MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS SOCIETY

Registered charity 1139257 · accounts filings on the Charity Commission register · Wikidata: Q6934907 · Wikipedia · also known as MS SOCIETY · also registered in Scotland as SC041990 (OSCR)

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.

Objects

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.

Area of benefit: UNDEFINED. IN PRACTICE NATIONAL AND OVERSEAS.

The charity’s charitable objects and area of benefit, quoted from its governing document as held on the Charity Commission register.

Causes: General Charitable Purposes · Education/training · The Advancement Of Health Or Saving Of Lives · Disability · Grant history (this charity is a funder) · website · Get email alerts

Registered contact address: Islington, London, England (from the postcode on the register)

Received the assets of SPEAKEASIER (charity 1087208) — merger registered 07/01/2013.

Source: Charity Commission register of merged charities (OGL v3.0).

Latest income

£30.7m

Latest spending

£32.7m

Registered

2010

Accounts read

FY2025

Financial health, per its FY2025 accounts

The accounts state that free reserves held were £4.4m, equating to 6.9 weeks of planned expenditure, which is below the charity's longer-term policy target of 10-14 weeks. The charity reported a net deficit of £1.4m for the year, driven by investment in transformation projects, but confirms it has adequate financial resources and no material uncertainties regarding its ability to continue as a going concern.

Automated summary of the FY2025 accounts; the evidenced findings below carry the verbatim passages.

What the accounts disclose

Largest income source: Legacies (50% of income)

“Legacies remain a key source of income accounting for half of our income and we saw a 9.3% increase in 2025. Income in this area grew to £15.4m from £14.1m in 2024.” — page 21

Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.

Reserves position: below the charity's own stated reserves policy (held: £4.4m; policy: a lower limit of 10 weeks of planned expenditure and an upper limit of 14 weeks planned expenditure)

“On the 31 December, free reserves held were £4.4m (2024: £6.2m), equating to 6.9 weeks of planned expenditure (2024: 9.1 weeks) which is in line with our short-term reserves policy position but outside our longer-term policy range.” — page 24

Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.

Related-party transaction: MS International Federation (MSIF)

“Vicky Annis (Director of Corporate Services) is the treasurer of the MS International Federation (MSIF) and Nick Moberly (Chief Executive) is a trustee. In 2025 £63k (2024: £208k) of costs relating to the annual subscription fee and The May 50k were paid to MSIF.” — page 52

Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.

Trading subsidiary: MSS (Trading) Limited

“The Multiple Sclerosis Society is the sole shareholder, owning two shares, in MSS (Trading) Limited, company number 02895015. The principal activities of MSS (Trading) Limited are corporate sponsorship, sale of greeting cards and sale of advertising space for the benefit of the MS Society.” — page 35

Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.

Accounts audited by HaysMac LLP. Discloses 4 of 6 completeness components.

Policies the charity declares

In its annual return the charity told the Commission that it has the policies listed below. This is self-declared: it is not verified by the Commission or by this site, and it is not evidence of how a policy works in practice.

Bullying and harassment policy and procedures
Campaigns and political activity policy and procedures
Complaints handling
Complaints policy and procedures
Conflicting interests
Engaging external speakers at charity events policy and procedures
Financial reserves policy and procedures
Internal charity financial controls policy and procedures
Internal risk management policy and procedures
Investing charity funds policy and procedures
Investment
Paying staff
Risk management
Safeguarding policy and procedures
Safeguarding vulnerable beneficiaries
Serious incident reporting policy and procedures
Social media policy and procedures
Trustee conflicts of interest policy and procedures
Trustee expenses policy and procedures
Volunteer management

From the charity’s annual return (Part A, self-declared)

Answers and figures the charity gave in Part A of its annual return to the Charity Commission. They are self-declared: not verified by the Commission or by this site. Only positive answers and figures are listed; items not listed are simply not shown.

Self-declared on the annual return for the financial year ending 31/12/2025

Volunteers: 3,000
Government income: £5,486 — grants £5,486 (3); under 1% of the £30,655,000 total gross income on the same return
Employees paid over £60,000: 26 (£60,001–£70,000: 12; £70,001–£80,000: 9; £80,001–£90,000: 1; £90,001–£100,000: 3; £150,001–£200,000: 1)
Has a trading subsidiary

Self-declared on the annual return for the financial year ending 31/12/2024

Volunteers: 2,700
Government income: £602,787 — grants £602,787 (7); 2% of the £29,776,000 total gross income on the same return
Employees paid over £60,000: 22 (£60,001–£70,000: 14; £70,001–£80,000: 4; £80,001–£90,000: 1; £90,001–£100,000: 2; £150,001–£200,000: 1)
Has a trading subsidiary

Self-declared on the annual return for the financial year ending 31/12/2023

Volunteers: 3,000
Government income: £544,940 — grants £544,940 (3); 2% of the £27,652,000 total gross income on the same return
Employees paid over £60,000: 18 (£60,001–£70,000: 12; £70,001–£80,000: 2; £90,001–£100,000: 3; £150,001–£200,000: 1)
Has a trading subsidiary

Source: this charity’s annual returns on the Charity Commission register.

