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Induction and Support Volunteer Training
We need to ensure our groups are able to offer MS Support services that are safe, accessible and impactful.
See Group Handbook D1: Offering MS Support
We do this by ensuring all Lead Support Volunteers and Support Volunteers have:
- A thorough induction programme
- Mandatory Support Volunteer Training
- Ongoing face to face, phone and email support
Welcome and induction
We want all volunteers who are new to a role to know what to do and who can help, right from the start.
Welcome Booklet
Our Welcome Booklet is for all volunteers newly joining us. It includes information about:
- Who we are and how we work
- Our commitments to you and our expectations
- Our approach to learning and development
- Go to Welcome to the MS Society to download our Welcome Booklet and watch our welcome video
Welcome and induction checklists
We provide all volunteers who are new to a role with a role specific welcome and induction checklist to help you settle in.
- Lead Support Volunteer welcome and induction checklist
- Support Volunteer welcome and induction checklist
Induction activities
New Lead Support Volunteers and Support Volunteers joining an existing MS Support service can assist current Lead Support Volunteers and Support Volunteers to provide activities during their induction period, but must not offer one to one support until Support Volunteer Training is completed.
If your group sets up a new MS Support service, you must ensure that all Lead Support Volunteers and Support Volunteers complete Support Volunteer Training before starting.
- Find out more about Setting up your MS Support service
Support Volunteer Training
Once we receive your disclosure certificate, we’ll invite you to attend Support Volunteer Training.
Support Volunteer Training is mandatory for all volunteers that carry out Support Volunteer tasks.
It has four modules:
1. Choice and control
- Barriers people affected by MS may face
- The importance of having choice and control
- Skills, qualities and good practice when offering MS Support
2. Emotional support
- Principles and boundaries of offering emotional support
- Common responses and questions about MS
- The impact of diagnosis on everyone it affects
3. Information matters
- Confidentiality and safeguarding awareness
- Providing appropriate and quality information
- Signposting to local and national specialist advice services
4. Money matters
- Financial issues people affected by MS may face
- Access to money, work and benefits information and support services
- Supporting people to apply for MS Society and external grants
Need support?
You support people affected by MS, but who supports you?
We do - with practical, emotional and peer support options, access to our specialist signposting database, regular knowledge updates and key MS Support resources.
- Find out how we Support your team
Back to Offering MS Support
