Epilepsy Berkshire exists to give support to those living with epilepsy:  to educate the community and organisations about epilepsy, to facilitate a sense of community ensuring that people do not feel isolated, to bring those together in a social environment where they can feel safe and supported giving support to the newly diagnosed, with help where necessary, such as guidance to organisations that can help them.

We are now seeking to recruit a volunteer to help us develop our newly formed charity.  We are looking for an enthusiastic person who has experience and management skills required for this. 

Currently, there are some support groups in the Berkshire area that offer coffee and chat meetings once a month for those living with epilepsy and their carers. These are supported by a national charity Epilepsy Action.

The purpose of Epilepsy Berkshire is to take the support of people living with epilepsy and their carers to another level and expand the help given first in the Reading area and then eventually to develop through the Berkshire area completely.  Now that EB has taken its first steps it wishes to develop further with a support group which is to be formed in St Nicolas Church Earley for the greater Reading area.  The charity has been successful in carrying out fundraising and is discussing plans to use the funds raised for activities to benefit its clients.  A volunteer with the relevant experience and management skills would be an asset in providing leadership and organisation in helping achieve the Charity’s goals with the existing Officers; especially in publicising and promoting EB in order to encourage those diagnosed with epilepsy and their carers to join us.

What Qualifications and Skills are needed?

• Leadership and management skills: e.g. strategic thinking, organising, communication, team building, financial and problem-solving
• Social skills: e.g. having empathy with those who are living with a disability such as epilepsy
• An experienced person who ideally, but not essentially, has worked in the charity sector
• Access to a pc would be required and the candidate would have suitable IT skills

The volunteer would benefit from having contact with those who are living with epilepsy and have the knowledge that there is a challenge to be met, which if successful, could be a major step in providing a significant improvement in community-based resources for this group.  The volunteer would be self-motivated and be available during weekdays.  Support and contact for the volunteer would be available from other volunteer Officers of the charity.