How To Support A Meningitis Charity

The meninges is a lining around the human brain and spinal cord. Germs can cause it to swell, which sometimes leads to meningitis, a dangerous illness that can kill within a matter of hours. While some people are more at risk, such as young children and people with weakened immune systems, meningitis can affect anyone.

WHY VOLUNTEER WITH A MENINGITIS CHARITY?

Meningitis can be incredibly serious. While there are vaccines and treatments to help combat it, and most people recover well, some people suffer life-changing symptoms or even die from the disease. This is why raising awareness of the dangers of meningitis and providing support to families and sufferers is so important.

Whether you're interested in fundraising or helping to provide care, volunteering with a meningitis charity is a hugely rewarding thing to do. As well as your own sense of personal achievement, you'll be able to make a real difference to others, and you might even find yourself picking up new skills and meeting some great people along the way.

HOW TO HELP MENINGITIS CHARITIES

Help Raise Awareness

Spotting the symptoms of meningitis early is crucial, as awareness can mean the difference between life and death. These symptoms include fever, vomiting, severe headaches, pale or mottled skin, breathlessness, a stiff neck, a rash anywhere on the body, and limb, joint or muscle pain. You can help raise awareness of these symptoms by handing out flyers and leaflets, ensuring GP practices are well stocked with meningitis resources, or simply by sharing information and campaign materials on your own social media accounts.

Volunteer At An Office

If you're personable and have good organisational skills, you could volunteer in a charity office, helping with admin tasks, answering phone calls and responding to emails. You might also be able to assist a meningitis charity by coordinating other volunteers from a central office and organising the distribution of materials such as information leaflets and posters.

Join A Fundraising Group

You could help to raise vital funds for meningitis charities in the UK by joining a fundraising group. Your tasks could involve planning events, helping fundraising activities to run smoothly on the day, or petitioning local businesses to get on board with the meningitis charity you're involved with.

Start Recruiting

You don't need to be a professional recruiter to help whip up support for your chosen charity. Posting on social media about volunteering opportunities, and recruiting your friends, colleagues and family members to help out with fundraising activities, are brilliant ways to help your charity prosper.

Get Active

Charities such as the Believe And Achieve Trust help children and young people who've been affected by meningitis to participate in sports and activities. Whether you already have coaching qualifications or not, you could help put on fun-filled sessions for youngsters whose lives have been altered by meningitis and its after-effects.

THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE YOU HELP

• Even if you don’t think you have much free time to spare, there will likely still be something you can do to help out. Local charities are always in need of volunteers for one-off events or even for a few hours a month, so it's well worth checking before deciding not to volunteer because of time restraints.

WHERE TO GET STARTED

If you're looking to get stuck into some volunteering with a meningitis charity, start by checking out the opportunities available with the three organisations below:

• Meningitis Now
• Meningitis Research Foundation
• The Believe And Achieve Trust

HELPING DESERVING CAUSES

If you'd like to know more about getting involved in volunteering in your community, take a look at our Local Causes page and find opportunities near you.