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← Multiple Sclerosis International Federation

2023-12-31-accounts

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Report and financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2023 Multiple Sclerosis International Federation

(A company limited by guarantee)

Company registration number: 05088553 Charity registration number: 1105321 Registered address: 7-14 Great Dover Street, London SE1 4YR

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Contents

Introduction
Trustees’ report
Who we are and what we do
MSIF’s progress against 2023 priorities
Looking ahead, 2024 priorities
How we measure and assess success
Grant making policy
Governance for a global movement
Public benefit
Statement of trustees' responsibilities
Independent auditor’s report to the members of Multiple Sclerosis International Federation
Statement of financial activities
Balance sheet as at 31 December 2023
Prior year Statement of financial activities
Cash flow statement for the year ended 31 December 2023
Notes to the financial statements		 3
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success

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Introduction

Welcome to the overview of the remarkable achievements and progress made by the MS International Federation (MSIF) and its collaborative partners throughout the year 2023. As we delve into the comprehensive report detailing our collective endeavors, it is evident that 2023 was a pivotal year marked by significant advancements in our mission to combat Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and enhance the lives of individuals affected by MS worldwide.

Throughout the year, MSIF, in conjunction with our dedicated members, stakeholders, research institutions, non-member organisations, support groups, and individuals affected by MS, embarked on a journey of collaboration and action. We steadfastly pursued our strategic objectives outlined in "Together we are Stronger than MS," focusing on research collaboration, advocacy for improved access to treatments and healthcare, dissemination of essential information, and the cultivation of a robust, inclusive MS movement.

Central to our efforts in 2023 was a thorough examination and revitalization of our governance structure. Through extensive dialogue and deliberation within our board and committees, we addressed various challenges inhibiting our collective effectiveness. From redefining the roles of key stakeholders to refining decision-making processes and enhancing transparency, our collective efforts culminated in the establishment of a more streamlined and efficient governance framework.

Moreover, our commitment to advancing our objectives was evident in our engagement with the global research network on Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and its correlation with MS, as well as our ongoing initiatives in organisational development, advocacy, and access to treatment across Latin America, Asia, the MENA region, and beyond.

A significant highlight of 2023 was the inclusion of three MS medications on the Essential Medicines List of the World Health Organization (WHO). This monumental achievement not only signifies a crucial step forward in ensuring universal access to essential treatments but also underscores the collective advocacy efforts of the MS community on a global scale.

In this report, you will find a comprehensive overview of the contributions of various stakeholders, as well as the tangible impact of our collective efforts on the lives of individuals affected by MS worldwide. We extend our heartfelt appreciation to all organisations, healthcare professionals, researchers, and individuals who have contributed their expertise and resources to our shared cause. Together, we remain steadfast in our pursuit of a world free from MS.

Warm regards,

Mai Sharawy Chair

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Trustees report

The trustees present their report and financial statements for the period ended 31 December 2023. The trustees have adopted the provisions of the Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP) “Accounting and Reporting by Charities” in preparing the annual report and financial statements of the charity.

Who we are and what we do

In 2023 we entered the first year of our new strategy for 2023-2027, ‘Together we’re stronger than MS’ .

It is a strategy to mobilise the entire MSIF movement: organisations, people affected by MS, volunteers and staff, to achieve our common mission: To bring the world together with urgency to improve the quality of life and wellbeing of everybody affected by MS, and to end MS forever.

In a changing and challenging world, the MS International Federation (MSIF) and its members connect to align our efforts, our experience and our resources to be stronger together. Together we tackle challenges for people affected by MS in countries rich and poor.

Our aims, objectives and activities

Our three aims show the impact we aim to achieve as a movement over 10 to 15 years. These aims are connected and support each other. To work towards these aims, we have identified a number of objectives and actions for the five-year strategic period. See more: www.msif.org/about-ms/our-strategy/. In 2022, we set out objectives and actions for 2023 towards the aims in our 5-year strategy. Here we restate those objectives and report on our progress towards them in 2023.

MSIF’s progress against 2023 priorities

Aim: Improved scientific understanding to prevent, treat and stop MS

Goals:

Key Actions for 2023:

Together with member organisations, support the strategic alignment of the global MS research community, including preparation for the 2023 Pathways to Cures global summit.

The Pathways to Cures global research summit – hosted by the National MS Society (US) - took place in May 2023. It was attended by representatives from 15 countries, and co-Chaired by Professor Banwell (IMSB Chair). The main themes arising from this meeting are currently being prepared for publication, and in the meantime a summary is available here. During this meeting, MSIF joined the heads of research and/or the CEOs or board members of the Australian, Canadian, Danish, French, German, Italian, Spanish, UK, and USA MS Societies to commit to a shared global research strategy to accelerate cures for MS. To support this commitment, a landscape assessment of MS research investment across the world was carried out, to which

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many member organisations submitted data. Interim findings were presented during ECTRIMS 2023, and the full analysis will be available in 2024.

Provide strategic support for the Alliance and the PROMS initiative, together with member organisations, including growing global engagement.

MSIF is a founding member of the International Progressive MS Alliance. The Alliance supported two grant funding rounds during 2023, awarding funding for research into Wellbeing in people with progressive MS, as well as follow-on funding for previous recipients of the 2021 Challenge Awards. Recipients of the awards were announced in December 2023. A successful scientific conference, attended by representatives from several member organisations, was held in Vienna in June 2023, focusing on mechanistic aspects of MS progression, neuroprotection, and axonal degeneration and remyelination.

MSIF hosted three webcasts for the Progressive Alliance in March, June and November which were livestreamed by MSIF as well as by multiple members’ channels.

These were very well-received, for example over 400 people from 45 countries registered to attend the March meeting and it had over 5,000 views on Facebook. Recordings were subtitled in Italian, French, Spanish and Arabic.

The Global Patient Reported Outcomes for MS (PROMS) Initiative is a unique collaboration, jointly led by the Italian MS Society, MSIF and the European Charcot Foundation. It aims to reach consensus on a set of standardised Patient Reported Outcomes (PROs) to be used in therapy development and healthcare. A summary of latest progress, written by people affected by MS involved in the initiative, is available here. One highlight from 2023 was the launch of a global survey to people affected by MS, aiming to gain greater insight into the impact of different MS symptoms. Importantly, this survey was developed in collaboration with people affected by MS, so reflects their direct experiences. The survey received over 5,000 responses from people with MS in over 65 countries. The results should be available in the first half of 2024.

Convene MS organisations and wider community (virtually) to explore what MS organisations should be doing in relation to research, funding, communications and advocacy relating to EBV and MS.

Many people affected by MS across the world are extremely interested in the link between EBV and MS and look for accurate and easy to understand information. In discussion with member organisations, it was decided that it would be valuable to work together to produce a lay summary of research relating to EBV and MS. This resource has been widely accessed and translated into six additional languages.

Provide fellowships and grants, with a focus on supporting researchers in low and middle-income countries (LMICs).

This year, two McDonald Fellowships and 2 Du Pré Grants were awarded. The MSIF-ECTRIMS McDonald Fellow is Dr Enkhzaya Chuluunbaatar from Mongolia, who will be working with Prof Helen Tremlett in Canada. Dr Bruna Klein da Costa from Brazil received the MSIF-ARSEP McDonald Fellowship and will be working with Prof Brenda Banwell in the USA. We are thankful to ECTRIMS and ARSEP for funding the McDonald Fellowships.

The 2023 Du Pré Grant recipients are Dr Fiifi Duodu from Ghana, who will be working with Prof Deanna Saylor in Zambia and Dr Vanesa Soledad Mattera from Argentina, working with Prof Stephen Fancy, USA.

The winner of the 2023 MSIF Charcot Award—the lifetime achievement award for outstanding research into the understanding and treatment of MS—was Prof Xavier Montalban. Professor Montalban gave lectures at the MSIF Council meeting in September 2023 and at the annual ECTRIMS congress in October 2023.

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Aim: Greater access to effective healthcare, information and support

Goals:

Key Actions for 2023:

Further develop the MS Resource Hub; identifying new topics and translating members’ information resources to address the global gaps, whilst increasing the use of the Hub.

The MS Resource Hub is a tool to help overcome geography and language barriers, address gaps in countries where there is limited trustworthy information about MS, share information resources between MS organisations and avoid duplication.

The Hub now signposts to 428 resources in 35 languages. During the period between August and December alone, the hub resources pages had 18,561 page views and 1,237 downloads. 11 MSIF member organisations and six non-member organisations have reported use (including sharing and translating) of Hub resources.

We have implemented a few improvements on the web platform, including changes to the layout and functionality, and producing a way to distinguish between member and non-member country views. We also developed a guide to help maintain resource quality going forward which will be gradually implemented starting in 2024.

The Ageing with MS guide was added to the Hub and translated into nine languages including Farsi and Romanian. A social media campaign to promote the new ageing with MS guide was run, using illustrations and visual materials to make the content user-friendly and more digestible.

A new resource: ‘EM: Yoga y Meditación’, originally published in Spanish by Esclerosis Multiple Argentina, was translated into English and made accessible to a broader international audience. This is an excellent introduction to the use of Yoga and Meditation for people living with MS.

