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Charity launches 'together we can make a difference' campaign across Scotland
15 February 2010
Scotland’s only provider of professional support for people affected by meningitis, the Meningitis Trust, is campaigning to reach the thousands of people across the country who are suffering from the impact of the disease alone and in silence - and it needs your help.
Every year over 150 cases of bacterial meningitis are reported in Scotland (with experts estimating that there are double that number of viral meningitis cases), but the Meningitis Trust believes that just 38% of the people affected seek support after the trauma. This means that many individuals, families and even whole communities are left struggling with the impact of the disease alone, when free, professional support is available from the charity, but perhaps not known about.
The charity is asking for people across Scotland to help spread vital awareness of its work; whether it’s someone putting up a poster in their local doctor’s surgery, to passing on details about the charity’s free services to friends, family or colleagues who may have been affected – it all helps.
The Trust provides a lifeline to anyone affected by meningitis; supporting people how and when they need it, for as long as they need it. Its services range from a 24-hour, nurse-staffed helpline 0800 028 18 28, counselling, art therapy for children, to home visits, one to one contacts and financial grants. All services are free, professional and confidential. The Trust currently helps 20,000 people across the UK every year through these services and community support and gives out £160,000 in financial grants, but it wants to do more. With an office in Glasgow and 11 staff, counsellors and art therapists covering the whole of Scotland, it has a large network of support in place across the country.
The charity’s ‘Together We Can Make A Difference’ campaign is hoping to bridge the gap between people suffering in silence, to people getting the support that they may so desperately need.
One family who has needed the Trust’s support is the Macleod family from Glasgow. They lost their son, Calum, to the disease in 2007. Calum’s Mum, Kim says; “When our son Calum died of bacterial meningitis aged 12, our family was left completely shattered. You never expect these things to happen and we didn’t really know where to turn to for help. The Meningitis Trust became our lifeline. It was more than the welcome practical support - giving us financial assistance towards funeral expenses and a headstone – it was having people who understood just how devastating this illness can be.
Kim continues; “The Trust has continued to support our family through counselling and art therapy, which has helped us adjust to the loss of our son. Just to know that they are there gives us a level of comfort. The Meningitis Trust may be a small charity but they have a huge heart”.
Sue Davie, Chief Executive at the Meningitis Trust, says; “Everyday we are privileged to work with people like Kim and her family, who are struggling to cope with the impact of meningitis. It’s really frightening for us to think that there may be other people out there who are suffering in silence unnecessarily. Our ‘Together We Can Make A Difference’ campaign is a very important one to us at the Trust as we want to help everyone affected by the disease, regardless of when it happened or outcome. We would urge anyone who knows someone who has experienced meningitis - either directly or indirectly - to pass on our details. And for those who may have been personally affected, please pick up the phone to us today as we can help you”.
Meningitis is a disease that strikes quickly and can kill within a matter of hours. Survivors can face a future with devastating after-effects; families can face a future without a loved one. Trying to deal with the impact of this disease alone can be life-destroying.
A survey* by the charity found that just 38% of people asked had heard of the Meningitis Trust. With nearly half of those reading, hearing or seeing it in the media, the Trust has launched its ‘Together We Can Make A Difference’ campaign with local papers, radio stations and TV channels across Scotland in a bid to reach out and offer a lifeline to these people. However, to ensure that this campaign works, the charity needs you onboard.
Please help today by getting in touch with the Meningitis Trust. You can call its freephone helpline 0800 028 18 28 or visit its website www.meningitis-trust.org for more information on how you can make a difference to the lives of many across Scotland.
Ends
*Survey carried out by Fast Map in 2007 on 3,307 people for the Meningitis Trust.
**CASE STUDIES AVAILABLE ON REQUEST
