Encephalitis International (formerly the Encephalitis Society) is a not-for-profit organisation providing information and support for those affected by encephalitis, an inflammation of the brain, raising awareness and funding and collaborating on research on the condition.
The organisation provides support and opportunities to connect for individuals and families whose lives have been impacted by encephalitis. It funds, collaborates, and promotes research into all aspects of this condition. It also raises awareness of encephalitis among the public and medical and health professionals.
Encephalitis International provides support and information to people affected by encephalitis directly or indirectly, raises awareness of encephalitis, and drives research into the neurological condition by working with a variety of professionals and organisations from health, social care, and education globally.
Support and information
The Support Service at Encephalitis International provides support and information via telephone helpline, email, online chat on their website, and Zoom sessions on request. The charity holds virtual webinars and support groups, as well as face-to-face events, weekends for children and their families, and adult retreats. It also developed a global volunteer scheme called Team Encephalitis. It provides a language line on request for its worldwide audience.
Encephalitis International has a resource library[1] on paper and online, and provides information in digital formats: e-learning, animations and videos (e.g., Youtube[2]). In 2019 there were 20,157 downloads of information from the website, and enquiries increased by 50% from 49.5 million people across 189 countries through WED.[3]
During the COVID-19 Pandemic, Encephalitis International introduced more online support initiatives, including an Encephalitis Support Forum, Virtual Gatherings and The Encephalitis Podcast.
Research
Encephalitis International funds and collaborates on research into encephalitis and its consequences. It holds an international annual conference for professionals on the condition.
It collaborates with a worldwide brain infectious group, and other encephalitis organisations worldwide.
The charity awards annual grant funding through seed funding, PhD and Fellowships. They also give travel bursaries to medical students and junior physicians in low-to-middle income countries to attend the Encephalitis Conference.
It works in partnership with other neurological charities and health organisations at national and international level, to support rapid diagnosis and access to services.
Its Scientific Advisory Panel consists of experts in encephalitis, including as of 2023[update]Tom Solomon, Angela Vincent, and Barbara Wilson. The vice chair of the panel is Benedict Michael, and the chair is Nicholas Davies.[4]
A Global Impact Report developed by Encephalitis International identified a range of difficulties and solutions to the global impact of encephalitis which could save lives and improve the treatment and after-care of millions of people today and into the future. A working group was put together between the WHO and the Encephalitis International resulting in the launch of the report in and an initial meeting (2022) where global partners and stakeholders, including WHO, discussed how to tackle encephalitis urgently in the coming years.[5]
Fundraising
Encephalitis International is supported by a range of individual, company and grant-making supporters. Individual supporters are encouraged to take part in a range of physical, digital and other challenges through the charity's Fundraise For Us webpages as well as helping support the charity financially through making one-off, regular and appeal based donations. In 2023, Encephalitis International's "Don't Delay: Give Today" appeal raised over £43,000 from supporters across the world towards beginning the design and implementation of training opportunities for medical professionals globally.
Encephalitis International works with a range of local, national, and international organisations in partnerships that demonstrate their shared vision of a world aware of encephalitis, inspire and unite colleagues, and bring lasting benefits for the organisation and the 500,000 people affected by encephalitis worldwide. On their "become a corporate partner" webpages, these organisations are listed from a range of sectors such as pharmaceutical, diagnostic, legal, travel health and marketing. In 2023, the charity launched its 22 Club, inviting supporters from the business world to join this networking club with funds raised going towards the delivery of the award-winning awareness campaign World Encephalitis Day, taking place on 22 February each year.
Encephalitis International is supported by a range of charitable trusts and foundations as well as philanthropists. In 2021, the Changemakers Collaborative was launched to bring together individuals and organisations positioned to help fund crucial projects that will help achieve the charity's mission of a world without death and disability from encephalitis.
Statistics
Over half a million people a year worldwide are affected by encephalitis.[3] 6,000 children and adults in the UK are affected with the condition each year (Case for Support 2021 Pg.4)
Mortality, depending on the cause, is up to 40%.[6]
77% of people around the world do not know what encephalitis is.[3]
Encephalitis International provides support and information to people affected directly or indirectly by encephalitis, and to a variety of professionals and organisations from health, social care and education globally.[7]
It holds weekends for families, and adult retreats and operates a global volunteer scheme called Team Encephalitis. The charity has information on paper and via the Worldwide Web. World Encephalitis Day was created by the charity in 2014, and fundraising events are run. The charity collaborates and funds research into encephalitis and its consequences, and holds an annual conference on the condition and annual competitions and travel bursaries for medical students and junior physicians. The charity works with other neurological charities and health organisations.[8]
This page is based on this Wikipedia article Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply. Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.