Complementary therapies were prioritised as a topic to focus on, and we started working on adapting a member resource which will be launched in 2024.

Where needed, convene our members and experts to build consensus to inform global scientific statements on important topics.

The statement we produced in 2023 was on EBV and MS (see above).

Create (together with our members) visual identity and communication tools for MSIF, members and others to raise awareness of access to treatment challenges and engage the MS community around our work relating to access to DMTs.

We developed a visual identity and communication toolkit to promote our healthcare access work. We also produced six stories from Malaysia, three short films, and two interviews to support our advocacy work for better access to healthcare. We organised a webinar on the impact of EML (Essential Medicines List) listing on access, which was attended by many members and others from all world regions.

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In 2023, three DMTs for MS were listed in the WHO’s Essential Medicines List, which was a landmark decision that received global media coverage. The work of MSIF and its members related to the EML was presented during several scientific conferences.

A video message from WHO, marking the addition of MS DMTs on the WHO EML was produced upon a request from MSIF. It was shown at the start of ECTRIMS-ACTRIMS, MENACTRIMS and PACTRIMS.

Following the WHO EML decision, there has been activity in several places across the world making use of this to improve access to treatment. Amongst MSIF’s members, in New Zealand, the MS organisation (MSNZ) used the outcome to advocate for cladribine to be included for funding by the relevant government agency. In Chile, the results means that clinicians can now prescribe rituximab as a first-line treatment to people with MS. In Peru, they are using the outcome so that people taking rituximab don’t have to pay for it. We also started discussions with a pharmaceutical company about expanding affordable access to one of their DMTs in low income countries.

Publish 2-3 scientific papers, guidelines and other content on off-label DMTs, essential medicines and the WHO essential medicine application and outcome and, with input from members to understand the needs, create tools and resources to use these for advocacy, to improve access to treatment.

The following scientific publications and articles in 2023 highlighted the application to the WHO EML and its landmark result:

We have created a new section on our website bringing together our resources to support advocacy around access to healthcare. This will continue to be updated based on the needs of members, other MS organisations and the wider community.

Collect and disseminate global data and evidence to support research and advocacy relating to access to healthcare, including maintaining and updating Atlas of MS with global epidemiology and DMT data, and collecting new data on specific topic (depending on scoping carried out end 2022).

The Atlas of MS pools data provided by member organisations and the global clinical and research community. It is an important global resource to support research and advocacy by our members, the wider MS movement and the global research community. It contains up to date data on prevalence and incidence of MS around the world, as well as on clinical management, including diagnosis, access to treatment, and wider MS healthcare. The article in the MS Journal summarising the Atlas Rising prevalence of multiple sclerosis worldwide: Insights from the Atlas of MS, third edition, is highly cited within the MS research community: 120 citations in 2021, 328 in 2022 and 463 in 2023. In 2023, we published an update to epidemiology data, and estimated that the current prevalence is now 2.9 million people with MS globally. We have also added new data on global DMT use and affordability to the website. Other highlights in 2023 were

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the publications of Global Barriers to the Diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis , led by Professor Andrew Solomon; and Barriers to Accessing Multiple Sclerosis Disease-modifying Therapies in the Middle East and North Africa region: A Regional Survey-Based Study , led by Dr Maya Zeineddine . Both publications were a collaboration with MSIF and based on data from the Atlas of MS. Collection of new data was postponed to 2024 and will focus in greater detail on MS diagnosis.

Insight gathering on access to treatment, in the context of the wider healthcare system, to feed into recommendations for national implementation/advocacy activities.

Due to resource constraints, the planned visit to understand access to treatment in a country of interest – with the aim of supporting national-level activities – did not take place. Instead, we focused on creating tools, including a template letter on access to medicines, which was used by MENACTRIMS and others to send to the Eastern Mediterranean Region WHO and UN Refugee Agency.

Meetings of the International Working Group on Access, comprising people with MS, member organisations and healthcare professionals from all regions of the world, have taken place throughout 2023. These meetings help countries learn from each other, gain peer support, and provide insights to MSIF as to the implementation of our strategy and types of support we could provide in future. Regional groups were also established to discuss opportunities following the listing of DMTs on the WHO EML (South East Asia, India, PACTRIMS, Sub-Saharan Africa, MENA).

Aim: A stronger, broader, global MS movement

Goals:

Key Actions for 2023:

Provide travel grants for MSIF Board and committee members from emerging countries/organisations without the means to attend to participate in Global Networking Meetings.

Travel grants enabled Board members from Argentina, Egypt, India, Greece and Uruguay to attend the 2023 Global Networking Meetings widening diversity of representation in discussions and enabling them to input into global strategy and planning. The Greek delegate not only attended in her capacity as an MSIF Board member but as Chair of MSIF’s Persons with MS Advisory Committee, ensuring the voice of people affected by MS was heard and remained central to the decision-making process. Representatives from nine member organisations including Iceland, Belgium, India and Tunisia attended the hybrid meetings, once again, allowing wider member representation.

Hold a global information/training event/workshop on access/research or advocacy.

The WHO Essential Medicines List - a landmark decision for MS global webinar was held in September to disseminate news of and share examples of national responses to the WHO Essential Medicines List decision. Forty-four presenters and attendees from member and non-member organisations in every world region participated to learn more about how MS organisations and health professionals in Canada, New

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Zealand and Malaysia were working in this area. Recordings from the webinar were made available in English, Arabic, Spanish and French to support members and other MS organisations in their national-level access to treatment advocacy work.

Process new MSIF membership applications (including in world regions where MSIF does not currently have many members).

Over the course of 2023, MSIF increased the diversity of its membership with a successful application from the Republic of North Macedonia. Organisations in South Africa and the Netherlands were also supported on the pathway to membership, with the applications being approved in early 2024. Conversations on potential membership were ongoing with organisations in Yemen, Argentina, Romania and the UK.

World MS Day: Start development of next multi-year theme.

In 2023, World MS Day was celebrated by 46 of MSIF's members (98% of the members), marking an overall participation record of 127 countries. This was an increase of 8 countries from the previous year, including 10 countries or territories that had either never participated before or had not participated for some time. MSIF tracked 1,416 items of international press coverage.

The MS Connections toolkit was used by many members and other MS organisations around the world, with a total of 30,000 downloads from the website during the campaign.

For the first time, we organised an art contest focused on the Connections campaign theme which was open to all people living with and affected by MS and 200 entries from 54 countries were submitted on the theme of connections. The gallery of all entries can be viewed here. The World MS Day Working Group (Made up of representatives from MSIF's member organisations in Australia, Greece, India, Spain, Tunisia, the UK, and the USA, MSIF’s Supporting Organisation in Argentina and a representative from an MS organisation in Kenya) met online to choose a new theme for the World MS Day. They decided on the theme 'My MS Diagnosis,' which aligns with MSIF's global strategy and aims to advocate for early and accurate diagnosis by sharing real stories and data.

The campaign will last from 2024 to 2025 and highlight global barriers to diagnosis, aiming for improving access to diagnosis, better training for healthcare professionals, new research and clinical achievements.

The theme was announced to MSIF members in November 2023 and a new campaign toolkit is in development for release in Spring 2024.

Provide mentoring/coaching and support to MS organisations within the Latin America region.

The Latin American (LATEM) Network’s is the umbrella body for Latin American MS organisations, including the Argentinian, Brazilian, Guatemalan and Uruguayan MS member organisations as well as 18 other organisations from the region. Their Communication Strategy was completed in early 2023 and a public communications platform created. MSIF and the Network leaders (consisting of Argentina, Uruguay, Costa Rica and Panama) co-designed a brief for a consultant to support the rollout and train members of the Network to sustain the activities in the strategy in the longer term. The consultant was selected in December 2023 and will complete this work in 2024.

MSIF continued to support the resourcing and planning of the Network’s 7[th] Regional Congress, where leaders from 24 MS organisations in the region were scheduled to meet in Ecuador, in November alongside the biennial LACTRIMS Congress. However, the organisations felt they needed more time to prepare, and to work out how they might fund their Congress. MSIF provided fundraising consultancy support to help the Network leaders address their ability to finance this event, which is now planned for May 2024.

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Throughout 2023, the 2022 Central American Train the Trainer - MS Expert Patient Academy Project was evaluated. In January and February MS organisation leaders and health professionals from Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic and Honduras held 6-week long expert patient academies with their national MS communities, applying the skills they learnt from the October 2022 Train the Trainer Workshop held in Panama.

As a result of the project, participating organisations reported increased skills and knowledge in project planning and management, communications and monitoring and evaluation. Volunteer numbers increased in all participating countries. The Asociación Costarricense de Esclerosis Múltiple reported increased collaboration with health professionals in programme development. The Fundación Dominicana de Esclerosis Múltiple, described greater cohesion and reactivation of the MS community. In Honduras, two people affected by MS joined the board of the Asociación Hondureña de Esclerosis Múltiple and, together with Fundacion EM Amor Honduras, they have developed working relationships with a national university. The Network’s leadership team attended the LACTRIMS 2023 Congress in Ecuador and presented an e-poster on the project. Whilst MSIF did not attend, we contributed to the e-poster content.

