The Joint Epilepsy Council of the U.K. and Ireland
Registered Charity No. 1104313
PO Box 186, Leeds LS20 8WY
E: sharon.jec@btconnect.com
Contact: Sharon Wood
General Secretary
Tel:01943 871852

Working to meet the needs of people with epilepsy and their families

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Matthews Friends
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This organisation was founded in 2004 by Emma Williams through her own experiences with her son Matthew and the successful use of the Ketogenic Diet to treat his seizures.

 

Matthew's Friends is the only UK charity dedicated solely to the field of Dietary Treatments for Epilepsy.  Together with their highly respected medical board chaired by Professor Helen Cross from Great Ormond Street Hospital, Matthew’s Friends has grown at an incredible rate over the past few years.  The charity is now International with global experts working with the group to provide the latest information possible.  They have a branch working in South Africa as well as being involved with and supporting over 20 other countries worldwide in the use of these diets. They fund dietetic posts within the NHS in the UK, they also put funding into medical research into the use of these dietary treatments and they fund individual patients both children and adults.  They also facilitate and fund National and International conferences, workshops and training programmes for both professional and patient, they have set up a Patient Sponsorship programme in South Africa and they also provide an extensive website, printed material, patient files and have a telephone helpline available 365 days per year.  They provide a ketogenic recipe service for patient and professional to use as well social activities for families.  There are also 8 UK Regional Co-ordinators for Matthew’s Friends supporting local ketogenic services and the organisation works with all the Epilepsy Groups - if anyone needs information on the Dietary Treatments for Epilepsy they will provide it.  

 

Emma is the parent representative for KetoPAG (Ketogenic Professional Advisory Group for the UK and Ireland) and is the International Patron for DESI (Dietary Treatments for Epilepsy in India), she has been asked to speak around the world on the work of Matthew’s Friends and the Ketogenic Diet.  Emma and the Matthew's Friends medical board are now working on their next goal which is to open their very own Centre to provide all the different dietary treatments for epilepsy for both children and adults.

 

Emma Williams - Founder/CEO

Matthew’s Friends 

PO Box 191,
OXTED,
Surrey, RH8 0WL

T: 0788 4054811

E-Mail: Emma@matthewsfriends.org.uk
Web: http://www.matthewsfriends.org.uk

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Special Notices   

JEC News
April 10 edition now available online - click here

JEC Launches Epilepsy Call For Action Leaflet
The JEC has launched its call for action leaflet for epilepsy in time for the forthcoming parliamentary elections. We believe better management of care and resources is needed to improve the diagnosis and treatment of epilepsy. This could prevent 400 deaths per year, bring thousands more people into employment and boost the education of young people with the condition. It could also save Government over £22million per year! To find out more click here.

National Epilepsy Week (NEW) 2010
Due to the timing of the General Election at Westminster, National Epilepsy Week 2010 in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland will take place week commencing Sunday 13th June. The topic is Epilepsy and the Under-25s.

Member organisation Brainwave, in Ireland, will be retaining the usual May dates for NEW 2010 and activities being organised by them in May, and other events being staged in June can be found by clicking here.

"Taking the Tablets" collaboration
JEC members Epilepsy Bereaved, the National Society for Epilepsy, Epilepsy Scotland, Epilepsy Action and the National Centre for Young People with Epilepsy have joined forces under the JEC umbrella to develop an information DVD on the importance of taking anti-epileptic medication.

The ‘Taking the Tablets’ DVD and accompanying booklet offers a programme for people with epilepsy about anti-epileptic drug treatment with views and experiences of people with the condition and two medical professionals.

Speaking on the DVD, Dr Henry Smithson Senior Lecturer in General Practice, Sheffield; “The majority of people who have epileptic seizures are given anti-epileptic drugs to try and reduce or even stop the seizures…Between 60 and 70% of people’s seizures can be stopped by anti-epileptic drugs” Click here to watch the dvd