School News

S5 pupil Frederick is helping to raise awareness of cluster headaches by sharing their experience on this week’s National Migraine Centre’s Heads Up Podcast.

Frederick was diagnosed with cluster headaches at the age of 11, after first experiencing symptoms during lockdown. Often described as one of the most painful conditions known to medicine, cluster headaches can have a significant impact on daily life – something Frederick speaks about openly in the podcast.

Now 17 and heading to university, Frederick joins podcast host Dr Katy Munro alongside their mum, Rachael, OUCH (Organisation for the Understanding of Cluster Headaches) UK’s Officer for Children and Young People, to discuss what it is like growing up with the condition. The episode which airs on Wednesday 25th March, explores the challenges of managing cluster headaches at a young age, navigating school life and finding the right support.

Frederick also reflects on the early stages of diagnosis, when symptoms were initially difficult to identify and how specialist support helped bring clarity and effective treatment. Together, Frederick and Rachael highlight the importance of greater awareness of cluster headaches, particularly in young people where the condition is less widely recognised – and share tips on how they manage the condition.

🎧 You can listen to Frederick’s episode of the Heads Up Podcast here:
Heads Up podcast – National Migraine Centre

Alongside raising awareness, Frederick is also supporting OUCH UK through a range of fundraising activities, including a school bake sale this Friday, with funds going towards supporting others affected by the condition. Donate to OUCH UK

Well done to Frederick for sharing their experience and helping others better understand life with cluster headaches.

For further information on cluster headaches visit OUCH UK Website, the National Migraine Centre Website or BASH – The British Association for the Study of Headache