Overall GiG Score: 11 ?
Finance Score: -4
Governance Score: 9
Support Score: 6
  • Poor Liquidity: -1
  • Good Reserves: +1Large legacies income: +1
  • Multiple Deficits: -2
  • Fundraising costs high: -3
  • Good trustee age range: +3
  • Dynamic board: +3
  • Gender balanced board: +3
  • Grant maker support: +6

MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS SOCIETY 

The MS Society (formerly charity no.207495) funds and promotes research to develop new treatments and services for people with MS and to understand the causes of MS. We provide support to people affected by MS, and seek to raise awareness, understanding, and improve care and support for all people living with MS. We operate across England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales.
Analysis by Giving is Great

Positives:

  • The charity has received backing from multiple prominent grant makers, including a Community Foundation, recently
  • This charity has received considerable income from legacies in recent years
  • The Board appears to be well diversified in terms of age and gender and dynamic in terms of composition

Regulatory & Governance issues to consider:

  • Over half the Board have joined recently

Financial issues to consider:

  • Liquidity appears to have been slender at the latest year end but unrestricted reserves are available
  • On several occasions in recent years income has been less than spending
  • Fundraising costs are extremely high relative to funds raised
Established: 13 years

www.mssociety.org.uk

supportercare@mssociety.org.uk

020 8438 0700

Charity Commission for England and WalesCompanies HouseFacebookInstagramX
UN SDGs
?

Financial Data ?

Income & Spending ?
Sources of Income ?
Y/E Income
£k
Spending
£k
Surplus/
Deficit
Fundraising
Cost £k
Total
Funds £k
Unrestricted
Funds £k
Mths
Rsrvs
Staff Volun-
teers
31/12/22£26,931£27,724£-793£8,129£17,882£24,78810.72773,000
31/12/21£29,431£24,755£4,676£7,303£21,088£28,66813.92723,000
31/12/20£20,487£23,460£-2,973£6,978£14,635£20,82710.72963,000
31/12/19£28,600£31,136£-2,536£8,454£17,189£22,0558.53163,500
31/12/18£28,775£29,056£-281£7,723£17,856£19,6798.13115,000
31/12/17£28,852£28,802£50£7,335£19,213£19,15282950
31/12/16£29,023£29,531£-508£7,376£17,369£14,76963030
31/12/15£27,743£27,925£-182£7,092£16,158£13,3255.72810
31/12/14£26,132£26,340£-208£5,597£15,489£12,8775.92540
31/12/13£24,093£28,036£-3,943£5,449£15,393£12,0615.22560
31/12/12£25,414£27,687£-2,273£5,261£18,240£14,7306.42710
31/12/11£28,919£32,740£-3,821£5,303£19,852£15,5665.74070

Financial Ratios
Fundraising Costs/Relevant Income: 32.6%
Fundraising Costs/Total Spending: 29.3%
Senior Staff Costs/Total Spending: 5%
Highest pay band: £150,000-£200,000
Liabilities/Assets: 40%
Liabilities/Income: 45%
Unrestricted Funds/Total Funds: 139%
Reserves/Spending: 10.7 months
Net Current Assets/Spending: 0 months
Quick Ratio: 0.1
Asset Split ?
What it does
  • Disability
  • Education/Training
  • General Charitable Purposes
  • The Advancement Of Health Or Saving Of Lives
Who works here?
  • 277 employees
  • 3,000 volunteers
Who it helps
  • Other Defined Groups
  • People With Disabilities
How it operates
  • Makes Grants to Individuals
  • Makes Grants to Organisations
  • Provides advocacy/advice/information
  • Provides services
  • Sponsors or undertakes research
Where it operates
  • Guernsey, Isle Of Man, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Throughout England And Wales,

Who's supporting them? ?

Donations from Grant Makers ?

We have details on the following significant donations. Multi-year donations are allocated to the years for which they are earmarked.

