to help people with epilepsy, should they require it.
Making your premises accessible does not mean making large or expensive changes. Small inexpensive adjustments can make a world of difference to a person living with epilepsy.
Epilepsy Friendly Award criteria
The criteria for achieving the award is simple. We also offer training and advice to help you meet the criteria.
- Train staff to recognise epilepsy and respond appropriately if they witness a seizure
- Make reasonable adjustments to your working environment
- Offer customer information on site and online to help people access your business.
- Promote awareness of epilepsy
- Encourage customer feedback
We are eager to make sure people living with epilepsy feel safe and confident accessing businesses and services.
We are therefore delighted that organisations like Specsavers Trongate, M&S Stirling and Celtic Football Club have made their premises Epilepsy Friendly.
Furthermore, the changes made is a significant step forward for people living with epilepsy.
If you like to join these organisations and make your business Epilepsy Friendly then please email Nicola Milne at NMilne@epilepsyscotland.org.uk or call 0131 659 4730.
Skydive
I survived my skydive on Saturday 20 July. It was a great experience and I would recommend it to anyone!
I faced my fears in support of the 55,000 people who are living with epilepsy and who face their fears on a daily basis.
Thank you to everyone who has donated and raised money for Epilepsy Scotland. I have raised almost £2,000 including Gift Aid. You can still donate by going to www.justgiving.com/fundraising/lesslie-young1.
Charity Times Awards
The Charity Times Awards have shortlisted Epilepsy Scotland for PR Team of the Year for our #TalkEpilepsy campaign.
Our campaign helped encourage people to make it their business to learn about epilepsy and to find out how to spot a seizure, how to keep someone safe, and also potentially save someone’s life.
The 20th annual Charity Times Awards celebrate best practice in the UK charity and not-for-profit sectors and takes place at the Park Plaza Westminister Bridge in London on Wednesday 2 October.
Also, we are the only Scottish based charity nominated. We are thrilled that our #TalkEpilepsy campaign has been recognised by The Charity Times Awards.
Fingers crossed!
