We’ve teamed up with over 20 other leading charities to write a joint letter to the UK’s biggest supermarkets, urging them to waive online delivery charges for customers who are shielding.
With those who are clinically vulnerable to COVID-19 being asked again by Government to stay at home, many people with MS have no choice but to shop online. This means added delivery charges and minimum spends, significantly increasing the cost of food.
We’d like to hear more about the experiences of people with MS during the pandemic, and particularly the impact of the latest lockdown and the hope of vaccines.
This will help us ensure we’re providing the right information on our website and raising your concerns and issues with the UK Government, media and others.
We’ve set up a special 'Share your story' page, which you can find on our website here, so please add your experience and, if possible, encourage, others to do the same.
It’s only week two of the New Year yet somehow the holidays seem a long time ago already. This festive season was very different for so many of us - I personally missed seeing our close family (brothers, sisters, cousins) and some of our close friends as we normally do at this time of year.
Our research programme has been significantly affected by coronavirus. Researchers were redeployed to the NHS and labs closed due to social distancing. This affected many of the vital projects we fund – projects that could change what it means to live with MS.
Whilst 2021 is still unknown, we have high hopes for coming together in 2021 for some fun outdoor activities. If things change, we'll be sure to update you but we're excited to get planning for them. We know summer is a little way away yet though. We’ve therefore launched an exciting new initiative called Game Over for MS in the meantime.
Game Over for MS
Looking for something to keep you busy during lockdown? If you, or someone you know is into computer games, then we’ve got the perfect thing for you!
With the announcement of another UK-wide lockdown, it’s more important than ever to keep connected with the individuals and communities who are important in our lives.
Last year it was inspiring to see how those of you who could, continued to provide support to each other, your volunteers, members and service users online or by telephone. We know that following the announcement many of you will be looking to continue keeping in touch this way.
To help you do this, we’ve put together some resources and tips which you might find useful.
Last year 95 people affected by MS joined us at one of our Wellbeing Sessions and 1,147 participants attended our information webinars. Following feedback about how helpful these Living Well sessions were, we’ve been busy planning our 2021 programme. We’re pleased to be able to now share with you what we have in store over the next few months.
I hope you’ve managed to have a restful break and that you and your families are safe and well.
In usual circumstances, it would be appropriate to wish you all a very happy New Year. However, after the Government’s announcement of another UK-wide lockdown, following national lockdown announcements in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales, I feel there’s a need for a different message this year.
We launched a new press campaign this week as part of our Stop MS Appeal. The aim of the campaign is to extend the reach of Stop MS and challenge the way people think about the condition. We want more people to realise that MS doesn’t just affect older people.
We recently carried out a study with Public Health England. It shows one in five people with MS in the UK is now under the age of 30. In the last year alone, we estimate over 1,250 people under 30 have been diagnosed.
It is the most common progressive neurological condition in young adults today.