Major supporters in last 5 years
National Lottery Community Fund£928,300
Co-Operative Group£26,728
City Bridge Trust£19,787
Cheshire Community Foundation£10,000
Specific Donations
Amount When
Months
To be used for
Devon Community Foundation - Grant to South Devon Multiple Sclerosis Society
£2,000 22/09/2023
To enable the South Devon Multiple Sclerosis Society to provide 2 face-to-face and one online exercise class for people of all ages with Multiple Sclerosis.
National Lottery Community Fund - Mind over MS - Counselling Support
£10,000 04/09/2023
The Multiple Sclerosis Society in Cardiff will use £10000 to provide counselling sessions to support the mental health and wellbeing of people living with MS across Wales. Bydd y Gymdeithas ....more
Masonic Trust - MCF Matched Funding
£600 07/11/2022
Unrestricted matched funding in partnership with the local masonic province
Co-Operative Group - Grant to Castlederg Multiple Sclerosis Group
£1,592 22/10/2022
The aim of this project is to pay for therapies which will help the wellbeing of multiple sclerosis (MS) sufferers in our community.
National Lottery Community Fund - Basingstoke & District Group of The MS Society
£8,300 16/09/2022
The funding will be used to host an information event where they will invite organisations to deliver talks to people living with Multiple Sclerosis with topics including benefits and therapists ....more
National Lottery Community Fund - Reach Out Connect
£10,000 12/08/2022
The Multiple Sclerosis Society based in Belfast is using a £10000 grant to continue their existing range of online activities for individuals with Multiple Sclerosis including Yoga an exercise class ....more
National Lottery Community Fund - Advice and support for people with Multiple Sclerosis.
£10,000 08/07/2022
The funding will be used to pay for a caseworker to continue the successful delivery of specialist advice and support for people with MS their carers and families. The project aims to decrease stress ....more
National Lottery Community Fund - People living with MS as Leaders by Experience
£9,039 27/05/2022
The funding will be used to develop a new user led service for people living with Multiple Sclerosis. The project aims to further shape the support on offer increase skills and confidence and promote ....more
Foundation Scotland - Grant to MS Society
£200 27/04/2022
Unrestricted donation from Alan G R Findlay
Community Foundation serving Tyne & Wear and Northumberland - A grant to Multiple Sclerosis Society UK
£2,800 24/03/2022
Providing online counselling sessions to individuals with Multiple Sclerosis living in South Northumberland
National Lottery Community Fund - Accessible exercise for people with MS
£7,440 04/03/2022
The funding will be used to increase the amount and frequency of assessible exercise classes for people living with Multiple Sclerosis. The project aims to improve people’s physical health and ....more
Co-Operative Group - Grant to MS Society - Shetland
£12,806 23/10/2021
We will use the money to increase our funding of mobility classes and other related activities for those with MS in the community.
Co-Operative Group - Grant to MS Society Bournemouth & District Group
£5,564 23/10/2021
We will provide a beneficial physical activity and mental wellbeing while socialising.
Co-Operative Group - Grant to MS Society South West Bucks Group
£2,170 23/10/2021
We would create a programme of social events and outings during 2021 to improve the wellbeing of people with multiple sclerosis (MS) by providing companionship and interest outside their homes.
Foundation Scotland - Grant to MS Society
£250 12/07/2021
Donation from Alan Findlay
National Lottery Community Fund - Social Connect Pilot Project South and North Wales
£10,000 01/07/2021
Multiple Sclerosis Society in Cardiff will use £10000 to provide ongoing support for young adults with MS through meetings social groups and information events.
National Lottery Community Fund - Supporting the MS community to combat social isolation during and after Covid-19
£10,000 20/05/2021
Multiple Sclerosis Society is using a £10000 grant to run a new digital support programme for people in Northern Ireland affected by Multiple Sclerosis. The project includes a virtual choir ....more
The Grocers' Charity - 2021 - Multople Sclerosis Society
£1,300 04/02/2021
Supporting people with medical conditions
Masonic Trust - MCF Matched Funding
£417 29/01/2021
Unrestricted matched funding in partnership with the local masonic province
Masonic Trust - MCF Matched Funding
£417 29/01/2021
Unrestricted matched funding in partnership with the local masonic province
Foundation Scotland - Grant to MS Society
£500 08/11/2020
Donation from Hew Mathewson
Co-Operative Group - Grant to Multiple Sclerosis Group for Bury St Edmunds
£4,595 24/10/2020
We would like to buy sufficient art and craft materials to equip a class for 12 MS sufferers with a tutor for one year.
Halifax Foundation for Northern Ireland - Never Alone
£3,500 27/07/2020
COVID - Towards volunteer training to get online
Suffolk Community Foundation - Suffolk West Citizens Advice Partnership
£2,500 19/07/2020
11
To pay for the core running costs of the debt advisory service provided by this local branch of the MS Society.
Foundation Scotland - Grant to MS Society
£125 09/07/2020
Donation to Alan Findlay
Suffolk Community Foundation - Providing benefits advice for people with MS during Covid-19
£4,000 06/07/2020
5
To continue to support the benefit advice service provided by this local branch of the MS Society for 6 months.
Hertfordshire Community Foundation - Neurophysio
£4,820 06/07/2020
Grant to North Hertfordshire Multiple Sclerosis Group
CAF - Grant to Multiple Sclerosis Society Northern Ireland
£4,359 25/06/2020
3
Grant to Multiple Sclerosis Society Northern Ireland to support the organisation through COVID19
Cambridgeshire Community Foundation - Grant to Multiple Sclerosis Society Huntingdon & District Group
£2,000 25/06/2020
5
to offer welfare benefits advice to 25 people living with MS, their families and carers in the Huntingdonshire area
National Lottery Community Fund - Keeping people with MS in touch fit and financially secure during Covid-19
£164,991 24/06/2020
5
The MS Society will use funding to adapt and increase the capacity of its freephone MS helpline and digital platforms meaning more people will be able to access information and support. The funding ....more
National Lottery Community Fund - COVID-19 - Supporting the MS community to combat digital exclusion
£10,000 08/06/2020
11
Multiple Sclerosis Society in Cardiff will use £10000 to provide volunteer-led online health and wellbeing activities for people with MS across Wales. Bydd Cymdeithas Sglerosis Ymledol yng ....more
City Bridge Trust - Grant to Multiple Sclerosis Society
£19,787 05/06/2020