In the news

Recent coverage mentioning this charity by name (automated match; headlines belong to their publishers).

Oculis Joins the National Multiple Sclerosis Society’s Campaign to End MS globenewswire.com · 01/10/2026
Ma named 'Legislator of the Year' by Multiple Sclerosis society lakeconews.com · 22/09/2026
PureHealth and National Multiple Sclerosis Society partner to strengthen MS care, research and awareness in the UAE mediaoffice.abudhabi · 24/07/2026
National Multiple Sclerosis Society Selects RKD Group as Fundraising Agency prnewswire.com · 21/07/2026
National Multiple Sclerosis Society names 2nd cycle winners of Universal Design for Inclusion programme mediaoffice.abudhabi · 22/06/2026
National Multiple Sclerosis Society launches awareness campaign across UAE, marking World MS Day mediaoffice.abudhabi · 30/05/2026
Pot-Nets donates $15,000 to Multiple Sclerosis Society capegazette.com · 29/05/2026
Dr. Salam Koussa - Here are Ayad - Lebanese Multiple Sclerosis Society - ALIVE mtv.com.lb · 26/05/2026

Public fundraising profile: JustGiving — Multiple Sclerosis Society (matched by registered charity number).

Property (HM Land Registry)

1 registered title in England and Wales held by the charity’s company or corporate body (0 freehold); recorded price paid £344k. All charity-held property. Contains HM Land Registry data © Crown copyright, OGL v3.0.

Structured financials (annual return, FY ending 31/12/2025)

Total income

£30.7m

Total spending

£32.7m

Cost of raising funds

£11.4m

Reserves (reported)

£4.4m

Employees

294

Reported reserves equal ~1.6 months of spending — in the bottom quarter for charities its size (median 4.6 months; benchmarks).

Per its annual return, cost of raising funds: 37.2% of total income — above the 90th percentile for charities its size (median 3.7%) (benchmarks).

Register events

Received assets from another charity (31/07/2026) — per the register’s event history; asset transfers typically record mergers or reorganisations.
Received assets from another charity (27/05/2026) — per the register’s event history; asset transfers typically record mergers or reorganisations.
Received assets from another charity (05/01/2026) — per the register’s event history; asset transfers typically record mergers or reorganisations.
Received assets from another charity (11/07/2025) — per the register’s event history; asset transfers typically record mergers or reorganisations.
Received assets from another charity (22/08/2023) — per the register’s event history; asset transfers typically record mergers or reorganisations.
Received assets from another charity (10/08/2021) — per the register’s event history; asset transfers typically record mergers or reorganisations.

Trustees · trustee networks

Professor Sir Paul James Curranchair
Andrew Mark Parsons
Bayan Ata Jaswantry Mohajeri Thaker
Caroline Esam Millar
Christopher John Murray
Dr Shewly Khanam Choudhury
Dr Stephanie Claire Kingston
Dr Victoria Michelle Appleton
Emily Revess
Fiona Patricia Reddington · trustee of 1 other charity
JASON JASPAL · trustee of 1 other charity
Jon Paul James Lynch
Leah Melissa Mates
Polly Charlotta Hannah Williams
Rhys Llewelyn Jenkins

Trustee list from the Charity Commission register (current, not historical).

Operates in: Guernsey · Isle Of Man · Northern Ireland · Scotland · Throughout England And Wales

Income and spending

Financial year end	Income	Spending
31/12/2025	£30.7m	£32.7m
31/12/2024	£29.8m	£32.8m
31/12/2023	£27.7m	£30.4m
31/12/2022	£26.9m	£27.7m
31/12/2021	£29.4m	£24.8m

Common questions

Is MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS SOCIETY financially healthy?

Per its FY2025 accounts: The accounts state that free reserves held were £4.4m, equating to 6.9 weeks of planned expenditure, which is below the charity's longer-term policy target of 10-14 weeks. The charity reported a net deficit of £1.4m for the year, driven by investment in transformation projects, but confirms it has adequate financial resources and no material uncertainties regarding its ability to continue as a going concern. Its FY2025 accounts were audited by HaysMac LLP.

Who funds MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS SOCIETY?