In terms of ad hoc support, MSIF linked MS Cuba up with the Central American and Caribbean Forum for MS (FOCEM) to support them in sustaining their website. MSIF CEO, Peer Baneke, participated in the Brazilian MS Association (MSIF’s member in Brazil), ‘Building Bridges’ project, aimed at strengthening the organisation’s national network. The MSIF research and access team supported the Guatemalan MS Association (an MSIF member) with up-to-date information on Ocrelizumab.

Provide mentoring/coaching and support to the MSSI, India with a focus on sustainability.

Regular remote support was provided to the MS Society of India (MSSI) throughout 2023 with monthly, and, when needed, weekly meetings were held to discuss progress made and areas where MSIF guidance and advice could be employed.

In January two MSIF staff members spent a week with the MSSI as part of the project evaluation for the 2020-22 MS Society of India (MSSI) and MSIF Capacity Building Project. Our staff travelled to Delhi and Mumbai to learn more about the organisation and carry out focus groups and interviews with key staff, volunteers and stakeholders.

The objectives of the project were found to have been largely achieved with improvements in the skills and knowledge of MSSI staff and volunteers, national campaigns having unified communication channels ion and some diversification of income.

It was concluded that further support was needed to continue to build the capacity and sustainability of a unified MSSI. This started in June 2023, to run until December 2025 with MSIF funding staff and consultancy costs as well as travel and some overheads.

As a result of MSIF’s support, the MSSI’s 9 Chapters were surveyed to prioritise training topics which included developing advocacy communications tools, youth leadership training and funding-proposal writing. Fifteen participants from the Chapters attended a project development and proposal writing workshop in December.

SWOT analyses were carried out for 6 Chapters during monitoring visits by the National Office. These are being used to develop chapter-specific strategies in advocacy, fundraising and awareness-raising for the Hyderabad, Chennai, and Trivendrum Chapters.

Monthly Zoom meetings brought the Chapters together and external communication strengthened with 189 posts made on social media in Q3-4. Followers increased across the MSSI’s Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and YouTube channels. Post engagement (comments, likes and shares) was also high. The National Youth Wing was approved by the MSSI Governing Council in August and members play an ever-increasingly active role in advocacy initiatives. Youth Wing members participated in Purple Fest Goa (international disability event) using their platform to create further awareness on MS.

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Past MSIF fundraising guidance and support contributed towards the MSSI securing a grant of 12.5 million Indian Rupees ($ 150,000) over three years from the Azim Premji Foundation. Funding started in June 2023. Part of this funding contributes towards the National Project Director’s salary.

The MSSI raised its profile nationally by participating in several workshops in the disability, health, and employment spheres. With MSIF support, the MSSI submitted an application to the Director General of Health Services within the Ministry of Health to revise the national disability assessment guidelines used to decide if a person can access health benefits. An answer is expected on this in early 2024. Meetings with Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India and insurance companies were also held around issues related to MS.

Further outreach and support were given to the MS Society of Malaysia to enable them to participate in ’ MSIF s storytelling project. Information on setting up an MS organisation was shared with newly formed groups in Mongolia and the relationship with the MS Society of Nepal developed.

Provide mentoring and support to the MENA Capacity Building for Access Project.

Throughout 2023, MS organisations in the MENA region worked together to develop the MENA Region Access to Treatment Charter. The Charter calls on local, national, and regional decision makers to integrate the right to safe and effective MS treatments in policy and practice for the 124,000 people living with MS in MENA.

Stemming from an MSIF workshop in the region during the MENACTRIMS 2022 Congress in Egypt, this collaborative project involved 13 MS organisations from Algeria, Egypt, Iraq, Kuwait, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Tunisia, and Yemen.

It was essential that the Charter was evidence-based and therefore the MSIF Atlas of MS, World Health Organization Intersectoral global action plan on epilepsy and other neurological disorders 2022, World Health Organization Model Lists of Essential Medicines 2023 and MENACTRIMS Guidelines were referenced in the document.

Launched in December at the MENACTRIMS 2023 Congress in the UAE, MSIF is now working to support MS organisations in the region to initiate or scale-up national advocacy activities related to one or more of the Charter’s statements through a small grants programme.

MSIF was able to launch the Charter during the MENACTRIMS 2023 Congress, due, in part to its deepening relationship with the recently established National MS Society, UAE (NMSS UAE). Peer Baneke met informally several times in London with the staff of the Office of Strategic Affairs at the Presidential Court in the UAE.

MSIF joined together with the NMSS UAE to put together a one-day symposium during the Congress. The symposium strengthened relationships and learning amongst MS organisations, and health professionals in the region. Through talks and Q&A sessions, the symposium increased understanding of the work of the NMSS UAE and provided MS organisations with access to the latest MS research. It was an opportunity to share global advocacy tools around access to treatment.

The symposium was possible thanks to the logistical and financial support of the NMSS UAE. MSIF is grateful to the newly established team at the NMSS UAE, who went above and beyond to ensure the participation of as many MS organisations in the region as possible. There were delegates from Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Morocco, Sudan, Syria, and the UAE in attendance, as well as three MSIF staff members.

Whilst not every MS organisation was able to attend the symposium, the regional Tawasol newsletter, was open to all organisations with 12 organisations from 10 countries participating in the 2023 issue. Through the

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newsletter organisations were able to share achievements and experience in the field of advocacy for access to treatment and other national success stories.

In terms of ad hoc support, MSIF supported the Kuwait MS Society with their petition to the Ministry of Health to create an MS centre, increasing the range of services and support available to those with MS in the country. Messages of support were shared with Sudan, related to the impact of conflict on the MS community, and Yemen, for World MS Day.

Carry out insight visit in 1 country to better understand the access to treatment context at the national level and the organisational development needs of the MS organisation(s) in the country.

Due to resource constraints, the planned visit did not take place.

Looking ahead, 2024 priorities and key activities

We continue to have ambitions plans for MSIF and the global movement. Below we have set out the key priorities and activities planned for 2024.

Aim: Improved scientific understanding to prevent, treat and stop MS

Goals:

Key Actions for 2024:

Aim: Greater access to effective healthcare, information and support

Goals:

Key Actions for 2024:

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Aim: A stronger, broader, global MS movement

Goals:

Build solidarity and engagement in the MSIF movement Strengthen MS organisations to address challenges faced by people affected by MS Grow and strengthen collaborations to better address global MS challenges

Key Actions for 2024:

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In 2024 we will hold at least 4 board and global networking meetings, 3 in a virtual manner and one, hopefully in person. We will report progress against the above objectives and actions in the 2024 Report and Annual Accounts.

Resourcing the Strategy

Financial Review

Generating funds

Our budgeted income for 2023 was £2,019,750 (2022: £2,399,700). We raised a total of £1,906,004 (2022: £1,973,857), £113,746 (2022: £425,843) less than our target

27% of our income came from healthcare companies (2022: 27%), 34% from members (2022: 31%), 23% from a mixture of other sources (2022: 24%) and 16% from the May50K (2022: 18%), a fundraising product kindly donated to MSIF by MS Australia.

The total cost of fundraising activities was £347,928 (2022: £486,109), including £112,672 (2022: £115,027) covered by members for the May50K. Although this level of expenditure was over budget by £102,538 (2022: £14,105), we spent £138,181 less than in 2022.

Around two-thirds of these costs was for income generated in 2023 and around one third was an investment in future income. In particular, we continued investment for the May50K fundraising programme in 2023 as well as Cykelnerven, our cycling fundraising event. The latter is more expensive to organise for 2024 because we will be running it alone for the first time, rather than as part of the Cykelnerven event organised by the Danish MS Society.

MSIF income from the May50K decreased slightly from £349,474 in 2022 to £306,690 in 2023, with fundraising in many countries being down due to the economic situation.

Managing Costs

Expenditure was £133,080 under budget as a result of changes made to balance income also being below budget. With changes to programmes through the year, expenditure in relation to professional fees and grants was reduced. Savings were also made due to some changes in staff and the timing of recruitment. A semi-freeze on staff recruitment when vacancies arose (in each case considering if replacement was necessary). This had an impact on work in relation to all aims.

Summary

Overall, we ended the year with a deficit of £225,499 (2022: £469,776). This deficit related to our plans to spend restricted funds brought forward for our programme activities. The deficit in 2022 was larger as it included a plan to reduce unrestricted reserves down to the level in the reserves policy.

As at 31 December 2023 we have unspent restricted funds of £117,795 and unrestricted funds of £768,495 and a designated fund of £100,000 towards an office move at the end of our current lease in 2024. (2022: unspent restricted funds of £405,982 and unrestricted funds of £725,807 and a designated fund of £80,000 towards an office move).