£19,787 towards three months of expenditure on costs as outlined in your application.
National Lottery Community Fund - Pontio - improved choice security and wellbeing for people living with MS
£499,252 21/05/2020
36
Multiple Sclerosis Society have been awarded £499253 over three years to build on their existing work supporting people from across Wales with Multiple Sclerosis by providing emotional well-being ....more
National Lottery Community Fund - INforMS -Helping people living with or affected by MS to make informed choices
£9,550 16/01/2020
9
Multiple Sclerosis Society Northern Ireland is using a £9,550 grant to provide information and support for people across Northern Ireland living with MS and their families. The project includes a ....more
Halifax Foundation for Northern Ireland - INforMS
£5,400 10/12/2019
INforMS
Cheshire Community Foundation - contribution to costs
£10,000 05/12/2019
Our mission is to help anyone whose life is affected by Multiple Sclerosis (MS), including those diagnosed, their carers, family and friends within Cheshire East & High Peak. Our purpose is to ....more
National Lottery Community Fund - Mind My MS Enabling People in Mid & East Antrim To Live Well with MS
£169,728 14/06/2019
24
The Multiple Sclerosis Society is using a £155,973 grant over two years to support people with the condition in Mid and East Antrim. The project is creating café style support groups, run by ....more
National Lottery Community Fund - MS Society (Greenwich) Social Isolation
£4,500 08/03/2019
12
The project will run a series of social activities for people living with multiple sclerosis. The aim is to bring people together to reduce isolation and support independent living.
Garfield Weston Foundation - Multi-Year Grant (3 Years) award
£337,000 18/01/2019
Investigating reactive oxygen species (ROS) as a drug target for myelin repair and assessing myelin debris clearance using an automated screening pipeline
National Lottery Community Fund - My MS, My Way: enabling people in Tayside to live well with MS
£132,773 23/11/2018
24
This group will use the funding to pilot a programme of support for people with Multiple Sclerosis in Dundee, Angus and Perth and Kinross. The programme will focus on people who have been newly ....more
Co-Operative Group - Grant to GOSPORT & FAREHAM BRANCH OF THE MS SOCIETY
£2,632 19/11/2018
Money will fund our MS Group Yoga sessions for 2018 – two 90 minute sessions each month.
National Lottery Community Fund - My MS - What matters to me
£8,100 19/10/2018
12
The project aims to evaluate how to help people living with MS to integrate into society and raise awareness.
National Lottery Community Fund - aMaSing Choirs for South Wales
£5,000 12/10/2018
12
aMaSing Choirs for South Wales
Somerset Community Foundation - Core running costs
£5,000 01/10/2018
11
Core funding to support people affected by multiple sclerosis
Cheshire Community Foundation - contribution to running costs
£5,000 19/09/2018
contribution to running costs
National Lottery Community Fund - Improving the quality of life for people with multiple sclerosis
£274,911 31/05/2018
28
This funding will create a partnership between local groups from the Multiple Sclerosis Society (MSS), Citizens Advice Manchester (CAM) and other voluntary organisations to support people newly ....more
National Lottery Community Fund - Active Together: Fitness and Friendship for People with MS
£149,415 24/05/2018
26
The project will be working with people with Multiple Sclerosis to improve access to and take up of physical activity sessions. It will pilot working with the National Exercise Referral Scheme to ....more
Sport England - RG Physical Activity Project
£117,552 28/03/2018
23
Funding under Sport England's Tackling Inactivity funding programme for a Revenue project titled RG Physical Activity Project. This project is a Sport participation and capacity building project, ....more
National Lottery Community Fund - MS Society IT Matters
£9,194 07/12/2017
12
The group supports people with Multiple Sclerosis, their families and carers across Northern Ireland. They are using the grant of £9,194 to improve their volunteers’ IT skills across local MS ....more
Co-Operative Group - Grant to MS Society, Eastbourne and South Wealden Branch
£3,506 29/11/2017
We want to run social groups allowing people affected by MS to attend and enjoy company and activities together.
Co-Operative Group - Grant to Trafford and South West Manchester Multiple Sclerosis Society
£3,178 04/08/2017
We want to introduce weekly mindfulness classes that help people with, and affected by, MS to cope with health and life challenges.
Co-Operative Group - Grant to MS Society - Orkney Branch
£5,291 04/08/2017
Fund our massage service for local people with MS to help to improve their physical, emotional and social wellbeing.
National Lottery Community Fund - Gaining and maintaining fitness for people with MS in Huntingdonshire
£9,196 15/03/2017
12
This project will run exercise and wellbeing activities for people suffering from multiple sclerosis, their carers and partners.
Seafarers UK - Grant to Mutual Support
£4,000 28/02/2017
Part funding to support seafarers' attending a Multiple Sclerosis Support and Respite weekend.
Seafarers UK - Grant to Mutual Support
£4,000 28/02/2017
Part funding to support seafarers' attending a Multiple Sclerosis Support and Respite weekend.
Masonic Trust - My Rights, My Choices project
£55,200 19/10/2016
Project will seek to support people living with M.S. in Wales by offering specialist support and training sessions.
National Lottery Community Fund - My MS - My Rights, My Choices
£447,293 28/09/2016
36
'My MS - My Rights, My Choices'
National Lottery Community Fund - Dundee Needs Assessment
£10,000 10/08/2016
12
This project will assess the needs and gather information on the experiences of people living with MS in the Dundee area in order to establish how the group can impact positively on local lives.
The Clothworkers Foundation - Grant to MS SOCIETY
£15,000 13/06/2016
purchase a minibus for a charity which works with disabled people in Dorset
National Lottery Community Fund - MS STaRS- Strength Training and Rehabilitation Sessions
£10,000 14/10/2015
12
The organisation will use the funding to run a 12 week programme of exercise for people suffering from MS. This will enable the organisation to assist in rehabilitation for people suffering from this ....more
National Lottery Community Fund - MEETING THE NEED- SUPPORT GRANTS FOR PEOPLE WITH MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS
£10,000 01/10/2014
12
Not Available
Henry Smith Charity - Grant to Multiple Sclerosis Society
£109,000 14/03/2012
24
towards two years' funding of the salary of Dr Dan Ma and her work into the prevention and repair of damaged myelin as a treatment for multiple sclerosis
Show more rows

