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Children are the future. Meningitis is a cruel disease that can take away this future through death or disablement in just a few hours. ‘Childhood Matters’ is a programme of work designed to ensure that children are aware of the important health issues of meningitis and that those affected receive the emotional support and care they need.
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Children needing to overcome the emotional trauma of the disease can receive free art therapy sessions to help them understand their emotions and cope with the changes in their lives. Family therapy helps re-build relationships which have been stretched to the limit by meningitis and the devastating effects of the disease. Our Family fun days help families play and heal together by imparting coping strategies and first hand understanding and reassurance from families who have been through similar experiences. Families can also access financial grants to help them pay for the specialist equipment, treatment and care necessary due to the after-effects of the disease. For children who have been affected by meningitis personally or through a family member or friend, the childhood matters project provides a free confidential 24 hour children's helpline. Callers can ask questions they don't feel they should ask their family, get accurate information, have a friendly ear to listen and be able to speak and express themselves freely to a trained professional about any aspect of their life. An interactive learning web will help pupils, their parents and teachers learn more about infectious disease by using the Meningitis Trust learning website www.meningitis-learning.org. The site is linked into the national curriculum and raises awareness about the risks of infection, the signs and symptoms and the after effects of the disease through ready to use lesson plans and on-line quizzes and games.