Are you looking to join a community of people affected by multiple sclerosis (MS) who just get it? Whether you’ve been newly diagnosed, have been living with the condition for a while or support a friend or loved one, our groups can offer you valuable support.
Our Peer Pods are a collection of online groups that are open to anyone affected by MS. These regular sessions are held via Zoom and facilitated by volunteer peer supporters who live with the condition themselves, so you’ll be able to relate to them and others.
We know that joining a group like this can feel daunting, so If you feel at all apprehensive about joining a session for the first time you can contact Vicky, our Peer Support Coordinator, at peersupport@ms-uk.org. She can answer any questions you may have and even arrange for you to meet the host beforehand to make you feel at ease.
Connecting with others who are going through similar experiences can provide a sense of comfort and understanding, helping alleviate feelings of isolation and loneliness.
By sharing your journey with others and hearing about their experiences, you can gain valuable insights, tips, and coping strategies for managing the challenges of living with MS.
Being part of a supportive community can help you feel empowered and motivated to take control of your health and wellbeing.
Our peer support groups are a valuable source of information about MS, treatment options, lifestyle changes and resources available to help manage your condition effectively.
Building connections with others who truly understand what you’re going through can lead to lasting friendships that can make your journey with MS feel less daunting.
Simply fill out our online enquiry form. Once submitted, you will receive a welcome email that includes the weekly timetable and Peer Pod guidelines. The timetable lists the days and times of each pod session, and includes the Zoom details, which are the same every time.
No, you only need to submit one online enquiry form, and this will add you to our mailing list. The form will ask you to tick your Peer Pod of choice, and you can tick as many as you like! Once you have received the timetable, you are welcome to pop into any session that you like, even if you haven’t listed it on your form. If you then decide to attend regularly, we can add you to the list for that pod so that you receive any updates or reminders.
There is no need to book, just log on at the start time of your chosen session and the host will be there to welcome you! We kindly ask though that you try to arrive as close to the start time as possible for minimal disruption once the conversation has started.
Definitely not! The Peer Pods are purely there to provide an opportunity for you to connect with others if and when you would like to or feel in need of support. You can attend as little or as often as you like, the choice is entirely yours.
The only time we may check in with you is if you have been attending regularly, and then suddenly disappear and we’re genuinely concerned about you.
Reminders are sent for some of the Peer Pods that don’t run every week. You will only receive a reminder for a particular pod if you have listed it as one of your choices, but feel free to ask to be added to the list if you’d like to be included.
Of course! You are welcome to try any Peer Pods you like (some may require you to fit a certain criterion, identifying as female for the Women’s pod for example). All of the Peer Pods differ in terms of group size or personalities etc. and you may find that one feels like a better fit than another. There is absolutely no obligation for you to return or even stay for the whole session if you feel it’s not for you.
Absolutely. The host will invite you to introduce yourself the first time you attend, but you need only share what you feel comfortable with, and you don’t need to engage with the conversation unless you’d like to. You may even prefer to keep your camera off and just observe to begin with and hopefully will feel more confident as you get to know the others in the group.