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Unrestricted reserves represent the funds that are freely available to spend in pursuit of our charitable objectives. To ensure the future security of MSIF the Trustees’ Policy on unrestricted reserves is that such reserves should be sufficient to fund the overhead costs of the charity for around 6 months, currently in the range of £700,000 - £750,000. The current retained balance is £768,495 (2022: £724,595). It is our policy to distribute all other funds for specific projects having made appropriate provision for overhead costs where applicable.

Contribution of volunteers

One volunteer supports the MSIF Secretariat in the organisation of the movement’s international networking meetings. Our trustees are unpaid volunteers. Around the world many other members of committees and working groups, including people affected by MS and health care professionals, also contribute to our common global work.

How we measure and assess success

MSIF sets annual milestones and longer-term objectives for each project and for the strategy and organisation as a whole.

We regularly monitor and evaluate projects against these indicators in order to learn and improve our work, ensure accountability and good governance. Annual reports are prepared for major funders, with six-monthly updates provided to the board and all members through dashboards and more detailed progress reports. Our annual trustees’ report and accounts are published on our website.

Methods we use to assess and measure success include:

MSIF’s purpose is to benefit people with and affected by MS around the world, both through our member organisations and network but also directly, especially where no such MS organisations exist. To help assess our success, our People with MS Advisory Committee provided advice to the board on any issues in relation to the needs of people with and affected by MS. Most of our project work groups have members who have or are affected by MS, as does our Board of Trustees. We also consult with a wider pool of people with and affected by MS.

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Grant making policy

Movement building grants

Movement building grants aim to support emerging organisations, or representatives of those organisations, in countries with economic challenges and/or a less well-developed civil society sector and are awarded on the judgement of MSIF staff. In 2023, one of those grants amounted to £8000. The other grants were between £4,000 and £2,000.

These grants are either given to registered organisations, emerging MS support structures or to service providers/consultants. In exceptional cases, grants are paid to intermediary non-governmental organisations or individuals to help them undertake capacity building work to help create a local MS support structure.

The grants are given for travel to MSIF or other meetings and training events or for time-limited project work, such as production of materials, training opportunities or awareness-raising or advocacy activities. They can include costs for staff or consultants.

Travel grants to MSIF meetings normally require that grantees pay part of the costs themselves or find match-funding.

Project or activity grants are awarded through a thorough and (where appropriate) competitive process, through public tendering and/or calls for applications.

Such criteria may involve both organisational and country factors, such as:

These grants are decided by a panel of staff members of the MSIF Secretariat and formalised in grant agreements. They are normally provided in instalments and are dependent upon reports on progress towards objectives and expenditure.

Research grants and awards

Research grants aim to encourage or facilitate international collaboration in medical or socio-economic research into MS and through this the search for understanding the cause, for better treatment and ultimately to end MS.

Grants may be provided to institutions, groups of researchers, individual researchers or clinicians. The grants to individuals from low and middle-income countries also aim to reinforce research and clinical capacity in such countries, as well as the development of MS organisations.

Grants may be given in the form of:

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The award eligibility criteria are flexible and research projects can take place virtually, if appropriate.

Calls for proposals are normally publicly distributed within the research community and publicised on MSIF’s and some members’ websites and of partners such as ECTRIMS and MENACTRIMS websites. They are judged on a competitive basis by panels comprising members from MSIF’s International Medical and Scientific Board (IMSB) as well as individuals with lived experience of MS.

Ad hoc grants may be made based on established priorities in MSIF’s strategy and decided by the CEO, seeking advice from the chair of the IMSB and/or its Executive Committee or other qualified researchers.

Criteria used to decide on grants may include:

Where grants are awarded for the duration of more than one year they are paid in instalments, subject to reporting on progress and expenditure.

Protecting vulnerable people

MSIF employs three fundraising staff, and through its community fundraising and digital fundraising platforms, it encourages members of the public to fundraise from their networks and through third party events. In 2023 there were three areas of MSIF’s fundraising which have the potential to impact vulnerable people; MSIF’s fundraising platforms, participation in third party events and web donations.

As we didn’t conduct any email fundraising in 2023, making donations through the web was entirely voluntary and donors must have a credit card or PayPal account to complete a transaction. Both require a bank account, which have safeguarding practices of their own.

MSIF’s digital fundraising platforms and marketing of the third-party events both used social media, but both also involve personal communication with MSIF. Through the donor support programme, we interact directly with the individuals' creating pages or signing up for events and staff are instructed to speak to the Director of Fundraising & Engagement if they have any concerns about an individual. We communicate with Facebook donors and audiences through the Facebook platform, both as a group to encourage fundraising and individually after they have donated. Facebook’s own safeguarding policies therefore apply.

It is unlikely to be known when a donation is received that it is from a vulnerable person. However, MSIF is committed to protecting vulnerable people and if we are alerted to a donation from a vulnerable person, or if a staff member has concerns, the Acceptance and refusal of donations policy (section 4.4) details the process that MSIF will adopt.

Regulations, standards and schemes

MSIF is subject to the UK Charity Commission and the Fundraising Regulator, plus the Information Commissioner’s Office. MSIF has also published its Supporter promise on its website, which outlines the key principles by which we operate. We have a Data protection policy and a Data security policy. All the policies relating to public fundraising are available on the MSIF website.

Complaints

Our complaints policy and procedure are signposted on our website. We define a complaint in broad terms as ‘any expression of dissatisfaction about any aspect of MSIF and its work with the global MSIF movement’. In 2023 we received 18 complaints, compared to 9 in 2022.

17

Governance for a global movement

Governing document and Board of Trustees

Multiple Sclerosis International Federation is a charity established under a Memorandum and Articles of Association and incorporated as a company limited by guarantee and not having a share capital on 30 March 2004. The Federation was registered with the Charity Commission on 5 August 2004.

For the purpose of the Companies Act 2006, the Board of trustees is regarded as the Board of Directors of the company. The trustees of the company throughout the period are as follows:

Mai Sharawy (Egypt) Chair

Guillaume Courault (France) Vice Chair

Martin Stevens (UK) Board Secretary

Victoria Annis (UK) Treasurer

Victoria Annis (UK)Treasurer
Johana Bauer (Argentina) Mario Battaglia (Italy)
Desmond Graham (Australia) Ava Battles (Ireland)
Martinus Desmet (Belgium) Liesbeth Kooij (Netherlands, retired January 2024)
Dr Brenda Banwell (Canada, retired May 2024) Ana Torredemer (Spain)
Pamela Valentine (Canada) Nick Moberly (UK)
Klaus Høm (Denmark) Andrea Prato (Uruguay)
Herbert Temmes (Germany) Peter Galligan (USA, retired July 2024)
Dimitra Kalogianni (Greece) Kim Phillips (USA, retired August 2024)
Viresh Oberoi (India) Cynthia Zagieboylo (USA)

Methods for recruiting, appointing, training trustees

The Council, MSIF’s supreme governing body, elects a Nominating Committee. The Nominating Committee reviews skills required for the Board and invites MSIF member organisations and relevant others to nominate candidates. It reviews submissions, interviews candidates when necessary and meets to discuss and finalise a list of candidates to fill all Board positions. The Committee distributes supporting papers to Council members and submits them with the list for discussion and election. Under the Articles of Association, the members of the Board of Trustees are elected at the Council Meeting. The Board shall consist of no less than three members. Guidance is in place for rotation of Board members.

New trustees receive written induction information upon appointment and attend an induction within the first six months of appointment.

Charity Governance Code

As a global organisation based in the United Kingdom, MSIF follows and benefits from the regulatory framework and standards in the highly developed Charity sector in the UK adding elements that reflect its international character.

18

The Board has endorsed the key principles of the Charity Governance Code, which is considered an important standard for governance in the UK charity sector.

The Board of Trustees values people’s differences and promote equality, diversity and inclusivity. Our aim is to strive to have at least 25% of seats on the Board filled by people with MS. In 2023, with 5 out of the 22 trustees being people with MS we have reached a figure of 23%. It is important that their voices are heard in the Board, and we want to send a strong message to the outside world that all operations of the Federation support this.

Governance Review

In 2023 MSIF concluded a governance review, supported by external consultants from Campbell Tickell. A steering group was convened, a brief developed, then following a successful tendering process, a consultancy company, Campbell-Tickell was selected. The review has resulted in several changes such as:

Some of the points above will need to be confirmed by MSIF’s Council but most of them can be implemented without that.

Risks and risk-management

The trustees have considered the major risks to which the charity is exposed and satisfied themselves that systems or procedures are established to manage those risks.

The trustees review the major governing, operational and financial risks which the Federation faces and adjust mechanisms to lessen these risks when judged necessary and consider how to manage them when they might occur. The risk register gets updated accordingly.

Good governance is critical to ensure we advance our overall aims and objectives and as is good practice the governance review seeks to ensure we run the organisation effectively to enhance our organisational performance.

Some of the risks are more temporary, other risks are more permanent and include the risk of individual health care companies’ changes in strategy, reducing or stopping grants to MS patient organisations and some uncertainty about limitations on grants. Additional risks in fundraising relate to the economic climate in member countries and finding funding avenues which members can support.

