Volunteer for trigeminal neuralgia

Volunteer for trigeminal neuralgia this Volunteers’ Week by supporting TNA UK, the national charity for people living with trigeminal neuralgia and facial pain. Whether you give time, raise funds, share information, host Tea for TNA, sell items online, donate, or leave a gift in your will, every act of support helps people feel less alone.

Volunteers’ Week runs from Monday 1 June to Sunday 7 June 2026. It is a national moment to thank people who give their time, care and skills to help others. For TNA UK, it is also a chance to recognise the volunteers who support people living with trigeminal neuralgia and facial pain, while inviting more people to take part.

As a result, Volunteers’ Week is not only a thank-you moment. It is also a chance to invite more people to support TNA UK in practical ways.

Some pain is visible. Trigeminal neuralgia often is not.

A person may look well and still be unable to eat, speak, smile, wash their face, brush their teeth, go to work, answer the phone or sit through a family meal without fear of another attack. They may spend months, sometimes years, trying to explain pain that others cannot see and many people have never heard of.

That is why volunteers matter.

Volunteers do not replace doctors, and they do not cure pain. However, their role is still deeply human. In the spaces between appointments, decisions, diagnosis and daily survival, they listen, signpost and help people feel less alone.

Why volunteer for trigeminal neuralgia?

Volunteer for trigeminal neuralgia because no one should feel abandoned by a condition that can be severe, frightening and poorly understood.

TNA UK supports people through information, Helpline support, e-helpline support, Regional Support Groups, webinars, conferences, awareness and patient voice work. However, those services depend on people who are willing to give time, care, skill, practical help and support.

There is more than one way to volunteer for trigeminal neuralgia.

Some people can support others directly. Others can fundraise, donate, share information, organise events, offer professional skills, help with administration, support awareness work, or remember TNA UK with a gift in their will.

No one has to do everything. Nevertheless, more of us can do one thing.

Thank you to TNA UK volunteers

This Volunteers’ Week, TNA UK begins with gratitude.

We thank every volunteer who gives time, care and skill to support people living with trigeminal neuralgia.

Across the charity, volunteers answer the Helpline, respond through the e-helpline, support Regional Support Groups, help with friendship calls, assist at webinars and conferences, raise funds, share information, organise events and work quietly behind the scenes.

Some listen to difficult stories with patience. Others welcome people who arrive frightened, exhausted or newly diagnosed. Many give practical support through administration, awareness, local outreach, membership work, fundraising and professional skills.

Much of this work is not loud. It is not glamorous. In many cases, it is not even visible to the wider public.

Yet it is the work that keeps a charity human.

A message from Aneeta Prem MBE

Aneeta Prem MBE, CEO of TNA UK, said:

“Volunteers do not remove the pain of trigeminal neuralgia, but they can reduce the loneliness around it. That matters. When someone is frightened, exhausted or newly diagnosed, a calm voice, a careful email, a support group or a shared piece of information can change how alone they feel. TNA UK’s volunteers are part of the reason people living with TN can find support, connection and hope.”

That is the heart of this Volunteers’ Week message.

Importantly, this message is not about pressure. It is about showing that every person can help in a way that suits their time, skills and circumstances.

TNA UK is not only thanking those already giving their time. It is also asking everyone connected to the charity to think about what they can do next.

How TNA UK volunteers help

Trigeminal neuralgia can affect eating, speaking, sleeping, working, relationships, confidence, social life and mental wellbeing. For many people, the pain is severe, frightening and unpredictable.

It can also be profoundly isolating.

People living with TN may withdraw from meals, conversations, celebrations and ordinary routines. In addition, they may stop making plans because they do not know when pain will strike. Families and friends may care deeply, but they can still struggle to understand what daily life is like.

TNA UK exists so people do not have to face that alone.

The charity offers practical support through information, the Freephone Helpline, the e-helpline, Regional Support Groups, webinars, conferences, awareness and patient voice work.

However, these services do not run on goodwill alone. They need people, time, care, funds, volunteers, donors and supporters who understand that a charity becomes stronger when more people decide to play their part.

Everyone can do one thing

Not everyone can answer a Helpline call. Some people will not be suited to e-helpline work. Others may not be able to run a Regional Support Group.

That is not a failure. It is simply the reality of good charity practice.

Direct support roles require training, judgement, consistency and clear boundaries. However, support can take many forms.

