Finance update

We’re continuing to grapple with a number of resource and system issues in relation to providing finance support to our groups. We’re sorry for this, and are working as quickly as we can to find solutions and recruit into vacant roles. We sincerely apologise for the inconvenience and frustration this will be causing some volunteers.

On Wednesday 8 June, we launched a new joint campaign with the Neurological Alliance - ‘Back the 1 in 6’.

1 in 6 people in the UK live with a neurological condition but there simply isn’t the workforce or services in place to provide the support they need. From delays to life changing treatment and care, to a lack of mental wellbeing support and inconsistent access to information - we know this is something that affects too many people with MS.

Our Helpline will close at 7pm on Wednesday 1 June, and reopen on at 9am on Monday 6 June.

Every June, all around the world, people come together for Pride Month, to commemorate the Stonewall riots - the protests that changed gay rights for many people in America and beyond. 

At the MS Society, we’ve celebrated Pride for the last four years, standing in solidarity with our lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer, intersex + (LGBTQI+) colleagues and community.  

Our new Executive Director of Engagement and Income Generation, Ed Tait, will join the MS Society in early September this year. He brings with him over 20 years of charity experience working in various senior leadership roles.

We’re excited to let you know that the MS Society will be featuring on BBC One later this month. We’ve secured a Lifeline TV Appeal which is a wonderful opportunity to raise vital funds, as well as awareness of what it’s like to live with multiple sclerosis and the incredible work we do.

The appeal will be on BBC One on Sunday 26 June. It will be repeated on BBC Two the following week and available on the BBC iPlayer for a month. There’s information about previous charity Lifeline appeals here on the BBC website.

Today (1 June) marks the start of the Volunteers’ Week, which is always one of my favourite times in the annual calendar. It’s a time to recognise the fantastic contribution volunteers make across the UK and say thank you. And whilst I hope you feel our gratitude all year round, Volunteers’ Week is an opportunity to stop and really focus on all the wonderful things you do to support the MS community to live better with MS.

Professor Sir Paul Curran will join the MS Society as our new Chair of the Board in early July.

Sir Paul started his career as a university academic, and was a NASA research scientist and advisor to the European Space Agency. More recently he was a university leader, serving as President of City, University of London for over a decade and previously as Vice-Chancellor of Bournemouth University and Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Dean of Science of the University of Southampton.

We’ve been looking into a couple of finance system issues affecting groups and how we can improve finance support in general.

Staff recruitment

Thank you for bearing with us whilst we address the staffing gap in the Finance Support Team. We know that it’s a frustrating situation and that you’re having to wait longer than is helpful for responses to queries. We’re very sorry about this.