Family days

Family days are a way for families who have experienced meningitis to join together, share similar experiences and have fun.

During Meningitis Trust family days children are encouraged to make things, draw, listen and play together with trained people on hand. You are free to take part in these activities, meet with other parents and talk with staff from the Trust. We are the only meningitis charity in the UK to provide this free service.

Why do we provide family days?

We know that the impact of meningitis reaches much further than the individual concerned; it can have a huge effect on siblings, parents, grandparents, other close family members and friends. Meningitis changes lives, which is why bringing together families with similar experiences of the disease is so important.

These days allow you to help each other understand the impact meningitis has had and look to the positives which other families have achieved. Most of all they allow families to do something fun and positive together.

See what happens at a Family Day

Highlights from Chepstow Family Day

How are family days provided?

Family days are held regularly across the UK. The Trust invites families who have had an experience of meningitis to spend the day with others who have had similar experiences. Children generally range from three to 12 years old and we aim to have up to 30 children taking part in each family day. 

Carmel Kenning from Halifax, attended one of the family days with her mum and two children, Blaithan and Padraig, says:

“It was a fantastic day, the children thoroughly enjoyed themselves. It was great that Blaithan, who had meningitis as a baby, was able to meet other children who have had similar experiences, and similarly my mum and I were able to talk with other families on the day”.