Funders whose own accounts filings name MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS SOCIETY as a grant recipient include THE FIDELITY UK FOUNDATION, THE THOMPSON FAMILY CHARITABLE TRUST, UBS UK Donor-Advised Foundation, THE ALBERT GUBAY CHARITABLE FOUNDATION, DAVID & RUTH LEWIS FAMILY CHARITABLE TRUST.

Known funders

Grants to this charity found in funders’ own accounts filings.

Funder	Year	Amount	Purpose (as stated by the funder)
THE FIDELITY UK FOUNDATION	FY2023	£350k	Health and wellbeing
THE THOMPSON FAMILY CHARITABLE TRUST	FY2024	£300k
UBS UK Donor-Advised Foundation	FY2020	£252k	Charitable activities
THE ALBERT GUBAY CHARITABLE FOUNDATION	FY2026	£158k	General Fund
DAVID & RUTH LEWIS FAMILY CHARITABLE TRUST	FY2022	£128k	Medical research and support
THE VIOLET TRUST	FY2025	£100k
THE ALBERT GUBAY CHARITABLE FOUNDATION	FY2022	£100k	General Fund
DAVID & RUTH LEWIS FAMILY CHARITABLE TRUST	FY2023	£85k	Medical research and support
THE ALBERT GUBAY CHARITABLE FOUNDATION	FY2023	£79k
THE ALBERT GUBAY CHARITABLE FOUNDATION	FY2023	£79k
THE HARAMEAD TRUST	FY2023	£75k
MCGRATH TAYLOR FAMILY CHARITABLE TRUST	FY2026	£56k
GENESYS LEGACY PROJECT LTD	FY2024	£50k
THE ABDALLA FOUNDATION	FY2025	Unverified read£45k
THE BARBOUR FOUNDATION	FY2024	£30k
FOUR DAUGHTERS CHARITABLE TRUST	FY2025	£30k
FOUR DAUGHTERS CHARITABLE TRUST	FY2024	£30k
THE HARAMEAD TRUST	FY2022	£25k
THE BATCHWORTH TRUST	FY2024	£25k
THE THOMPSON FAMILY CHARITABLE TRUST	FY2023	£25k
MOONDANCE FOUNDATION	FY2021	£24k	Health
PHILIP BREEZE WILL TRUST	FY2025	£23k
THE PRIORY FOUNDATION	FY2025	£20k
DAVID AND ELAINE POTTER FOUNDATION	FY2023	£20k	Non-Strategic
THE HARAMEAD TRUST	FY2024	£20k
THE FIDELITY UK FOUNDATION	FY2021	£20k	Towards post of Project Manager to oversee development of a new Client Relationship Management system
PEACOCK CHARITABLE TRUST	FY2022	£20k
Mercer Family Charitable Foundation	FY2025	£20k
THE ORR MACKINTOSH FOUNDATION LIMITED	FY2025	£18k
UBS UK Donor-Advised Foundation	FY2021	£15k
THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF ST MARY MAGDALENE, YARM	FY2025	£12k
THE PHILIP MARSDEN FAMILY CHARITABLE TRUST	FY2023	£11k
PHILIP BREEZE WILL TRUST	FY2022	£10k
THE JOSEPH AND LILIAN SULLY FOUNDATION	FY2024	£10k
THE SIR JAMES RECKITT CHARITY	FY2021	£10k	Medical
THE JOSEPH AND LILIAN SULLY FOUNDATION	FY2025	£10k
THE JOHN COATES CHARITABLE TRUST	FY2024	£10k
Mercer Family Charitable Foundation	FY2024	£10k
THE JOHN COATES CHARITABLE TRUST	FY2023	£10k
PHILIP BREEZE WILL TRUST	FY2024	£10k	Annual distribution to Charities
SEAVIEW CHARITABLE TRUST	FY2026	£10k
THE THREE OAKS TRUST	FY2023	£10k
PEACOCK CHARITABLE TRUST	FY2023	£10k
THE THREE OAKS TRUST	FY2025	£10k
THE FIELDROSE CHARITABLE TRUST	FY2025	£10k
THE ROWSE FAMILY TRUST	FY2022	£10k
THE GEOFFREY AND PAULINE MARTIN TRUST	FY2025	£10k
Mercer Family Charitable Foundation	FY2023	£10k
THE BATCHWORTH TRUST	FY2025	£10k
THE GEOFFREY AND PAULINE MARTIN TRUST	FY2024	£10k

Grants marked “Unverified read” were flagged by automated checks as possibly misread from the funder’s filed accounts. They are listed, but left out of the totals, counts and funder relationships this site computes.

