Support meetings are usually held on Saturdays; and approximately five are held each year across the UK and the Republic of Ireland.

Support meetings have three main functions for members:

• To gain information. Experts on various aspects of the condition are invited to speak, enabling those attending to obtain further information and insight into the condition. It is probable that significant numbers of those affected will become more expert on encephalitis than many health professionals: this empowers them and gives them confidence in making the case for the services and therapies that they require.
  
• To provide an opportunity to meet others affected by encephalitis. Such opportunities are vitally important in reducing the feelings of isolation which many people have when trying to cope with a rare condition that few if any of their friends and relatives have heard of and whose implications they are unable to understand.
  
• To give members and staff of the Group the opportunity to meet together. It is essential that members are able to offer constructive feedback as to their views on the services of the Group and contribute to its developing in ways that are as fully responsive as possible to the expressed needs of its members.
  

These meetings are essentially constructive opportunities to focus both on the illness itself and on the skills and strategies needed to move forward. Some have negative feelings about these occasions because of the focus on the illness; but the overall feeling is positive with the emphasis on maximising recovery and utilising remaining strengths to compensate for any losses.

Programme for Support Meetings

This follows a fairly standard pattern

1.00 pm	“Encephalitis, the Illness”
Speaker	- local neurologist or Information Co-ordinator of the Encephalitis Society.
2.00 pm	“Recovery/Rehabilitation”.
Speaker	- neuropsychologist, rehabilitation consultant or member of the Encephalitis Society Support Team.
3.00 pm	Refreshment break.
3.30 pm	Sharing of experiences -- by people affected, family members and carers.
4.30 pm	Close.

Weekend Meetings

The Society aims to organise an annual residential meeting over two or three days.  This enables people who tire easily to participate without unduly exhausting themselves.

On alternate years this event is planned as a family weekend providing skilled and qualified child care with appropriate activities.  For this particular event, funding is sought in order to ensure that all who would benefit can attend. 

Annual General Meeting     

This takes the form of an all day meeting at which, in addition to the statutory business, there are expert speakers and workshops on understanding and coping with encephalitis.

Included in the business part of the meeting are -

• Submission of annual report ,and approval of annual accounts.
• Election of Trustees, and appointment of Auditors.
• Presentation of ESG Awards, nominated by Encephalitis Society members, for Exceptional Service Given by members of the caring professions.
• Fundraising Awards
• Honorary Life Membership of the Group, awarded by the Trustees

Professional Meetings

Information regarding Seminars and Conferences for professionals working in the field can be found in News & Events