About the MS Society
The MS Society is the UK's largest charity for people affected by Multiple Sclerosis (MS).
We are a membership organisation but provide services to all.
With a network of branches & regions across the UK, the Society has a National Centre in London and national offices in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Cymru/Wales.
About MS
Multiple Sclerosis is the most common disabling neurological disorder affecting young adults. It is estimated that 85,000 people in the UK have MS.
MS is the result of damage to myelin – a protective sheath surrounding the nerve fibres of the central nervous system. Although the exact cause is unknown, it appears to result from a malfunction of the immune system, which then starts to attack the body.
Recent research has shown that although MS is not hereditary, the presence of certain genes can make an individual susceptible to this malfunction, which may also be triggered by a viral infection. It affects every individual differently.
There are many different symptoms of MS and people can be affected in different ways. Some of the possible effects include fatigue, pain, loss of mobility, vision problems, depression, tremor, speech problems, bladder or bowel problems and difficulty with balancing.
What the MS Society does
The MS Society is the UK’s largest charity dedicated to supporting everyone whose life is affected by MS. We invest heavily in research with the hope of finding more effective treatments and, eventually a cure. We provide respite care and a freephone Helpline, a website full of useful information and forums where people living with MS can get in touch with each other, and we publish a wide range of booklets. We also give grants, for example for home adaptations, and we help fund a network of MS specialist nurses.
Research
- Since its founding in 1953, the MS Society has invested more than £50 million in biomedical and applied research and currently has an £11 million commitment to around 50 projects across the UK
- Current research we are funding includes; investigating how nerve fibres can be protected against MS and identifying genes that can make people susceptible to the condition
Nurses
- There are over 200 MS nurse posts, 94 of which have received both funding and ongoing support from the MS Society
- Each MS Specialist Nurse will help hundreds of people with MS each year giving information and support from first diagnosis and throughout the progression of their illness
Helpline
- The MS Society runs a freephone Helpline service that provides emotional support and information to people with MS throughout the UK. It is an invaluable resource for anyone affected by MS, whether newly diagnosed, family, friends, health or social care professionals
Grants
- The MS Society provides grants to people with MS to assist with the cost of items they need because of their disability, but for which there is no health or social service funding
Respite
- The MS Society runs four respite centres across the UK that offer specialist care for people severely affected by MS, where teams of fully trained and experienced staff provide high quality care 24 hours a day
For further information about our work, please see our website, http://www.mssociety.org.uk
