MS-UK is a national charity formed in 1993. We are here for people affected by multiple sclerosis – that’s around *150,000 people in the UK or one in every 500, with about 135 people diagnosed every week on average. The overall number of people living with multiple sclerosis worldwide is estimated to be 2.3 million. MS-UK is here for anyone affected by multiple sclerosis, to empower them to live healthier and happier lives by improving the understanding of MS and providing support where it is needed most.
MS is a condition that affects the central nervous system – the brain and spinal cord. There is currently no cure. The symptoms people experience vary greatly from person to person and over time. Such symptoms may include fatigue, pain, sensory problems such as with vision, cognition difficulties and issues with bodily functions such as speech and swallowing and bladder and bowel.
Just as there is no cure, there is also no definitive understanding of the cause of MS. This means that there is no consensus around how to treat or manage MS, doubling the uncertainty in people’s lives and those around them. This is why MS-UK has always been at the forefront of promoting choice, of providing people with all the information and support they need to live life as they wish to with multiple sclerosis; whether that be through drugs, complementary therapies, lifestyle changes, a mixture of these or none at all.
A world where people affected by multiple sclerosis live healthier and happier lives.
To improve understanding of multiple sclerosis and provide support where it is needed most.
All of the staff at MS-UK sign up to our values and actively use them in their day to day roles. These are the values that guide our work…
The voices of people affected by multiple sclerosis inform all our work
We do not accept funding from sources that may, or can be perceived to, jeopardise our ability to act in the best interests of people affected by MS
We are knowledgeable and provide high quality services
We will always be balanced in the information we share
We respect an individual’s right to make choices for themselves
We treat everyone fairly, with respect, care and compassion
* ‘MS Society Multiple Sclerosis Incidence, and Prevalence in the UK’. 2024. The Health Improvement Network (THIN) Database (A Cegedim Proprietary Database). This work uses data provided by patients and collected by the NHS as part of their care and support.