Equally the risk of sudden political instability or of security or disaster in a country where we operate, including the risk to staff is always present. Travel control procedures include following foreign office travel advice and use of insurance company security briefings, as well as adequate travel and event insurance.

Another permanent risk is that of adverse publicity, due to a failing for example in governance or fundraising practice, leading to reduced trust and confidence, for example amongst beneficiaries and funders.

As an international membership organisation there is always a risk of some members losing engagement in the movement as our strategy cannot fully address or appeal to the wide variety of member needs and interests.

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Management and structure

The structure of the organisation consists of a Council, made up of representatives from its member organisations, that elects the Board of Trustees. In 2023, the trustees held 1 in-person and 4 virtual meetings, in March, June, early and late September, and November.

Trustees are responsible for the overall strategic direction of the charity while decisions on tactical means to achieve these objectives are taken by the Chief Executive in conjunction with staff and with input from people affected by MS, advisory committees, member organisations and other stakeholders throughout the world.

Additionally, operational working groups, often made up from staff and or volunteers from Member Organisations, take on responsibilities for specific projects, either reporting to the CEO or directly to the Board of trustees depending on the nature of each project.

Pay and remuneration

The salary and remuneration for the CEO is part of the pay policy for all staff.

The system includes annual increases in pay and remuneration, including inflation and increments. Ratio between highest and lowest paid permanent staff in the organisation is a maximum of 3.

Key management personnel

Chief Executive Peer Baneke

Deputy CEO Ceri Angood Napier (resigned November 2023)

Bankers Auditors Solicitors
Coutts & Co.
440 Strand,
London WC2R 0QS
CCLA Investment Management Ltd,
COIF Charity Funds,
One Angel Lane
London EC4R 3AB		 Moore Kingston Smith LLP,
9 Appold Street
London EC2A 2AP		 Collyer-Bristow LLP,
4 Bedford Row,
London WC1R 4DF

Public benefit

The trustees confirm that they have complied with the duty in section 4 of the Charities Act 2011 to have due regard to the Charity Commission's general guidance on public benefit. In line with this we are committed to providing high quality information and services to the global MS community. As well as offering services and information for our network of MS organisations, the vast majority of our materials, containing information for people with and affected by MS, clinicians, and advocates, can be accessed by the public via our website www.msif.org.

In agreeing our activities for each year, we have regard to the legal responsibilities outlined in the Charity Commission’s general guidance on public benefit. The trustees always ensure that the programmes are in line with our charitable objects as set out in MSIF’s governing document the Articles of Association.

The benefits of our activities for individuals (in the main to people with MS, their caregivers, their families and others affected by it) are available worldwide and have most relevance in those areas where the incidence of MS is highest and in low and middle income countries. They are not dependent on membership of MSIF or of one of the national MS organisations.

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Audit information

So far as each of the directors at the time the trustees' report is approved is aware:

b) they have taken all relevant steps they ought to have taken to make themselves aware of any relevant audit information and to establish that the auditors are aware of that information.

Auditors

The auditors, Moore Kingston Smith LLP, are deemed to be reappointed under section 487(2) of the Companies Act 2006.

Note of appreciation

We would like to offer our thanks for the generosity and support received from the people affected by MS, national MS society staff and volunteers, scientists and other professionals, together with our corporate and individual donors and sponsors who enable us to continue our activities.

21

Statement of trustees' responsibilities

The trustees (who are also directors of the Multiple Sclerosis International Federation for the purposes of company law) are responsible for preparing the Trustees’ Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

Company law requires trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of the affairs of the charitable company and of the incoming resources and application of resources, including the income and expenditure, of the charitable company for that period. In preparing these financial statements, the trustees are required to:

The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charitable company and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charitable company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

The trustees are responsible for the maintenance and integrity of the corporate and financial information included on the charitable company’s website. Legislation in the United Kingdom governing the preparation and dissemination of the financial statements may differ from legislation in other jurisdictions. In preparing this report the Trustees have taken advantage of the small companies’ exemptions provided by section415A of the Companies Act 2006.

On behalf of Trustees

==> picture [106 x 28] intentionally omitted <==

Victoria Annis, Treasurer

Date: 12 September 2024

22

Independent auditor’s report to the members of Multiple Sclerosis International Federation

Opinion

We have audited the financial statements of Multiple Sclerosis International Federation (‘the charitable company’) for the year ended 31 December 2023 which comprises of the Statement of Financial Activities, the Balance Sheet, the Cash Flow Statement and notes to the financial statements, including a summary of significant accounting policies. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards, including FRS 102 ‘The Financial Reporting Standard Applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland’ (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

In our opinion the financial statements:

Basis for opinion

We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK) (ISAs (UK)) and applicable law. Our responsibilities under those standards are further described in the Auditor’s Responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements section of our report. We are independent of the charitable company in accordance with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the financial statements in the UK, including the FRC’s Ethical Standard, and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.

Conclusions relating to going concern

In auditing the financial statements, we have concluded that the trustees’ use of the going concern basis of accounting in the preparation of the financial statements is appropriate.

Based on the work we have performed, we have not identified any material uncertainties relating to events or conditions that, individually or collectively, may cast significant doubt on the charitable company's ability to continue as a going concern for a period of at least twelve months from when the financial statements are authorised for issue.

Our responsibilities and the responsibilities of the trustees with respect to going concern are described in the relevant sections of this report.

Other information

The other information comprises the information included in the annual report, other than the financial statements and our auditor’s report thereon. The trustees are responsible for the other information contained with the annual report. Our opinion on the financial statements does not cover the other information and, except to the extent otherwise explicitly stated in our report, we do not express any form of assurance conclusion thereon.

Our responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so, consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the financial statements, or our knowledge obtained in the course of the audit or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If we identify such material inconsistencies or apparent

23

material misstatements, we are required to determine whether there is a material misstatement in the financial statements themselves. If, based on the work we have performed, we conclude that there is a material misstatement of this other information, we are required to report that fact.

We have nothing to report in this regard.

Opinions on other matters prescribed by the Companies Act 2006

In our opinion, based on the work undertaken in the course of the audit:

Matters on which we are required to report by exception

In the light of the knowledge and understanding of the company and its environment obtained in the course of the audit, we have not identified material misstatements in the trustees’ annual report.

We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters where the Companies Act 2006 requires us to report to you if, in our opinion:

Responsibilities of trustees

As explained more fully in the trustees’ responsibilities statement, the trustees (who are also the directors of the charitable company for the purposes of company law) are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements and for being satisfied that they give a true and fair view, and for such internal control as the trustees determine is necessary to enable the preparation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.

In preparing the financial statements, the trustees are responsible for assessing the charitable company’s ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting unless the trustees either intend to liquidate the charitable company or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so.

Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements

Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements as a whole are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue an auditor’s report that includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance, but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with ISAs (UK) will always detect a material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these financial statements.

24

As part of an audit in accordance with ISAs (UK) we exercise professional judgement and maintain professional scepticism throughout the audit. We also:

We communicate with those charged with governance regarding, among other matters, the planned scope and timing of the audit and significant audit findings, including any significant deficiencies in internal control that we identify during our audit.

Explanation as to what extent the audit was considered capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud

Irregularities, including fraud, are instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations. We design procedures in line with our responsibilities, outlined above, to detect material misstatements in respect of irregularities, including fraud. The extent to which our procedures are capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud is detailed below.

The objectives of our audit in respect of fraud, are; to identify and assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements due to fraud; to obtain sufficient appropriate audit evidence regarding the assessed risks of material misstatement due to fraud, through designing and implementing appropriate responses to those assessed risks; and to respond appropriately to instances of fraud or suspected fraud identified during the audit. However, the primary responsibility for the prevention and detection of fraud rests with both management and those charged with governance of the charitable company.

25

Our approach was as follows:

Use of our report

This report is made solely to the charitable company's members, as a body, in accordance with Chapter 3 of Part 16 of the Companies Act 2006. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the company’s members those matters we are required to state to them in an auditor’s report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to any party other than the charitable company and charitable company's members as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.

==> picture [277 x 65] intentionally omitted <==

Jonathan Aikens (Partner)

for and on behalf of Moore Kingston Smith LLP, Statutory Auditor

Date: 24 September 2024

Sixth Floor 9 Appold Street London EC2A 2AP

26

Multiple Sclerosis International Federation Statement of Financial Activities for the year ended 31 December 2023

Note
Income and Expenditure
Income from:
Donations
2
Income from charitable activities
Membership dues
Investment Income
Bank Interest
Other
Meeting Income
Total income
Expenditure on:
Raising funds
Charitable activities
Greater access to effective healthcare
Greater access to information and support
A stronger, broader MSIF movement
Total expenditure
3 & 4
Net income/(expenditure)
Net movement in funds
Reconciliation of funds:
Total funds brought forward
Total funds carried forward
at 31 December 2023
10
Improved understanding to prevent,
treat and stop MS		 2023
Unrestricted
Restricted
Total
Funds
Funds
Funds
£
£
£
359,986
1,122,759
1,482,745
384,989
-
384,989
23,245
-
23,245
15,025
15,025
783,245
1,122,759
1,906,004
235,256
112,672
347,928
48,963
505,173
554,136
-
341,894
341,894
199,230
173,840
373,070
237,108
277,367
514,475
720,557
1,410,946
2,131,503
62,688
(288,187)
(225,499)
62,688
(288,187)
(225,499)
805,807
405,982
1,211,789
868,495
117,795
986,290		 2022
Total
Funds
£
1,577,786
367,823
5,800
22,448
1,973,857
486,109
649,285
525,217
237,020
546,002
2,443,633
(469,776)
(469,776)
1,681,565
1,211,789

All gains and losses arising in the period have been included in the Statement of Financial Activities and relate to continuing operation.