A retired professional may offer skills. A student may help with a school fundraiser. A family may host Tea for TNA. A workplace may hold a cake sale. A friend may sell unwanted clothes on Vinted or eBay. A carer may share TNA UK information with someone newly diagnosed.

Supporters can volunteer for trigeminal neuralgia by fundraising, sharing information or helping TNA UK reach more people.

No one has to do everything.

Nevertheless, more of us can do one thing.

The volunteers who answer

The TNA UK Freephone Helpline is one of the charity’s most important services.

Helpline volunteers may speak to people who are newly diagnosed, waiting for appointments, trying to understand their condition or feeling isolated because those around them do not understand trigeminal neuralgia.

This role requires calmness, patience, good listening skills and clear boundaries. Importantly, Helpline volunteers support and signpost. They do not diagnose, treat or give medical advice.

Their role is different.

A Helpline volunteer listens without judgement, explains what TNA UK can offer and signposts to appropriate information. Where needed, they may encourage someone to speak to a suitable healthcare professional. In addition, they recognise when a call may need to be escalated under TNA UK procedures.

For the right volunteer, this can be one of the most meaningful ways to support people living with trigeminal neuralgia.

The volunteers who write back

Some people find it easier to write than to speak.

Others may be unable to talk because facial pain, shock-like attacks, exhaustion or anxiety make conversation difficult. Therefore, the e-helpline gives people another route into support.

E-helpline volunteers may respond to written enquiries, share TNA UK information, signpost to services and help people understand where they can find further support.

This role needs careful writing, accuracy and judgement. Responses must be clear, kind and safe. As a result, volunteers must avoid medical advice, avoid overpromising and follow TNA UK’s procedures.

A thoughtful reply can do more than answer a question. It can steady someone at a difficult moment.

The volunteers who bring people together

Regional Support Groups are a vital part of TNA UK’s community.

They give people living with trigeminal neuralgia and facial pain the chance to meet others who understand the condition. They also help carers, families and friends learn more about the reality of TN.

Regional Support Group volunteers may organise meetings, welcome new members, support speakers, share TNA UK updates, encourage safe discussion and help people feel included.

This work takes organisation, reliability and sensitivity. Therefore, group discussions must remain supportive, respectful and within appropriate boundaries.

A well-run support group can help people feel that they no longer have to explain everything from the beginning.

The volunteers who offer friendship

Pain can shrink a person’s world.

Someone living with trigeminal neuralgia may stop going out, avoid meals, withdraw from social life or feel that others no longer understand what they are living with.

Friendship support can help reduce that isolation.

This role is not clinical. It is not counselling. It is not emergency support. Instead, it is about human connection, kindness and regular contact within clear boundaries.

For some people, knowing that someone will call, listen and understand can make a difficult week feel less lonely.

The volunteers behind events

TNA UK webinars, conferences and events help people access information, hear from speakers, ask questions and feel connected to the charity.

Volunteers may support registration, reminders, speaker arrangements, questions, attendance lists, follow-up information, feedback forms, accessibility checks, social media posts or event promotion.

This role may suit people who are organised, calm and reliable. It may also suit those who prefer structured tasks rather than direct emotional support.

Good events do not happen by accident. They depend on preparation, detail and people willing to help.

The volunteers who raise awareness

Trigeminal neuralgia is still not widely understood.

Many people have never heard of it until they, or someone they love, are diagnosed. Others may mistake it for dental pain, migraine, sinus pain or general facial pain.

Awareness matters because it helps people seek appropriate support, explain the condition and feel less invisible.

Supporters can share TNA UK articles, put up approved posters, ask local libraries or community centres to display information, share social media posts, support awareness days, encourage local media to cover TN and take TNA UK information into community spaces.

Digital supporters can volunteer for trigeminal neuralgia by sharing TNA UK information online.

This is one of the simplest ways to volunteer. It costs nothing, but it can help someone find the charity at the moment they need it.

Volunteer for trigeminal neuralgia through fundraising

For many supporters, fundraising will be the most practical way to help.

Fundraising is not secondary. It is essential. Without fundraising, charities cannot plan properly, maintain services, produce information, run events, support awareness or respond to need with confidence.

A fundraiser does not need to be large to matter. For example, a coffee morning matters. A cake sale matters. A sponsored walk matters. A Vinted sale matters. A school non-uniform day matters. A workplace raffle matters. A birthday fundraiser matters.

Each event raises money. Just as importantly, each event starts a conversation about trigeminal neuralgia.

