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MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS SOCIETY

Registered charity 1139257 · accounts filings on the Charity Commission register · 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.

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

Latest income
£29.8m
Latest spending
£32.8m
Registered
2010
Accounts read
FY2024

Financial health, per its FY2024 accounts

The accounts state that total income rose to £29.8m while expenditure increased to £32.8m, resulting in a net deficit for the year. The charity reports adequate financial resources and a strong cash flow position, with reserves held at £6.2m, which aligns with its short-term policy despite being below the longer-term target range. The trustees confirm the organization is well-placed to manage business risks and continue as a going concern.

Automated summary of the FY2024 accounts; the evidenced findings below carry the verbatim passages.

What the accounts disclose

Reserves policy: 10 weeks to 14 weeks plus designated fund (held: £6.2m)
“Our long term aspiration is to maintain reserves within a policy range of a lower limit of 10 weeks of planned expenditure and an upper limit which is calculated as follows: 14 weeks planned expenditure plus the balance of the designated fund for research included in reserves.” — page 26
Per its FY2024 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Related-party transaction: Costs paid to MS International Federation (MSIF) where a trustee and director hold positions.
“Vicky Annis (Director of Corporate Services) is the treasurer of the MS International Federation (MSIF) and Nick Moberly (Chief Executive) is a trustee. In 2024 £208k (2023: £94k) of costs relating to the annual subscription fee and The May 50k were paid to MSIF.” — page 56
Per its FY2024 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.” — page 37
Per its FY2024 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.

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

In the news

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

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 31/12/2024)

Total income
£29.8m
Total spending
£32.8m
Cost of raising funds
£10.2m
Reserves (reported)
£6.2m
Employees
296

Reported reserves equal ~2.3 months of spending — below the median for charities its size (median 4.6 months; benchmarks).

Per its annual return, cost of raising funds: 34.4% of total income — above the 90th percentile for charities its size (median 3.8%) (benchmarks).

Register events

Trustees · trustee networks

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 endIncomeSpending
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
31/12/2020£20.5m£23.5m

Common questions

Is MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS SOCIETY financially healthy?

Per its FY2024 accounts: The accounts state that total income rose to £29.8m while expenditure increased to £32.8m, resulting in a net deficit for the year. The charity reports adequate financial resources and a strong cash flow position, with reserves held at £6.2m, which aligns with its short-term policy despite being below the longer-term target range. The trustees confirm the organization is well-placed to manage business risks and continue as a going concern. Its FY2024 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, DAVID & RUTH LEWIS FAMILY CHARITABLE TRUST, THE ALBERT GUBAY CHARITABLE FOUNDATION, THE HARAMEAD TRUST.

Known funders

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

FunderYearAmountPurpose (as stated by the funder)
THE FIDELITY UK FOUNDATIONFY2023£350kHealth and wellbeing
THE THOMPSON FAMILY CHARITABLE TRUSTFY2024£300k
DAVID & RUTH LEWIS FAMILY CHARITABLE TRUSTFY2022£128kMedical research and support
THE ALBERT GUBAY CHARITABLE FOUNDATIONFY2022£100kGeneral Fund
DAVID & RUTH LEWIS FAMILY CHARITABLE TRUSTFY2023£85kMedical research and support
THE ALBERT GUBAY CHARITABLE FOUNDATIONFY2023£79k
THE ALBERT GUBAY CHARITABLE FOUNDATIONFY2023£79k
THE HARAMEAD TRUSTFY2023£75k
GENESYS LEGACY PROJECT LTDFY2024£50k
THE ABDALLA FOUNDATIONFY2025£45k
FOUR DAUGHTERS CHARITABLE TRUSTFY2024£30k
THE BARBOUR FOUNDATIONFY2024£30k
THE HARAMEAD TRUSTFY2022£25k
THE THOMPSON FAMILY CHARITABLE TRUSTFY2023£25k
THE BATCHWORTH TRUSTFY2024£25k
PHILIP BREEZE WILL TRUSTFY2025£23k
THE PRIORY FOUNDATIONFY2025£20k
DAVID AND ELAINE POTTER FOUNDATIONFY2023£20kNon-Strategic
THE HARAMEAD TRUSTFY2024£20k
PEACOCK CHARITABLE TRUSTFY2022£20k
Mercer Family Charitable FoundationFY2025£20k
THE ORR MACKINTOSH FOUNDATION LIMITEDFY2025£18k
UBS UK Donor-Advised FoundationFY2021£15k
THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF ST MARY MAGDALENE, YARMFY2025£12k
THE PHILIP MARSDEN FAMILY CHARITABLE TRUSTFY2023£11k
PHILIP BREEZE WILL TRUSTFY2022£10k
SEAVIEW CHARITABLE TRUSTFY2026£10k
THE JOSEPH AND LILIAN SULLY FOUNDATIONFY2024£10k
Mercer Family Charitable FoundationFY2024£10k
THE JOSEPH AND LILIAN SULLY FOUNDATIONFY2025£10k
PHILIP BREEZE WILL TRUSTFY2024£10kAnnual distribution to Charities
THE JOHN COATES CHARITABLE TRUSTFY2026£10k
THE JOHN COATES CHARITABLE TRUSTFY2024£10k
THE GEOFFREY AND PAULINE MARTIN TRUSTFY2024£10k
THE JOHN COATES CHARITABLE TRUSTFY2023£10k
THE SIR JAMES RECKITT CHARITYFY2021£10kMedical
THE FIELDROSE CHARITABLE TRUSTFY2025£10k
PEACOCK CHARITABLE TRUSTFY2023£10k
THE THREE OAKS TRUSTFY2025£10k
THE ROWSE FAMILY TRUSTFY2022£10k
THE GEOFFREY AND PAULINE MARTIN TRUSTFY2025£10k
THE THREE OAKS TRUSTFY2023£10k
Mercer Family Charitable FoundationFY2023£10k
THE BATCHWORTH TRUSTFY2025£10k
BELVEDERE TRUSTFY2022£9k
BILL BROWN'S CHARITABLE SETTLEMENT OF 1989FY2022£8k
BILL BROWN'S CHARITABLE SETTLEMENT OF 1989FY2025£8k
BILL BROWN'S CHARITABLE SETTLEMENT OF 1989FY2024£8k
BILL BROWN'S CHARITABLE SETTLEMENT OF 1989FY2023£8k
PILKINGTON CHARITIES FUNDFY2024£7k