The accompanying notes on pages 31 to 47 are an integral part of these financial statements.

27

Multiple Sclerosis International Federation Balance Sheet as at 31 December 2023

Note
Fixed Assets:
Tangible Assets
Equipment
6
Current Assets:
Debtors & prepaid expenses
7
Cash at bank & in hand
8
Creditors: Amounts falling due
within one year
9
Net current assets
Total Net Assets
10
The funds of the charity:
Unrestricted funds
Designated fund
11
Restricted funds
12		 2023
2022
£
£
0
1,212
0
1,212
817,688
798,419
520,487
1,198,639
1,338,175
1,997,058
(351,885)
(786,481)
986,290
1,210,577
986,290
1,211,789
768,495
725,807
100,000
80,000
117,795
405,982
986,290
1,211,789

These accounts have been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to companies subject to the small companies regime within Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006.

The accompanying Notes on pages 31 to 47 are an integral part of these financial statements.

The accounts were approved by the Board and authorised for issue on…………………………. and signed on its behalf by:

==> picture [97 x 24] intentionally omitted <==

……………………………………………………… Victoria Annis Treasurer

Company number: 05088553

28

Prior Year Statement of Financial Activities Year ended 31 December 2022

Statement of Financial Activities for the year ended 31 December 2022

Note
Income and Expenditure
Income from:
Donations
2
Income from charitable activities
Membership dues
Investment Income
Bank Interest
Other
Meeting Income
Total income
Expenditure on:
Raising funds
Charitable activities
Greater access to effective healthcare
Greater access to information and support
A stronger, broader MSIF movement
Total expenditure
3 & 4
Net income/(expenditure)
Net movement in funds
Reconciliation of funds:
Total funds brought forward
Total funds carried forward
at 31 December 2022
10
Improved understanding to prevent,
treat and stop MS		 2022
2021
Unrestricted
Restricted
Total
Total
Funds
Funds
Funds
Funds
£
£
£
£
99,167
1,478,619
1,577,786
1,920,933
367,823
-
367,823
354,119
5,800
-
5,800
198
22,448
22,448
-
495,238
1,478,619
1,973,857
2,275,250
371,082
115,027
486,109
292,073
-
649,285
649,285
783,640
67,441
457,776
525,217
428,757
150,495
86,525
237,020
212,604
5,900
540,102
546,002
438,701
594,918
1,848,715
2,443,633
2,155,775
(99,680)
(370,096)
(469,776)
119,475
(99,680)
(370,096)
(469,776)
119,475
905,487
776,078
1,681,565
1,562,090
805,807
405,982
1,211,789
1,681,565

All gains and losses arising in the period have been included in the Statement of Financial Activities and relate to continuing operation

29

Multiple Sclerosis International Federation Cash Flow Statement for the year ended 31 December 2023

2023 2022
£ £
Cash generated from / (used in) operating activities
Net cash (used in)/provided by operating activities (701,397) (827,651)
Cash flows from investing activities
Dividends, interest and rents from investments 23,245 5,800
Purchase of property, plant and equipment - -
Net cash provided by/(used in) investing activities 23,245 5,800
Change in cash and cash equivalents in the reporting period (678,152) (821,851)
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the reporting period 1,198,639 2,020,490
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the reporting period 520,487 1,198,639
Reconciliation of net income/(expenditure) to net cash flow from operating activities
2023 2022
£ £
Net income/(expenditure) for the reporting period (as per the
statement of financial activities) (225,499) (469,776)
Adjustments for:
Depreciation charges 1,212 2,471
Dividends, interest and rents from investments (23,245) (5,800)
(Increase)/decrease in debtors (19,269) (237,792)
Increase/(decrease) in creditors (434,596) (116,754)
Net cash provided by/(used in) operating activities (701,397) (827,651)

30

Notes to the financial statements

1. Accounting policies

Basis of preparation

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102). The Charitable Company is a public benefit entity for the purposes of FRS 102 and therefore the charity also prepared its financial statements in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (The FRS 102 Charities SORP), the Companies Act 2006 and the Charities Act 2011.

Currency

The financial statements are prepared in sterling, which is the functional currency of the charity. Monetary amounts in these financial statements are rounded to the nearest pound.

Going concern

The financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis.

Having carried out a detailed review of the Charity's resources and the current economic challenges facing both the Charity and its members the Trustees are satisfied that the Charity has sufficient cash flows to meet its liabilities as they fall due for at least one year from the date of approval of the financial statements. The Charity made a deficit in the year which predominantly arose due to a planned increase in restricted expenditure in an effort to utilise accumulated restricted funds.

Cash and cash equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents include cash in hand, deposits held at call with banks, other short-term liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less.

Critical accounting estimates and judgements

In the application of the Charity's accounting policies, the board is required to make judgements, estimates and assumptions about the carrying amount of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. The estimates and associated assumptions are based on historical experience and other factors that are considered to be relevant. Actual results may differ from these estimates.

The estimates and underlying assumptions are reviewed on an ongoing basis. Revisions to accounting estimates are recognised in the period in which the estimate is revised, if the revision affects only that period, or in the period of the revision and future periods if the revision affects both current and future periods.

The estimates and assumptions which have a significant risk of causing a material adjustment to the carrying amount of assets and liabilities are outlined below.

Fixed Assets

Fixed assets are held at cost less depreciation. The annual depreciation charge for property, plant and equipment is sensitive to changes in the estimated useful economic lives and residual values of the assets. The useful economic lives and residual values are re-assessed annually. They are amended when necessary to reflect current estimates, based on technological advancement, future investments, economic utilisation and the physical condition of the assets. See note 6 for the carrying amount of the property, plant and equipment. Fixed assets are depreciated over three years on a straight-line basis. Items purchased for over £1,000 are considered for capitalisation.

31

Notes to the financial statements

Income

Income is recognised in the accounting period to which it relates. Membership dues, legacies and meeting income are accounted for when entitled, can be reasonably measured and the receipt is probable. Donated services are valued at the advised commercial rate.

Expenditure

All expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been classified under headings that aggregate all costs related to the category. Wherever possible costs are directly attributed to these headings. The costs of generating funds are those costs of seeking potential funders and applying for funding. Support costs are those costs incurred in support of the charitable objectives. Governance costs are those incurred in connection with administration of the charity and compliance with constitutional and statutory requirements.

Grant making

Grants are awarded by the Board to both individual and institutional recipients on the basis of their work. See Trustees' Report for detailed information.

Fund accounting

Unrestricted funds are available for use at the discretion of the Trustees in furtherance of the general objectives of the charity.

Restricted funds are funds which are to be used in accordance with specific restrictions imposed by donors. The aim and use of each restricted fund is set out on the following pages.

Designated funds are part of the unrestricted funds which trustees have earmarked for a particular project or use, without restricting or committing the funds legally.

Foreign currency

Transactions in foreign currency during the year are converted at the rate ruling at the date of transaction and any exchange differences arising are taken to the Statement of Financial Activities. Balance sheet items are restated at the year end.

Creditors and provisions

Creditors and provisions are recognised where the charity has a present obligation resulting from a past event that will probably result in the transfer of funds to a third party and the amount due to settle the obligation can be measured or estimated reliably.

Debtors

Amounts owing to the charity at the balance sheet date are shown as debtors less any provisions for amounts that may prove uncollectable.

