New Name for Epilepsy Charity, the only UK wide charity supporting 112,000 young people. 01 November 2011

Young Epilepsy Ambassador Dai Greene was diagnosed with epilepsy at 17 and hasn’t let the condition get in the way of his athletics career striking Gold in Daegu this year.

Speaking on the day of the Launch of Young Epilepsy, previously known as the National Centre for Young People with Epilepsy, he said “I didn’t know too much about epilepsy until my own diagnosis. I think there is a lack of general understanding about epilepsy and believe more could be done in terms of education, in order to make people more aware of the condition.”

“Young Epilepsy does important work to help children and young people and so I’m delighted to support the charity and show that with the right support, epilepsy does not have to be a barrier to success.”

Young Epilepsy is the new name of the National Centre for Young People with Epilepsy, the only UK-wide charity exclusively supporting the 112,000 children and young people under 25 years of age with epilepsy and their families. Young Epilepsy is a leading provider of specialist education and health services to those most severely affected by epilepsy and related conditions.

The charity offers support and information for parents, carers and young people and provides epilepsy training for health, social care and education professionals and also schools. Young Epilepsy’s research programme facilitates national and international research collaboration into the treatment, care and support of children with epilepsy.

Youngsters with epilepsy are getting a poor deal from the education system, new research from the charity Young Epilepsy has revealed.

Young Epilepsy Chief Executive David Ford said: “Our research shows that children and young people with epilepsy are falling behind at school and getting a bad deal from the education system. Epilepsy is a complex condition and accessing good quality health and education services is a constant struggle for many families.

“Parents are also being let down with little support available to them. We are establishing a network of parental support groups that we plan to roll out nationally. As the voice of childhood epilepsy, we want to raise awareness and understanding of the condition and improve access to, and quality of, health and education services for those affected by epilepsy.”