Awareness Programme
In the absence of the vaccine we desperately need to protect against all forms of meningitis, the charity provides an ongoing Public Awareness Programme. Raising awareness of the common symptoms of meningitis and highlighting the importance of seeking medical help immediately is vital, as early identification and prompt treatment can be the difference between life and death.
This is done through regular press releases and by distributing resources such as handy wallet-sized symptom cards, questions & answers leaflets and ‘Check the symptoms' fridge magnets to the general public free of charge through talks to schools and community groups, the charity's website and quarterly newsletter and fundraising events and mailings.
View our range of awareness materials
Meningitis UK 'Check the Symptoms' wallet-sized cards
All items carry the warning statement 'Meningitis can KILL in under 4 hours' to emphasise how quickly the disease can strike and encourage people to act quickly if at all in doubt.
Fridge Magnet Campaigns
Every winter, Meningitis UK launches a national campaign to offer families a lifesaving fridge magnet to help prevent deaths from meningitis and meningococcal septicaemia.
Chief Executive of Meningitis UK Steve Dayman, said: "Meningitis and meningococcal septicaemia can kill in hours, minutes count, so having the symptoms displayed on an easily accessible place like a fridge can save valuable time and give people the confidence to seek medical help".
Louise Graham with her son Bertie promoting the 'Check the Symptoms' fridge magnet
The magnets highlight the symptoms of meningitis and meningococcal septicaemia and explain how to carry out the ‘Tumbler Test' and urge people to seek medical help immediately if they suspect something is wrong.
Dr Andrew Pollard, consultant paediatrician and spokesperson for Meningitis UK explains why knowing the symptoms is crucial: "Early recognition and prompt medical treatment can mean the difference between life and death. This fridge magnet acts as a constant reminder, ensuring families are familiar with the symptoms. We are working to find a vaccine to eradicate all forms of meningitis, but until a vaccine is found, raising public awareness about these deadly diseases is vital."
To get your own free ‘Check the Symptoms' fridge magnet and other resources, please visit our Awarness Resources page, call 0117 373 7373 or email information@meningitisuk.org
Awareness Trailer
This giant hoarding forms a vital part of our awareness raising activities and visits superstores and other locations the length and breadth of the country every year to raise awareness of meningitis and vital funds for our research programme.
Local families who support the charity often lend their hand by helping to give out awarness information and by talking to the press. Wallet-sized symptoms cards are also placed at strategic places such as baby changing rooms to increase awareness.
We are always looking for new locations for the awareness trailer, so if you have any suggestions or would like to help publicise the work of Meningitis UK, we would love to hear from you. Please contact Nicola Clarke, our Media Officer on 0117 373 73 73.
Giant Awareness Trailer
Alison Routledge, who lost her 25-year-old daughter Emma to meningitis and meningococcal septicaemia in 1999, with her daughter Louise and grand-daughters Sophie and Ellie, help to raise awareness with Meningitis UK's Chief Executive Steve Dayman and Bob Wilson at Gretna Gateway Outlet Village
ASDA Pharmacies
As part of our ongoing commitment to raising public awareness of meningitis and meningococcal septicaemia we have been working in partnership with the supermarket giant ASDA. With their support, we have provided every one of their 84 pharmacies with wallet-sized symptom cards and a dispenser for their counter.
Meningitis UK Symptoms Card Dispenser
In addition to being placed in supermarket pharmacies, the symptoms card dispenser is distributed to many other retail outfits and doctors' surgeries throughout the country.
Schools and Universities
Thanks to the generosity of a number companies and individual supporters who have provided financial support, we have been able to target a number of educational authorities with potentially lifesaving awareness information packs.
To date, specific awareness drives have targeted schools in Gateshead, Stockton-on-Tees, Middlesbrough, Redcar and Cleveland, West Sussex, Londonderry and the Isle of Man who have all received meningitis information packs, urging teachers and parents to be aware of the symptoms and to act quickly if they suspect anything. Countless other individual schools, colleges and Universities have also been offered awareness information either on request or as a result of a case, or suspected case, of meningitis.
Awareness in Schools
Meningitis UK Supporters Sue and Terry Laing and Neil and Jayne Pickard launching the schools' packs in Stockton on Tees.
Fundraising, Walks, Store and Street Collections
Our fundraising activities also provide important educational opportunities, reaching a very wide audience. Every year, during our marathon fundraising walks we hand out over 20,000 wallet-sized symptom cards to members of the general public. We also distribute thousands more symptom cards through our various street and store collections up and down the country. Many University RAG student groups also regularly collect money for Meningitis UK and and hand out symptoms cards in shopping areas throughout the UK.
Awareness on the streets
Handing out symptoms cards on a marathon walk.
In the lead up to winter, when cases rise dramatically, we mail all the nurseries and pre-schools across the UK as part of our Mini Maskathon campaign to raise awareness of the disease before the winter months and vital funds. Other fundraising initiatives included our nationwide student fundraising programme, annual Marathon Walks, our Slim into Summer campaign and Christmas Cracker appeal targeted at primary schools.
MeningitisUK · Registered Charity No.1076774