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Notes to the financial statements

2 Donations

Donations
Unrestricted Restricted Total Total
Funds Funds 2023 2022
£ £ £ £
Ares Trading SA - 110,000 110,000 110,000
Biogen Intl GmbH - 15,840 15,840 -
Bristol Myers Squibb - 30,000 30,000 76,549
Coloplast - 5,000 5,000 5,000
Genzyme - 100,000 100,000 110,000
Legacies 22,348 - 22,348 18,986
MS Organisations - ECTRIMS - 63,995 63,995 64,000
MS Organisations - MENACTRIMS `
donation in kind - - - 13,337
MS Societies 207,574 318,876 526,450 492,790
Novartis - 100,000 100,000 115,000
Roche - 110,000 110,000 110,000
Sandoz - 5,000 5,000 -
Vanneau Trust - 220,000 220,000 220,000
Viatris (formerly Mylan) - 35,000 35,000 -
Wolfensohn Family Foundation* - - - 7,650
Other 130,064 9,048 139,112 234,474
359,986 1,122,759 1,482,745 1,577,786
Personal donations from Trustees during the period amounted to £1,065
Prior Year Donations
Unrestricted Restricted Total Total
Funds Funds 2022 2021
£ £ £ £
Ares Trading SA - 110,000 110,000 152,645
Biogen Intl GmbH - - - 13,127
Bristol Myers Squibb - 76,549 76,549 63,094
Coloplast - 5,000 5,000 -
Genzyme - 110,000 110,000 88,267
Janssen - - - 15,000
Legacies 18,986 - 18,986 -
MS Organisations - ECTRIMS - 64,000 64,000 64,000
MS Organisations - MENACTRIMS
donation in kind - 13,337 13,337 7,350
MS Societies - 492,790 492,790 450,426
Novartis - 115,000 115,000 80,000
Roche - 110,000 110,000 110,000
Vanneau Trust - 220,000 220,000 150,000
Viatris (formerly Mylan) - - 35,000
Wolfensohn Family Foundation* - 7,650 7,650 -
Torn Gaming Community-in memorium - - - 12,515
Other 80,181 154,293 234,474 679,509
99,167 1,478,619 1,577,786 1,920,933

Personal donations from Trustees during the period amounted to £175

33

Notes to the financial statements

3 Expenditure

Direct
Grant
Support
Activities £
Funding £
Costs £
Raising funds
Raising funds
304,255
-

43,673
Charitable activities
6,302
156,430
391,404
Greater access to effective healthcare
114,526
-

227,368
Greater access to information and support
57,999
-

315,071
A stronger, broader MSIF movement
23,304
20,819
470,352
506,386
177,249
1,447,868
Grants payable comprises:
Grants to
Institutions £
Grants to
Individuals £
156,430
-
A stronger, broader MSIF movement
7,800
13,019
164,230
13,019
Grants payable to institutions comprises:
Progressive MS Alliance - National MS Society, USA
San Rafaelle University, Italy, hosting a researcher from India
Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, USA, hosting a researcher from Brazil
University of British Colombia, Canada, hosting a researcher from Mongolia
MSSI, India
CHU Pellegrin, Bordeaux, France
Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital, Paris, France
University Teaching Hospital, Lusaka, Zambia, hosting a researcher from Ghana
Total £
Improved understanding to prevent, treat and
stop MS
Improved understanding to prevent, treat and
stop MS
Center d'Esclerosi Múltiple de Catalunya (Cemcat), Spain, hosting a researcher
from Argentina
Sandler Neurosciences Center, UCSF Medical Center at Mission Bay, USA,
hosting a researcher from Argentina		 Total
2023
347,928
554,136
341,894
373,070
514,475
2,131,503
Total £
156,430
20,819
177,249
Grants £
28,430
32,000
32,000
32,000
32,000
7,800
-6,000
-6,000
6,000
6,000
164,230

34

Notes to the financial statements

3 Expenditure continued

Grants payable outstanding comprises:

Progressive MS Alliance - National MS Society, USA
San Rafaelle University, Italy, hosting a researcher from India
Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, USA, hosting a researcher from Brazil
University of British Colombia, Canada, hosting a researcher from Mongolia
MSSI, India
University Teaching Hospital, Lusaka, Zambia, hosting a researcher from Ghana
Sandler Neurosciences Center, UCSF Medical Center at Mission Bay, USA,
hosting a researcher from Argentina
Center d'Esclerosi Múltiple de Catalunya (Cemcat), Spain, hosting a
researcher from Argentina		 Grants £
28,430
32,000
32,000
32,000
32,000
1,100
6,000
6,000
169,530

Prior Year Expenditure

Raising funds
Raising funds
Charitable activities
Grants payable comprises:
Greater access to effective
healthcare
A stronger, broader MSIF
movement
A stronger, broader MSIF
movement
Improved understanding to
prevent, treat and stop MS
Greater access to effective
healthcare
Greater access to information
and support
Improved understanding to
prevent, treat and stop MS		 Direct
Activities £
448,389
42,735
212,161
54,701
114,962
872,948		 Grant
Funding £
-
254,476
5,000
-
53,820
313,296
Grants to
Institutions £
254,476
5,000
26,372
285,848		 Support
Total
Costs £
2022 £
37,720
486,109
352,074
649,285
308,056
525,217
182,319
237,020
377,220
546,002
1,257,389
2,443,633
Grants to
Individuals £
Total £
-
254,476
-
5,000
27,448
53,820
27,448
313,296

35

Notes to the financial statements

Prior year expenditure continued

Grants payable to institutions comprises:
Progressive MS Alliance - National MS Society, USA
San Rafaelle University, Italy, hosting a researcher from India
Brighams and Women's Hospital USA, hosting a researcher from Argentina
University College London, UK, hosting a researcher from Egypt
MSSI, India
Congrex, Panama
Moorfields Eye Hospital London, UK, hosting a researcher from Brazil
Esclerosis Múltiple Uruguay
Polish MS Society
Luxembourg MS Society
Unie Roska, Czech Republic
ABEM, Brazil
ALCEM, Argentina
Total £
Grants payable outstanding comprises:
Progressive MS Alliance - National MS Society, USA
University College London, UK, hosting a researcher from Egypt
Brighams and Women's Hospital USA, hosting a researcher from Argentina
San Rafaelle University, Italy, hosting a researcher from India
Moorfields Eye Hospital London, UK, hosting a researcher from Brazil
MSSI, India
University of British Colombia, Canada, hosting a researcher
from Mongolia
Center d'Esclerosi Múltiple de Catalunya (Cemcat), Spain,
hosting researchers from Argentina
Center d'Esclerosi Múltiple de Catalunya (Cemcat), Spain,
hosting researchers from Argentina
University of British Colombia, Canada, hosting a researcher
from Mongolia
Amsterdam University Medical Centre, Netherlands, hosting a
researcher from Brazil
Amsterdam University Medical Centre, Netherlands, hosting a researcher
from Brazil		 Grants £
76,442
38,000
32,034
32,000
32,000
32,000
15,880
10,492
6,000
6,000
1,000
1,000
1,000
1,000
500
500
285,848
Grants £
59,162
38,000
32,000
32,000
32,000
32,000
6,000
6,000
8,000
245,162

36

Notes to the financial statements

4 Breakdown of expenditure

Direct Activities
Conferences & Meetings
Travel & Accommodation
Professional Fees
Printing & Publications
Grants (note 3)
Sub Total
Support Costs
Staff Costs (note 5)
Governance Costs
Education & Training
Rent, Rates & Insurance
Premises Maintenance
IT Support & Maintenance
Office Expenses
Financial Expenses
Depreciation (note 6)
Sub Total
Total Expenditure		 Raising
Funds
£
1,000
3,322
299,540
393
-
304,255
36,404
2,307
59
3,087
420
1,428
42
-110
36
43,673
347,928		 Improved scientific
understanding to prevent,
treat and stop MS
£
1,242
3,840
1,205
15
156,430
162,732
322,360
21,917
561
29,328
3,968
13,566
407
-1,047
344
391,404
554,136		 Greater access to
effective
healthcare
£
632
3,970
107,013
2,911
-
114,526
189,821
11,920
304
15,947
2,161
7,378
220
-570
187
227,368
341,894		 Greater access to
information and
support
£
430
182
57,387
-
-
57,999
262,980
16,534
422
22,122
3,000
10,234
307
-790
262
315,071
373,070		 A stronger, broader
Total
MSIF movement
2023
£
£
8,949
12,253
6,693
18,007
7,662
472,807
-
3,319
20,819
177,249
44,123
683,635
394,043
1,205,608
24,224
76,902
617
1,963
32,412
102,896
4,389
13,938
14,994
47,600
448
1,424
-1,158
-3,675
383
1,212
470,352
1,447,868
514,475
2,131,503

Auditors' Fees during the period amounted to £12,750 + VAT. Auditors’ Other Services during the period amounted to Nil. (2022 - Auditors' Fees £10,730 + VAT. Auditors' Other Services - £593)

Support costs including governance costs are apportioned on the basis of staff time

The above expenditure includes unrestricted expenditure of £720,557 (2022: £594,918) and restricted expenditure of £1,410,946 (2022: £1,848,715)

37

Notes to the financial statements

4 Prior year breakdown of expenditure

Direct Activities
Conferences & Meetings
Travel & Accommodation
Professional Fees
Printing & Publications
Grants (note 3)
Sub Total
Support Costs
Staff Costs (note 5)
Governance Costs
Education & Training
Rent, Rates & Insurance
Premises Maintenance
IT Support & Maintenance
Office Expenses
Financial Expenses
Depreciation (note 6)
Sub Total
Total Expenditure		 Raising
Funds
£
1,274
13,418
429,333
4,364
-
448,389
30,679
1,387
83
3,496
455
1,110
39
397
74
37,720
486,109		 Improved scientific
understanding to prevent,
treat and stop MS
£
5,229
5,320
29,285
2,901
254,476
297,211
286,342
12,952
774
32,631
4,257
10,356
365
3,705
692
352,074
649,285		 Greater access to
effective
healthcare
£
5,460
-
206,701
-
5,000
217,161
250,548
11,333
677
28,548
3,725
9,061
318
3,241
605
308,056
525,217		 Greater access to
information and
support
£
717
1,792
51,126
1,066
-
54,701
148,281
6,707
401
16,898
2,204
5,363
189
1,918
358
182,319
237,020		 A stronger, broader
Total
MSIF movement
2022
£
£
24,014
36,694
34,742
55,272
56,206
772,651
-
8,331
53,820
313,296
168,782
1,186,244
306,792
1,022,642
13,877
46,256
831
2,766
34,962
116,535
4,559
15,200
11,094
36,984
393
1,304
3,970
13,231
742
2,471
377,220
1,257,389
546,002
2,443,633

