Epilepsy Action and Be Broadcast have won two PRCA Dare Awards for their joint work in National Epilepsy Week 2023 to tackle public seizure stigma.
The companies were given the Best Use of Data and Analytics Award and the Purpose Award in the North West at the awards ceremony on 12 June 2024 in Manchester.
The PRCA Dare Awards celebrate “the very best PR and communications professionals” across the UK.
Epilepsy Action was nominated for work in 2023 for its CARE campaign, which offered a simple acronym to help the public know how to help someone having a tonic-clonic seizure.
The work involved conducting research into the experiences of people with epilepsy and using the results to inform and educate members of the public about epilepsy and seizure first aid.
The research found that more than 50% of people with epilepsy in the UK have avoided public spaces due to fear and stigma. Nearly half (47%) said they had wrongly been accused of being drunk or on drugs.
People also reported having been robbed or physically abused while having a seizure in public.
The Epilepsy Action and Be Broadcast teams got the message out in more than 1,000 pieces of media coverage, including online stories, broadcast and print.
The CARE campaign video had more than 550,000 views across social media and 21 MPs wore Epilepsy Action badges in parliament supporting National Epilepsy Week 2023.
