MS Society Ayrshire & Arran

14/11/2025

13/11/2025

You might have seen the news about the first person in the UK to receive CAR T-cell therapy for MS as part of a new clinical trial.

For the first time, someone living with MS in the UK received CAR T-cell therapy in a clinical trial 🔬

This therapy isn’t available as a treatment right now. But there are studies and clinical trials currently exploring its potential as a treatment for MS.

On our website, we take a look behind the headlines to see what this could mean for people living with MS: https://buff.ly/4uqHiTl

12/11/2025

Get your Christmas jumpers looked out because it's nearly time for the MS Society Ayrshire & Arran Christmas lunches! 🎅🎄☃️

Below are the dates for each group. The Irvine group are having their usual coffee and chat on Monday 22nd Dec, 6pm till 8pm at The Potting Shed, Irvine, KA12 8RU.

The MS Society Ayrshire and Arran covers up to £30 per person and you can bring along a family member, friend or carer. We ask that you pay a £10 deposit per person to book your place. Speak to your group leader if you are interested in coming along.

11/11/2025

Carrying on from yesterday's post, another grant we offer at the MS Society Ayrshire & Arran is a Carers Grant.

We all know how important a role family and carers play in the lives of people with MS. We also know that many people won't define themselves as a formal carer; they think of themselves as simply a family member or helping out.

The Carer's grant has two main themes of leisure and personal development so it can be as flexible as possible. This gives you the chance to relax, socialise, try something new, learn a new life skill or just get some respite. If you would like more info on our carers grant, please email Ayrshire@mssociety.org.uk 🧡

10/11/2025

At the MS Society Ayrshire & Arran, we offer a range of grants to support the MS community live independently. 🧡

The Health and Wellbeing Grant is to help pay for an item which will make a significant positive impact on your health and wellbeing. Examples of these could be home adaptations, scooters, etc.

If you would like more information on all of the grants we offer, please email: Ayrshire@mssociety.org.uk

06/11/2025

We’ve almost reached our goal!

Hundreds of people have already added their names to our open letter calling for a fairer Adult Disability Payment (ADP) system for people with MS in Scotland. But there’s still time to make your voice heard.

Together, we’re calling on the Scottish Government to:
🔸 Remove the 20 metre rule
🔸 Improve the ADP assessment process
🔸 Ensure dignity, fairness and respect are embedded in practice

If you haven’t signed yet, there’s still time to make a difference. ✍️

Add your name and help make the system fairer for everyone: https://buff.ly/AfjpIzV

03/11/2025

The Kilmarnock group had a spook-tacular Halloween on Friday 🎃🖤 They held a Halloween themed pub quiz, dooked for apples and had a fancy dress competition. It was a fun meet up and well done to everyone that took part!

30/10/2025

Thank you to everyone who’s read and shared Paige’s story so far. 🧡

Her experience shows why changes to Adult Disability Payment (ADP) are so important. The 20 metre rule still fails to reflect how conditions like MS can fluctuate day to day. And it’s time for a system that delivers dignity, fairness and respect.

You can help make that happen by signing and sharing our open letter to Shirley-Anne Somerville MSP, calling for vital reforms to ADP.

Every signature strengthens the call for a fairer system. ✍️

Add your name: https://buff.ly/Bvg3TNe?
Read Paige's story: https://buff.ly/UNNsADw

29/10/2025

MS affects over 130,000 people in the UK - but not all voices are equally heard.

The MS Peer Research Study is changing that. By placing people from minoritised ethnic groups at the heart of research, it is uncovering what truly matters to those often left out of the MS conversation.

You are invited to an event, hosted by the Asian MS Team, where we'll share powerful insights into MS healthcare experiences and what this means for the future of MS care and research. We will be joined by Dr. Alison Thomson, Dr. Sharifa Battashi along with peer researchers who have worked on the study from Queen Mary University in London.

Let's reshape the future of MS healthcare services - together. If you are interested, follow the link below ⬇️🧡

28/10/2025

MenSnap is an open space for men affected by MS. It is free to join and the next meet-up is on Wednesday 12th November at 6pm. So if you would like to try something new or different, use the link below! ⬇️📸

27/10/2025

A few months ago, some of the MS community took part in a focus group with Ian Simpson, the Ayrshire representative of the Neurology Services Improvement Programme. It was great to hear people's experiences and thoughts on neurological services.

We are now looking to hold another focus group through video call as the programme now has a draft action plan which they will take to the NHS once complete. It will be presented by Jenny Preston, Occupational Therapist at the Douglas Grant and Clinical Lead for Neurological Rehabilitation.

If you are interested in being involved in this next focus group, please message yes below and we will let you know when we have a date/time. Hopefully we will see you there! 🧡