Fundraisers can volunteer for trigeminal neuralgia by raising money for Helpline, e-helpline, Regional Support Group and awareness work.

A fundraising volunteer might host Tea for TNA, run a coffee morning, organise a cake bake at work, sell items on Vinted or eBay, hold a school fundraiser, arrange a sponsored walk, set up a birthday fundraiser, organise a raffle or quiz night, ask a workplace to support TNA UK, arrange matched giving, support an in-memory collection or encourage someone to consider a gift in their will.

“Fundraising is also volunteering”

Aneeta Prem MBE said:

“People sometimes think volunteering has to mean taking on a formal support role. It does not. Fundraising is also volunteering. Raising awareness is volunteering. Organising a coffee morning, selling items online, asking a workplace to help, sharing accurate information or holding Tea for TNA are all ways of standing with people living with trigeminal neuralgia.”

That message opens the door to everyone.

It also protects the charity’s direct support roles by making clear that people can help in many different ways.

Young people can volunteer for trigeminal neuralgia

Young people can play a meaningful part in supporting TNA UK.

They may not be able to volunteer in direct support roles, but they can still raise awareness and funds in age-appropriate ways.

Schools, colleges and universities could organise a non-uniform day, cake sale, sponsored walk, awareness talk, music event, art competition, student fundraiser or community challenge.

Schools can volunteer for trigeminal neuralgia through supervised, age-appropriate fundraising.

Any school or youth activity should be supervised and agreed through the school or organisation’s usual procedures. In addition, fundraising should always be clear, safe and appropriate for the setting.

Young people often bring energy, imagination and fairness. They also take awareness into families and communities.

Older supporters can volunteer for trigeminal neuralgia

No one should feel they are too old to help.

Older supporters may bring lived experience, professional knowledge, patience, networks and community links. Some may have time to offer. Others may prefer a short, focused task.

An older supporter might help with a local coffee morning, telephone friendship, awareness work, administration, fundraising, event support, writing, editing, governance, professional advice or community introductions.

Older supporters can volunteer for trigeminal neuralgia by offering time, experience, skills or community links.

Experience matters. Steadiness matters. Kindness matters.

Families can support trigeminal neuralgia volunteering

Many people who support TNA UK are not living with trigeminal neuralgia themselves. They may be partners, adult children, siblings, friends, neighbours or colleagues.

Their help matters.

A carer may understand the daily impact of TN in a way few others do. A family member may be able to organise a fundraiser. A friend may be able to share information. A colleague may be able to arrange a workplace event.

Families can volunteer for trigeminal neuralgia by hosting Tea for TNA or organising a local fundraiser.

Carers, families and friends can organise fundraising events, share TNA UK information, attend awareness activities, support someone to access a group or webinar, encourage a workplace or school to fundraise, help with local outreach, donate in memory of someone loved, or remember TNA UK with a gift in their will.

In this way, volunteering or fundraising can become a constructive way to stand beside someone they care about.

Practical ways to volunteer for trigeminal neuralgia

This Volunteers’ Week, TNA UK is asking every supporter to do one thing.

It does not need to be large. It simply needs to start.

You could sell something, bake something, host something or walk somewhere. You could also share information, donate, ask a workplace to help, invite a school to fundraise, give in memory or leave something for the future.

One action can begin a chain of support. For example, a coffee morning can lead to a donation. A shared post can lead someone to the Helpline. A workplace fundraiser can introduce trigeminal neuralgia to colleagues. Meanwhile, a school event can bring awareness into families.

This is how charities grow stronger.

Not through one person doing everything, but through many people doing something.

A to Z of support

To make that easier, here are practical ideas for people of all ages, backgrounds and circumstances.

Fundraising ideas A to F

A: Auction

Hold a small auction, online auction or promise auction with donated items or services.

B: Bake sale

Run a cake bake at work, school, church, community group or local club.

C: Coffee morning

Host a coffee morning and talk about trigeminal neuralgia while raising funds.

D: Dress-down day

Ask your workplace or school to hold a dress-down day for TNA UK.

E: eBay sales

Sell unwanted clothes, books, gifts or household items on eBay and donate the proceeds.

F: Facebook fundraiser

Set up a birthday fundraiser, awareness fundraiser or personal challenge page.

Gifts, hosting and challenges G to L

G: Gift in your will

After taking care of family and loved ones, you may wish to remember TNA UK with a gift in your will.

