Welcome to Epilepsy Footprint

About Us

Epilepsy Footprint is a non-profit organisation which aims to educate people everywhere about epilepsy. All our surplus funds are used in developing countries to improve people’s access to support services and medical treatments for epilepsy.

Too many people in these countries are dying from treatable seizures due to poverty, lack of access to medical services for epilepsy and general attitudes towards the condition. Ignorance towards epilepsy also means many people in the developing world are too scared to be diagnosed with the condition because it could potentially result in them losing their work, family or education. People known to have seizures could also be physically abused or poisoned by witch doctors." 

So by going out and speaking to people about epilepsy our aim is to help people’s understanding and attitudes towards the condition and remove the stigma which is holding so many people back from leading a normal life with epilepsy.

The funding received from these presentations will be used in developing countries to:

• improve medical facilities and supplies
• improve accessibility to medical and support services
• provide education and skills training to people with epilepsy
• improve the general understanding of epilepsy through school presentations

Award Winning Founder

Epilepsy Footprint was founded by Tanya Spensley who was diagnosed with epilepsy at the age of 18 months and has gone through childhood and adulthood with epilepsy.

After twenty five years of helping others with epilepsy at a local level Tanya decided to branch out to other parts of the UK and also help people in developing countries. She began visiting international congresses back in 1999 and has built up a wide range of contacts around the world. This has lead to further interest in learning about the large treatment gaps between developed countries and third world countries.

Through her training as an Accredited Volunteer for Epilepsy Action and an Epilepsy Information Network volunteer for the Epilepsy Society, Tanya began giving presentations in 2000 to many businesses like the Communication Workers Union and the Royal Society for Medicine and has spoken face to face with newly diagnosed patients at the Paediatric Departments of Barnet General and Barnet Chase Farm Hospitals.

Tanya was elected onto he Board of Governors at Epilepsy Society (2006-2012) and a Patron of the Gambia Epilepsy Association (2006-) after providing information and education to an epilepsy clinic over there. This has lead to further presentations at international congresses speaking on behalf of the work in The Gambia.

BT Chairman’s Award Film of UK Work

Here is a short film about Tanya’s work with the Epilepsy Society which won her the BT Chairman’s Award for Education, Development and Awareness. http://www.btcommunitychampions.com/chair_case_study08.php