In August, the Sutton Group hit their target of raising £100,000 towards the Stop MS Appeal. Congratulations to everyone involved!

We asked the group to share some fundraising tips. We hope you’ll find them useful and inspiring.

Top 10 things to consider when fundraising

1. Wear an MS-branded T-shirt or fleece.

2. Hold a bucket/tin AND a contactless device, as many people don’t carry cash these days.

It’s Menopause Awareness Month!

You can find more information about Menopause Awareness Month in the article we shared with you last month.

To help raise awareness and understanding of perimenopause and menopause and provide support for everyone going through it, we’ve put together a new resource for you.

Did you know that nearly half of the MS Society’s income comes from the gifts kind people leave in their wills? These gifts help fund groundbreaking research, vital services and support for everyone affected by MS.

Some people also choose to leave a gift to their local MS group, helping to make a lasting difference in their local community. All these gifts are extremely important in bringing us closer to a future free from MS.

We know many of you have been eagerly awaiting the launch of our new volunteer management system, Assemble. You can find all you need to know about Assemble here.

It'll be Menopause Awareness Month in October, and 18 October is World Menopause Day. This year’s theme is ‘lifestyle medicine’. Learn more here. Both are an opportunity to ‘raise awareness of the menopause and the support options available for improving health and well being’.

As most volunteers will be aware by now, Project Mead is our services transformation project. We’ve been busy developing a new structure for our services to make it easier for people affected by MS to find trusted information, expert guidance and personal support when they need it.

Our new structure will launch next year as MS Help.

Regardless of gender, race, disability, sexual orientation, religion or beliefs, whether you're pregnant or undergoing gender reassignment, your safety is our priority.

Safeguarding at the MS Society

Safeguarding means making sure that adults with care and support needs and children and young people under the age of 18 are protected from abuse.

As many amongst our community volunteer from home, and even on the move – such as on trains or in cafes – we wanted to remind you of how to keep the information you’re using safe in these environments.

We’re excited to announce that this year’s MS Society Carols by Candlelight concert will take place at the stunning Central Hall Westminster on Thursday 4 December. Doors will open from 6:30pm, and the concert will start at 7pm.

This year’s theme is ‘Hope Ignited’. The evening will feature heartfelt readings, including poems from distinguished author Alexander McCall Smith, and exclusive musical performances from the Soul Sanctuary Gospel Choir and the St Margaret’s Choristers.

Come along to Volunteer Voice – an event that’s all about YOU, our volunteers.

Allow us to reintroduce this event for those of you who are new or feel hesitant about joining.

Volunteer Voice is an opportunity to connect with your fellow volunteers from across the UK. Share your wins and frustrations, hear organisational updates, learn about what other groups and volunteers are up to – and get your questions answered.