On Wednesday, 21st July East Surrey MP Sam Gyimah hosted a reception for the National Centre for Young People with Epilepsy in the House of Commons. Mr Gyimah held the event to thank the thirty one staff from Surrey and Sussex schools who trained to become "Epilepsy Champions" as part of the NCYPE’s Champions for Childhood Epilepsy campaign. In 2009, each of the 21 schools taking part chose one or more members of staff to become their 'epilepsy champion'. The staff then received free training from the NCYPE and went back to work with their colleagues to revise school policies and procedures on supporting with pupils with epilepsy.

Mr Gyimah, who has previously publically stated his support for the work the NCYPE does, said:

"It was great to be able to host a well deserved thank you party in Westminster for the NCYPE’s Epilepsy Champions. As is obvious from the increased awareness and skills the Champions came away with after their training, the NCYPE are leaders in their field and this campaign will help harness that knowledge so that people all over the UK can begin to appreciate the challenges that those with epilepsy face".

The Champions for Childhood Epilespy campaign builds on the NCYPE's wealth of knowledge and expertise to promote better services and understanding for young people with epilepsy. It will press for improvements to education, health and other services for the estimated 60,000 children and young people living epilepsy right across the UK.

For further details, please visit http://www.ncype.org.uk/.