Volunteering at Encephalitis International
Volunteers are at the heart of Encephalitis International and have helped to make a difference to those affected by encephalitis around the world for many years. Our volunteer roles include:
- Being part of our information or research panels
- Facilitating our online peer support groups
- Forming part of our connection scheme
- Sharing your story
- Volunteering your skills to help with individual projects
Hear from some of our existing volunteers who form part of Team Encephalitis.
Meet our volunteers | Encephalitis International
Information
Join our information panel.
The role of an Information Volunteer is to provide support to the information services of Encephalitis International. Support is provided through reviewing resources, participating in user groups, and sourcing materials.
Qualities and skills sought include:
- Willingness to read different types of information resources
- Ability to provide constructive feedback
- Computer literacy
- A good understanding of encephalitis and its implications
Benefits of this role include personal development, increased likelihood of gaining paid work from voluntary experience, reasonable expenses paid, and the chance to make a difference in someone’s life.
Please note that the Information Volunteer role does not allow you to give medical, specialist information or counselling.
Dealing with press, media, and PR is not included in this role.
Support
Online peer support groups
Support Volunteers have personal experience of encephalitis, either directly or as a partner, family member, caregiver or friend. Our Support Volunteers form an integral part of Encephalitis International by facilitating monthly online peer support groups.
We are currently looking for volunteers to run an online group in the South East of England.
Support volunteers must be understanding, patient and have a desire to support those with direct or indirect experience of encephalitis. You would be provided with full training and have another volunteer or staff member to co-facilitate the online groups with.
Connection scheme
If you would like to offer support but not as part of the monthly peer support groups, we also offer opportunities through our connection scheme. This scheme allows people to chat and support one another via email.
Please note that the Support Volunteer role does not allow you to give medical advice, specialist information or counselling.
Research
Encephalitis International carries out and supports research looking at the causes, treatment, and after effects of encephalitis, as well as people’s experiences of living with the consequences of encephalitis.
It is important for people to be aware of and take part in research where they feel able, as it raises awareness of encephalitis, and leads to improvement in medical and social support for those affected by encephalitis, as well as their friends, families and carers. It also helps medical staff to better understand the needs of those with encephalitis, allowing them to respond more quickly and successfully to patients presenting with encephalitis symptoms.
If you would like to hear more about our research, please indicate this below.
Registering your interest in research does not mean that you are agreeing to take part in any research, now or in the future.
Share your story
Help raise awareness and offer support through sharing your story and experience of encephalitis.
These stories are incredibly valuable for others to read. They can help people, directly or indirectly affected, to understand more about encephalitis and deal feelings such as loneliness and isolation.
We don’t currently have many stories from parents or carers. If you are a parent or caregiver of someone who has been affected by encephalitis, we would love to hear from you.
Volunteer your skills
You may feel that you have skills which don’t fit into any of the options above. If so, please still get in touch and there may be an individual project which you can be involved in.
We are currently looking for volunteers to help with our YouTube channel. This may be working on subtitles or helping to improve our SEO.
You will be required to complete an application form and agree to our data protection, safeguarding and and privacy policies.
Diversity in Volunteering
As we know, encephalitis does not discriminate. It can affect people of any age, gender or ethnicity.
Encephalitis International strives to create an inclusive environment, representative of, and responsive to, different cultures and groups, where everyone has an equal chance to succeed, and the diversity of the communities we serve are reflected at all levels within our volunteer workforce.
We deem it important to not only have a diverse volunteer team, but to also provide diverse volunteer roles to suit a range of people and their needs, motivations and skills.
We are keen to reach underrepresented groups and communities who are unaware of our services, which means we need volunteers who can speak different languages.
If you would like to find out more about volunteering with Encephalitis International, please get in touch by sending an email to volunteer@encephalitis.info or calling +44(0)1653 692583
Volunteer with us
Volunteers make the work we do possible, and have been a vital part of making us the award-winning organisation we are today. We're looking for volunteers from all over the world, so please get in touch if you're interest in joining Team Encephalitis - we'd love to have you!
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