Data sourced from Donors via 360 Giving

How is it governed?

Trustees (11)
Current Trustees appointed
Gender Split
Based on 9/11 persons

Age Range of Trustees: 32-68
  • STEPHEN O'KEANE Appointed: 2024, Occupation: Head Of Transformation, Financial Services
Legal constitution
  • Charitable company registered in England & Wales on 02/12/2010, number: 1139257
  • Registered at Companies House on 25/11/2010, number: 07451571
Gift Aid
  • Registered with HMRC for Gift Aid
Event History
Policies in force
  • Complaints handling
  • Conflicting interests
  • Investment
  • Paying staff
  • Risk management
  • Safeguarding vulnerable beneficiaries
  • Volunteer management
Filing Record
12 returns made; all on time
Recent reorganisation events:
  • Asset transfer in from THE BUTTI FOUNDATION on 10/08/2021
  • Asset transfer in from GOLDEN YEARS LUNCH AND SOCIAL CLUB on 22/08/2023
Main office

Carriage House
8 City North Place
London
N4 3FU

Objectives

1) TO SUPPORT AND RELIEVE PEOPLE AFFECTED BY MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS.2) TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE AFFECTED BY MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS TO ATTAIN THEIR FULL POTENTIAL AS MEMBERS OF SOCIETY BY IMPROVING THEIR CONDITIONS OF LIFE.3) TO PROMOTE RESEARCH INTO MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS AND ALLIED CONDITIONS AND TO PUBLISH THE RESULTS.

Defined Area of Benefit:

UNDEFINED. IN PRACTICE NATIONAL AND OVERSEAS.

Data Sources

Charity Commission for England and Wales
360 Giving
CharityBase
Authorised officials of this charity can add information to this page (including a Donate Now button) for no cost

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