H: Host Tea for TNA

Invite friends, family, neighbours or colleagues to tea, cake and conversation.

I: In-memory giving

Support TNA UK in memory of someone affected by trigeminal neuralgia or facial pain.

J: Join a challenge

Take part in a walk, run, swim, cycle, step challenge or sponsored silence.

K: Keep sharing

Share TNA UK’s posts, Helpline information, events and awareness articles.

L: Local business support

Ask a local shop, café, salon or business to display information or support a fundraiser.

Work, school and community ideas M to R

M: Matched giving

Ask your employer whether they will match funds raised by staff.

N: Non-uniform day

Invite a school, college or youth group to hold a non-uniform day for TNA UK.

O: Office fundraiser

Organise an office raffle, cake table, lunch event or team challenge.

P: Plant sale

Sell plants, seedlings or garden produce to raise money.

Q: Quiz night

Host a quiz at home, online, in a pub, village hall or workplace.

R: Raffle

Ask local businesses to donate prizes and hold a raffle safely and transparently.

Simple ways to take part

There are many routes into supporting TNA UK. However, the best place to start is often the simplest idea.

Some people will want to volunteer regularly. Others may prefer a one-off fundraiser, a workplace event, an online sale or a small donation. All of these actions matter because each one helps TNA UK reach more people living with trigeminal neuralgia.

Host Tea for TNA

Tea for TNA is one of the simplest ways to volunteer for trigeminal neuralgia.

You can host it at home, at work, in a community centre, in a village hall, in a place of worship, at a local club or with friends in the garden.

It can be tea, coffee, cake, biscuits or a shared lunch. The purpose is simple: bring people together, raise funds and talk about trigeminal neuralgia.

As a result, a small gathering can help someone understand why facial pain is not just pain. It can also help families, friends and colleagues see why TNA UK’s work matters.

Sell items online

Many people want to help but do not have time to organise an event.

Selling unwanted items online is a practical option. Supporters can sell clothes, books, jewellery, bags, shoes, gifts, toys or household items on Vinted, eBay, Facebook Marketplace or local selling groups, then donate the proceeds to TNA UK.

Supporters can volunteer for trigeminal neuralgia by selling unwanted items on Vinted or eBay.

Families and friendship groups can also set a simple challenge. For example, each person could sell five items and donate what they raise.

It is easy, low-cost and accessible.

Fundraise at work

Workplaces can make a powerful contribution.

You could ask your employer to support TNA UK through a dress-down day, cake sale, raffle, lunch event, staff challenge, payroll giving, matched giving, team walk or charity of the year partnership.

Workplaces can volunteer for trigeminal neuralgia by holding a cake sale, dress-down day or matched-giving event.

If you work in HR, wellbeing, communications or leadership, you could also help raise awareness of trigeminal neuralgia as a hidden disability and serious facial pain condition.

A workplace does not need to run a large campaign. Even one staff fundraiser can help.

Fundraise at school

Schools, colleges and universities can support TNA UK through simple, age-appropriate activities.

A non-uniform day, cake sale, awareness talk, music event, art competition, sponsored walk or student-led fundraiser can all help.

Any school activity should be supervised and agreed through the school’s normal procedures. In addition, fundraising should be age-appropriate and clear about where the money is going.

Young people can be excellent fundraisers because they bring energy, imagination and fairness. They also help take awareness into families and communities.

Donate, fundraise or volunteer for trigeminal neuralgia

A donation helps TNA UK continue its work for people living with trigeminal neuralgia and facial pain.

A one-off donation helps immediately. A regular donation helps the charity plan ahead. Where eligible, Gift Aid may also increase the value of a donation at no extra cost to the donor.

However, donors should only complete a Gift Aid declaration if they have paid enough UK Income Tax or Capital Gains Tax to cover the amount the charity will reclaim. GOV.UK explains that donors must have paid enough tax to qualify for Gift Aid.

Every donation matters because it helps sustain information, support, awareness and patient voice work.

Give in memory

Some families choose to support TNA UK in memory of someone they loved.

An in-memory donation, funeral collection or tribute fundraiser can be a meaningful way to honour a person affected by trigeminal neuralgia or facial pain. It can also help others find support in the future.

This is a personal decision. There is no pressure. However, for some families, it offers a way to turn love and remembrance into practical help for others.

Gift in your will

A gift in your will is one of the most lasting ways to support TNA UK.

