A group of young people at sunset smiling into the horizon

National Epilepsy Week

National Epilepsy Week 2026 : 18 - 24 May

This is our moment to shine a light on epilepsy and the impact it has on more than 100,000 children and young people in the UK.

During National Epilepsy Week 2026, we’re sharing why childhood epilepsy needs a different approach and how, by working together, we can create a better future for children and young people with epilepsy.

Epilepsy in young people affects a brain and a person that is still growing.

That makes childhood epilepsy different. That difference is why we exist.

Balancing seizures, medications and treatments all while trying to learn, find friends and figure out who you are means epilepsy becomes part of growing up.

We’re here to help make sense of it all. We've got our eyes on childhood. We’re focused on youth. Our support is tailored for and shaped by young voices. We're built for children and young people.

Our community is different, our ethos is different, our services are different.

We are YOUNG Epilepsy.

What is National Epilepsy Week?

National Epilepsy Week is a national awareness moment that brings the epilepsy community together to raise understanding, share experiences and create space for important conversations.

For Young Epilepsy, National Epilepsy Week is an opportunity to:

Amplify the voices of children and young people
Highlight why epilepsy is experienced differently while growing up
Show how Young Epilepsy provides tailored, youth‑focused support
Work in partnership with epilepsy charities and organisations to support the wider epilepsy community

Learn more about our youth-focused support

Youth Support

Our Youth Support team works with young people and their families to help them through their diagnosis and beyond, to better understand their rights, and to help them get access to the right services and support.

Youth Voice Network

The Youth Voice Network is a community of young people with epilepsy, for young people with epilepsy.

Virtual Youth Clubs

Discover a vibrant online community at Young Epilepsy Youth Club. Boost confidence, make lasting friendships, and thrive with fun activities. Join now for a UK-wide connection and positive, empowering experiences!

Why epilepsy is different in childhood

Epilepsy in children is not just epilepsy that happens earlier in life.

It is different in childhood and young adulthood for four key reasons:

1: A developing brain

Epilepsy affects a brain that is still growing and changing. Seizures can interrupt how a child or young person learns, communicates, behaves and processes emotions — particularly if seizures are frequent or difficult to control.

2: Social development and mental health

Growing up with epilepsy means managing a medical condition alongside friendships, school life, identity and social pressures. This can affect confidence, emotional wellbeing and a sense of belonging — especially during adolescence and in online spaces.

3: Childhood‑specific epilepsy syndromes

Many types of epilepsy begin in childhood or adolescence and are linked to specific stages of brain development. These syndromes often look very different from adult epilepsy and can change - or resolve - as a child grows.

4: Diagnosis and treatment are different

Seizures in children can be harder to spot and are sometimes mistaken for behavioural or attention difficulties. Children can also respond differently to medication, and early diagnosis and treatment are crucial to reducing long‑term impact on learning, development and wellbeing.

With the right diagnosis, specialist care and support that grows with them, children and young people with epilepsy can thrive - but they need understanding and care designed specifically for this stage of life.

How Young Epilepsy does things differently

Because childhood and young adulthood are unique, our approach is different too.

At Young Epilepsy, we:

Start with young people – our work is shaped by children and young people living with epilepsy
Offer support that grows with them – needs change as children grow, and our support evolves too
Connect families and young people – no one should face epilepsy alone
Provide clear, age‑appropriate information young people and families can trust
Work with schools and health professionals to help keep children safe, included and supported beyond the clinic

Our community, ethos and services are built specifically for children and young people.

Working in partnership across the epilepsy sector

Young Epilepsy is the only national charity focused exclusively on children and young people with epilepsy, we are proud to work in collaboration with epilepsy charities and organisations across the UK.

By working together, we:

Strengthen support for people affected by epilepsy at every stage of life
Share expertise, insight and lived experience
Create a more connected, informed and inclusive epilepsy community

National Epilepsy Week provides an important opportunity to highlight this collective effort - and the impact we can make when charities, professionals, supporters and communities work together.