Epilepsy Ireland's new Strategic Plan for the next five years has been published.
The plan has been developed in consultation with our stakeholders including our members, service-users, volunteers, and members of the epilepsy medical & scientific community.
The process involved in developing the plan included reflecting on the changing needs of people with epilepsy and how our organisation could best meet those needs.
Our 2017 - 2021 strategic plan ended last year, and through that time we have seen demand for our services increase; major strides in improving epilepsy awareness; expanding our advocacy activities; reaching €1m in research funding investment, all while ensuring that we maintain the best practices in governance, quality and financial accountability.
The last two years of our plan also saw a period of unprecedented challenges – with the COVID-19 pandemic and now wider economic challenges influencing how we deliver our services.
While much good work has been done over the past 5 years, there is much more to be done and our new Strategic Plan aims to both improve the services we offer; as well as working to improve the lives of people with epilepsy and their families. This is encapsulated in the new plan with a reiteration of our existing vision; a renewed mission statement; and for the first time, we have defined a core set of values that our organisation holds dear and acts in accordance with.
Our Vision:
Our Vision is to achieve a society where no person’s life is limited by epilepsy.
Our Mission:
To empower all those affected by epilepsy to achieve their full potential by providing high-quality community-based support and education, raising public awareness, conducting effective advocacy and supporting research.
Our Values:
- Respect
- Empathy
- Support
- Person-Centred
- Empowerment
- Collaboration
- Trust
The new strategic plan is centred around six key strategic aims, which are as follows:
- Empowering people with epilepsy through support and education
- Centring people with epilepsy and their families in the work of Epilepsy Ireland
- Working collaboratively to improve the care of people with epilepsy and knowledge of the condition
- Transforming perceptions of epilepsy and public policy relevant to the condition
- Increasing and diversifying our income
- Demonstrating the highest standards of governance and ensure the structures are in place to meet objectives
Just some of the key themes contained within the plan include:
- Identifying and filling gaps in epilepsy service needs
- Advancing a community based, patient-centred model of care with the HSE and other stakeholders
- Advancing strategies to reduce the risk and incidence of epilepsy deaths
- Using campaigns and advocacy to create positive change for people with epilepsy
The plan is ambitious and significant challenges lie ahead in resourcing the plan, particularly in light of the current economic climate. Implementation will require continued and enhanced support from our existing funders as well as significantly increasing income from fundraising and other activities. However, the EI Board and staff team are determined to turn plans into reality to further improve the lives of people with epilepsy and their families in Ireland over the next five years.
As we embark on this journey, please continue to support us in any way you can - together we can achieve a society where no person’s life is limited by epilepsy.
Thank you to all our members, service users, volunteers and others who contributed to our planning process and to 2 into 3, who facilitated the planning process with our board and staff team.
The full Strategic Plan 2022-26 is available for download at the end of this article.
Our new Strategic Plan 2022-26 was developed with the support of the Community Foundation of Ireland/RTÉ Does Comic Relief: Adapt and Respond Fund.