For some people, it is a way to continue helping others beyond their lifetime. For families affected by trigeminal neuralgia, it can also be a deeply personal way to honour the reality of a condition that is too often misunderstood.

Family and loved ones should always come first. However, even a modest gift to TNA UK can help future generations of people living with trigeminal neuralgia and facial pain find information, support and connection when they need it most.

A gift in your will can be a fixed amount, a specific item, or what remains after other gifts have been made. GOV.UK explains that charitable gifts are taken off the value of an estate before Inheritance Tax is calculated, and that the Inheritance Tax rate may be reduced if 10% or more of an estate is left to charity. Since wills have legal and tax implications, anyone considering this should take professional legal advice so their wishes are recorded clearly.

Fundraise safely

If you are planning a public collection, raffle, event, school fundraiser, workplace challenge or sponsored activity, please contact TNA UK first.

This helps the charity give you the right wording, logo use, donation details and practical guidance.

Fundraising should always be honest, safe and transparent. It should also be clear that money raised is for TNA UK. In addition, fundraisers should follow the relevant rules for the type of activity they are planning. The Fundraising Regulator says its Code of Fundraising Practice sets standards for charitable fundraising in the UK.

Could you volunteer for trigeminal neuralgia?

Finally, this is the invitation at the heart of the campaign.

Aneeta Prem MBE said:

“This Volunteers’ Week, we thank every person already giving time, care, skill and commitment to TNA UK. We also invite others to stand with them. Could you do one thing? Could you volunteer, fundraise, donate, raise awareness, host Tea for TNA, sell items online, ask your workplace to help, give in memory or leave a gift in your will? No one has to do everything. But if more of us do something, TNA UK can reach more people living with trigeminal neuralgia and facial pain.”

That is the invitation.

It is not guilt. It is not pressure. Instead, it is a practical, human invitation to take part.

TNA UK is built by people who care enough to act. Some give an hour. Others give professional skills, money, friendship, time, awareness or a gift for the future.

This Volunteers’ Week, TNA UK is asking everyone to volunteer for trigeminal neuralgia in one practical way.

Together, those acts become more than support.

They become a legacy of care for people living with trigeminal neuralgia and facial pain.

FAQs

When is Volunteers’ Week 2026?

Volunteers’ Week 2026 runs from Monday 1 June to Sunday 7 June 2026.

How can I volunteer for trigeminal neuralgia?

You can volunteer for trigeminal neuralgia by supporting TNA UK through Helpline work, e-helpline support, Regional Support Groups, fundraising, awareness, administration, events, professional skills, donations, Tea for TNA, or a gift in your will.

Do I have to answer Helpline calls to volunteer?

No. Helpline, e-helpline and Regional Support Group roles need the right training, judgement and boundaries. Many people support TNA UK through fundraising, events, administration, awareness, professional skills or local community action.

What is an easy fundraising idea?

A coffee morning, Tea for TNA event, cake sale, birthday fundraiser, Vinted sale, eBay sale or sponsored walk is a simple place to start.

Can my workplace support TNA UK?

Yes. Workplaces can support TNA UK through dress-down days, cake sales, payroll giving, matched giving, raffles, staff challenges, charity of the year partnerships or corporate sponsorship.

Can a school support TNA UK?

Yes. Schools, colleges and universities can support TNA UK through supervised and age-appropriate fundraising, such as non-uniform days, cake sales, sponsored walks, awareness talks or student-led events.

Can I donate in memory of someone?

Yes. Some families choose to support TNA UK through an in-memory donation, funeral collection or tribute fundraiser in memory of someone affected by trigeminal neuralgia or facial pain.

Can I leave a gift in my will?

Yes. After taking care of family and loved ones, some supporters choose to remember TNA UK with a gift in their will. Anyone considering this should take professional legal advice.

Aneeta Prem. London. 27 May 2026

Internal links

TNA UK homepage: https://www.tna.org.uk/
Freephone Helpline: https://www.tna.org.uk/helpline/
Regional Support Groups: https://www.tna.org.uk/regional-support-group/
What is trigeminal neuralgia?: https://www.tna.org.uk/what-is-trigeminal-neuralgia/
Fundraise for TNA UK: https://www.tna.org.uk/fundraise/
Caring for someone with TN: https://www.tna.org.uk/caring-for-someone-with-tn/
Donate to TNA UK: https://www.tna.org.uk/donate/
Gift in your will: https://www.tna.org.uk/leaving-a-will/
https://www.tna.org.uk/volunteering-opportunities/