Message from Manju Das, MS Help Hub Manager

Hello everyone,

I’m Manju, and I’m really proud to be stepping into the role of MS Help Hub Manager.

I joined the MS Society because I wanted to provide clear, reliable information alongside compassionate, human support. Before this role, I worked as an MS Helpline Information Officer, so I have first-hand experience of speaking to people affected by MS, providing information and supporting people through difficult moments. Alongside this, I continue to volunteer with Samaritans and my 12 years there have given me extensive experience supporting emotional and crisis calls, which continues to shape how I approach support.

Volunteering has always been a huge part of my life. I was also nominated Director of the Samaritans Harrow branch, a role I held for three years. During that time, with the support of an incredible team of around 90 volunteers, we made significant improvements to how the branch operated. I still manage the rota for all 90 volunteers and genuinely love doing it. Supporting volunteers to feel confident, valued and connected is something I care deeply about and I’m excited to bring those skills and experiences into my role as MS Help Hub Manager.

As MS Help Hub Manager, I’m involved in the rollout of MS Help and lead the day-to-day delivery of the Hub, which is the first point of contact into services for anyone affected by MS, including family and carers. I support our Hub staff and volunteers to deliver high-quality, relationship-based support, helping people feel heard, understood and confident navigating services. The Hub brings together emotional support, information and signposting across multiple channels, helping people find the right support more easily and consistently, while we continue to improve how we work based on feedback and insight from the MS community.

MS Help is about creating a more joined-up, easier-to-navigate way for people to access support- helping people find trusted information, expert guidance and personal support in one place. At the heart of this is a relationship-based approach, getting to know people and tailoring support to what matters most to them.

Volunteers are central to everything we do. The future model is built around well-supported volunteers delivering high quality services in their communities, with stronger links between local and national support. As a volunteer myself, I understand how much time, care and energy volunteers give. I want volunteers to feel supported, connected and confident in the support they provide and proud of the difference they make.

I’m excited to help shape a service that feels genuinely person-centred, where people don’t feel passed around and where staff and volunteers feel empowered to do their best work. I’m also looking forward to continuing to build strong relationships across teams and with our Hub volunteers and staff, so that support feels consistent, safe and compassionate however someone connects with us.

Outside work, I love cinema and theatre, spoiling my cat and daughters (in that order), good food and the comfort of being at home. I also try to do some form of exercise every day - it’s my way of switching off and recharging.

The resilience of the MS community and the dedication of volunteers and colleagues give me hope. Even through periods of change, the care, professionalism and commitment I see every day continues to shine through. It’s a privilege to be part of that.

Please join our Volunteer Voice session on Thursday 26 March at 2pm to hear more about MS Help and the Help Hub. You can register here.