Government & lottery funding

Grants to this charity published as open data by government and lottery funders (360Giving).

Funder	Date	Amount	Purpose
The National Lottery Community Fund	02/03/2026	£20k	Connect & Thrive with MS
The National Lottery Community Fund	09/10/2025	£19k	MS Society Lanarkshire Group Counselling Project
Community Foundation North East	05/12/2024	£2k	Grant to Multiple Sclerosis Society
The National Lottery Community Fund	02/02/2024	£20k	Growing Stronger Together with Accessible Fitness Classes
The National Lottery Community Fund	04/09/2023	£10k	Mind over MS - Counselling Support
Birmingham City Council	01/02/2023	£2k	MS Society
The National Lottery Community Fund	16/09/2022	£8k	Basingstoke & District Group of The MS Society
The National Lottery Community Fund	12/08/2022	£10k	Reach Out Connect
The National Lottery Community Fund	27/05/2022	£9k	People living with MS as Leaders by Experience
Community Foundation North East	24/03/2022	£3k	A grant to Multiple Sclerosis Society UK
Birmingham City Council	15/03/2022	£8k	Yoga and Reflexology (MS)
The National Lottery Community Fund	01/07/2021	£10k	Social Connect Pilot Project South and North Wales
The National Lottery Community Fund	20/05/2021	£10k	Supporting the MS community to combat social isolation during and after Covid-19
The National Lottery Community Fund	24/06/2020	£165k	Keeping people with MS in touch fit and financially secure during Covid-19
The National Lottery Community Fund	08/06/2020	£10k	COVID-19 - Supporting the MS community to combat digital exclusion
The National Lottery Community Fund	21/05/2020	£499k	Pontio - improved choice security and wellbeing for people living with MS
The National Lottery Community Fund	16/01/2020	£10k	INforMS -Helping people living with or affected by MS to make informed choices
The National Lottery Community Fund	14/06/2019	£170k	Mind My MS Enabling People in Mid & East Antrim To Live Well with MS
The National Lottery Community Fund	08/03/2019	£5k	MS Society (Greenwich) Social Isolation
The National Lottery Community Fund	14/02/2019	£2k	Multiple Sclerosis Yoga Group
The National Lottery Community Fund	23/11/2018	£133k	My MS, My Way: enabling people in Tayside to live well with MS
The National Lottery Community Fund	19/10/2018	£8k	My MS - What matters to me
The National Lottery Community Fund	12/10/2018	£5k	aMaSing Choirs for South Wales
Somerset Community Foundation	01/10/2018	£5k	Core running costs
The National Lottery Community Fund	31/05/2018	£275k	Improving the quality of life for people with multiple sclerosis

Funders of similar charities

Funders whose accounts show grants to charities similar to this one (and no recorded grant to this charity) — a starting list for fundraisers.

Funder	Similar charities funded	Amount to them
THE LAWSON TRUST CIO	2	£22k
THE WILLIAM ALLEN YOUNG CHARITABLE TRUST	2	£8k
THE LORD FARINGDON CHARITABLE TRUST	2	£7k
DORIS FIELD CHARITABLE TRUST	2	£3k
THE FRANK LITCHFIELD GENERAL CHARITABLE TRUST	2	£3k
SWANSEA C V S	1	£141k
MOTABILITY	1	£85k
THE FRANCES AND AUGUSTUS NEWMAN FOUNDATION	1	£75k

Charities like this

Semantically similar by activities and financial character, from our analysed corpus. Compare with MS COMMUNITY ACTION & SUPPORT.

MS COMMUNITY ACTION & SUPPORT income £14k
MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS TRUST income £3.1m
MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION income £1.5m
MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS-UK LIMITED income £1.6m
MUSCULAR DYSTROPHY GROUP OF GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND income £7.9m
MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS THERAPY CENTRE (SOUTH YORKSHIRE) LIMITED income £150k

Side by side with its peers

Charity	Income	Top pay band	Staff >£60k	Reserves vs policy	Fundraising cost	Going concern
MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS SOCIETY	£30.7m	—	—	below	—	no doubt
MS COMMUNITY ACTION & SUPPORT FY2024	£14k	—	0	below	—	no doubt
MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS TRUST FY2025	£3.1m	—	—	above	—	no doubt
MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION FY2025	£1.5m	£110,000 - £119,999	—	unclear	—	no doubt
MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS-UK LIMITED FY2025	£1.6m	£60,001 - £70,000	—	unclear	—	no doubt
MUSCULAR DYSTROPHY GROUP OF GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND FY2025	£7.9m	—	—	unclear	40.4%	no doubt

Each row is that charity’s latest analysed filing; every value is quote-backed on its own page.