Government & lottery funding

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

FunderDateAmountPurpose
The National Lottery Community Fund02/03/2026£20kConnect & Thrive with MS
The National Lottery Community Fund09/10/2025£19kMS Society Lanarkshire Group Counselling Project
Community Foundation North East05/12/2024£2kGrant to Multiple Sclerosis Society
The National Lottery Community Fund02/02/2024£20kGrowing Stronger Together with Accessible Fitness Classes
The National Lottery Community Fund04/09/2023£10kMind over MS - Counselling Support
Birmingham City Council01/02/2023£2kMS Society
The National Lottery Community Fund16/09/2022£8kBasingstoke & District Group of The MS Society
The National Lottery Community Fund12/08/2022£10kReach Out Connect
The National Lottery Community Fund27/05/2022£9kPeople living with MS as Leaders by Experience
Community Foundation North East24/03/2022£3kA grant to Multiple Sclerosis Society UK
Birmingham City Council15/03/2022£8kYoga and Reflexology (MS)
The National Lottery Community Fund01/07/2021£10kSocial Connect Pilot Project South and North Wales
The National Lottery Community Fund20/05/2021£10kSupporting the MS community to combat social isolation during and after Covid-19
The National Lottery Community Fund24/06/2020£165kKeeping people with MS in touch fit and financially secure during Covid-19
The National Lottery Community Fund08/06/2020£10kCOVID-19 - Supporting the MS community to combat digital exclusion
The National Lottery Community Fund21/05/2020£499kPontio - improved choice security and wellbeing for people living with MS
The National Lottery Community Fund16/01/2020£10kINforMS -Helping people living with or affected by MS to make informed choices
The National Lottery Community Fund14/06/2019£170kMind My MS Enabling People in Mid & East Antrim To Live Well with MS
The National Lottery Community Fund08/03/2019£5kMS Society (Greenwich) Social Isolation
The National Lottery Community Fund14/02/2019£2kMultiple Sclerosis Yoga Group
The National Lottery Community Fund23/11/2018£133kMy MS, My Way: enabling people in Tayside to live well with MS
The National Lottery Community Fund19/10/2018£8kMy MS - What matters to me
The National Lottery Community Fund12/10/2018£5kaMaSing Choirs for South Wales
Somerset Community Foundation01/10/2018£5kCore running costs
The National Lottery Community Fund31/05/2018£275kImproving 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.

FunderSimilar charities fundedAmount to them
THE STRANGWARD TRUST3£14k
THE REED FOUNDATION1—
MOTABILITY1£85k
THE HARPUR TRUST1£32k
MOONDANCE FOUNDATION1£25k
WILLIAM ADLINGTON CADBURY CHARITABLE TRUST1£25k
THE LAWSON TRUST CIO1£18k
THE CLOVER TRUST1£17k

Charities like this

Semantically similar by activities and financial character, from our analysed corpus. Compare with MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS TRUST.

Side by side with its peers

CharityIncomeTop pay bandStaff >£60kReserves vs policyFundraising costGoing concern
MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS SOCIETY£29.8m——unclear—no doubt
MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS TRUST FY2025£3.1m——above—no doubt
MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION FY2024£1.8m£100,000 - £109,999—above—no doubt
WEST YORKSHIRE MS THERAPY CENTRE LIMITED FY2024£217k—0above0.5%no doubt
MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS PEOPLES HELP (MSPH) FY2025£105k—0unclear—no doubt
THE SOCIETY FOR MUCOPOLYSACCHARIDE DISEASES FY2025£2.2m——above—no doubt

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