Auditors' Fees during the period amounted to £10,730 + VAT. Auditors’ Other Services during the period amounted to £593. (2021 - Auditors' Fees £6,650 + VAT. Auditors' Other Services - £800)

Support costs including governance costs are apportioned on the basis of staff time

The above expenditure includes unrestricted expenditure of £594,918 (2021: £460,310) and restricted expenditure of £1,848,715 (2021: £1,695,465)

38

Notes to the financial statements

5 Staff Costs

Salaries
Social Security
Pensions and Other Costs		 2023
2022
£
£
1,015,528
869,281
115,997
97,063
74,083
56,298
1,205,608
1,022,642

The average number of employees during the year was 19. The average number of part time employees was 7, with their full time equivalent being 5. (2022: The average number of employees during the year was 19. The average number of part time employees was 6, with their full time equivalent being 5).

One employee received total taxable emoluments of between £100,000 and £109,999 during the year (2022: £90,000 - £99,999) and pension contributions of £6,377 (2022: £5,720). Two employees received total taxable emoluments of between £60,000 and £69,999 during the year (2022: Two: £60,000 - £69,999) and pension contributions totalling £7,594 to a pension scheme (2022: £8,089). Two employees received total taxable emoluments of between £70,000 and £79,999 during the year (2022: Nil) and pension contributions totalling £9,169 to a pension scheme (2022: Nil).

A defined contribution pension scheme is provided. The costs for the period were £60,752, of which £81,was outstanding at the balance sheet date. (2022: The costs for the period were £51,581, of which £449 was outstanding at the balance sheet date).

Key Management Personnel

Key management personnel include the Trustees and senior management. The total employee benefits, including pension costs and employer's national insurance, of the charity's key management personnel were £193,364 (2022: £183,095).

No Trustee received any remuneration from the charity in the period. During the period five Trustees received travel expenses of £12,740. (2022: 5 Trustees received travel expenses of £14,782).

6 Fixed Assets

Fixed Assets
Cost brought forward at 1 January 2023
Additions
Disposals
Cost/depreciation carried forward at 31 December 2023
Depreciation brought forward at 1 January 2023
Depreciation for the year
Disposals
Cost/depreciation carried forward at 31 December 2023
Net Book Value at 31 December 2023
Net Book Value at 31 December 2022		 Equipment
£
41,801
-
(34,695)
7,106
40,589
1,212
(34,695)
7,106
-
1,212

7 Debtors and Prepaid Expenses

Other Debtors
Prepayments
VAT Reclaimable		 2023
2022
£
£
794,945
747,383
15,639
42,506
7,104
8,530
817,688
798,419

39

Notes to the financial statements

8 Cash at bank and in hand

Bank Accounts
Cash
9
Creditors: Amounts falling due within one
Deferred income
Other creditors
Accruals		 2023
2022
£
£
520,409
1,198,560
78
79
520,487
1,198,639
year
2023
2022
£
£
17,355
-
70,125
352,209
264,405
434,272
351,885
786,481

Please refer to note 3 to see which grants are included in the Accruals and Other Creditors balances

10 Analysis of Net Assets between Funds

Unrestricted
Restricted
£
£
Fixed Assets
0
-
Current Assets
1,220,380
117,795
Current Liabilities
(351,885)
-
868,495
117,795
Prior Year Analysis of Net Assets between Funds
Unrestricted
Restricted
£
£
Fixed Assets
1,212
-
Current Assets
1,591,076
405,982
Current Liabilities
(786,481)
-
805,807
405,982
Unrestricted fund movement
Balance
Income
Expenditure
01.01.23
£
£
£
Unrestricted
725,807
783,245
(720,557)
Designated fund:
Provision for
office move
80,000
-
-
805,807
783,245
(720,557)
Expenditure is anticipated in 2024 when our current lease expires
Prior Year Unrestricted fund movement
Balance
Income
Expenditure
01.01.22
£
£
£
Unrestricted
845,487
495,238
(594,918)
Designated fund:
60,000
-
-
905,487
495,238
(594,918)
Provision for
potential office		 Total
£
0
1,338,175
(351,885)
986,290
Total 2021
£
1,212
1,997,058
(786,481)
1,211,789
Transfers
Balance
31.12.23
£
£
(20,000)
768,495
20,000
100,000
-
868,495
Transfers
Balance
31.12.22
£
£
(20,000)
725,807
20,000
80,000
0
805,807

11 Unrestricted fund movement

40

Notes to the financial statements

12 Outline summary of restricted fund movements

Research fellowships & grants
Progressive MS
Data sharing
Increasing resources
Atlas
Improving access to treatment
Mena access to treatment
Access & communication advocacy
Access to information
MSIF Communications
World MS Day
Global and other countries
Regional Programmes - Latin America
Fundraising
Research fellowships & grants
Progressive MS
Data sharing
Increasing resources
Atlas
Improving access to treatment
Mena access to treatment
Access to information
MSIF Communications
World MS Day
Global and other countries
Regional Programmes - Latin America
Skills networking
Fundraising
Regional Programmes - Arab Region
Regional Programmes - Asia
Regional Programmes - Arab Region
Strategy & research coordination
Strategy & research coordination
Regional Programmes - Asia
Prior Year Outline summary of
restricted fund movements		 Balance
01.01.23
£
-
-
-
-
-
-
361,315
-
-
-
-
-
-
38,767
5,900
-
-
405,982
Balance
01.01.22
£
-
51,572
-
-
-
5,587
643,977
20,000
-
-
-
-
44,942
-
10,000
-
-
776,078		 Resources
Resources
Transfers
Balance
Incoming
Outgoing
31.12.23
£
£
£
£
165,995
165,995
-
-
44,048
44,048
-
-
85,730
85,730
-
-
58,100
58,100
-
-
35,500
35,500
-
-
115,800
115,800
-
-
54,311
258,112
(90,782)
66,732
-
62,066
69,066
7,000
-
21,716
21,716
-
40,000
38,000
-
2,000
55,840
55,840
-
-
80,000
80,000
-
-
47,800
47,800
-
-
72,500
76,954
-
34,313
56,963
62,863
-
-
97,500
89,750
-
7,750
112,672
112,672
-
-
1,122,759
1,410,946
-
117,795
Resources
Resources
Transfers
Balance
Incoming
Outgoing
31.12.22
£
£
£
£
234,639
234,639
-
-
20,271

71,843
-
-
126,740
126,740
-
-
56,966
56,966
-
-
25,145
25,145
-
-
128,365
133,952
-
-
31,174
313,836
-
361,315
47,416
67,416
-
-
35,000

35,000
-
-
51,525
51,525
-
-
76,524
76,524
-
-
156,180
156,180
-
-
95,837
102,012
-
38,767
72,947
67,047
-
5,900
144,391
154,391
-
-
60,472
60,472
-
-
115,027
115,027
-
-
1,478,619
1,848,715
-
405,982

The purposes of the restricted funds are as follows:

Improved scientific understanding to prevent, treat and stop MS

Research Fellowships & Grants: McDonald Fellowships are awarded to young researchers from emerging countries for research in MS. The two-year award includes a grant to cover travel and living costs, and an additional contribution of £2,000 per year to the host laboratory. The total award is a maximum of £30,000 per annum with up to two fellowships per year.

41

Notes to the financial statements

Du Pre Grants enable young researchers to undertake short visits to MS research centres of excellence. Each grant is £1,000 - £6,000 to cover travel costs or as a top-up to an existing grant. MSIF makes up to 5 grants per year.

The Charcot Award is awarded for a lifetime achievement in outstanding research into the understanding or treatment of MS. The winner gives the Charcot Lecture at ECTRIMS. Their travel costs, and expenses are covered, up to a maximum of £5,000. A grant of £1,500 is awarded to the winner.

Strategy & research coordination: Facilitate, co-fund, cooperate and support common action by national MS organisations in relation to international research programmes/conferences. This involves the International Research Staff Network, International Medical and Scientific Board (IMSB) and liaison with the international MS research community.

Progressive MS: Activities and support related to progressive MS as well as to the Alliance with sixteen of our member organisations to expedite the research into treatments for progressive MS.

Data Sharing: The programme of work encompasses our support for an international initiative to establish a global consensus around patient reported outcomes, and our participation or collaboration in any internationally relevant initiatives about sharing research/patient/clinical data relevant to MS.

Increasing resources: This programme of work aims to support encourage and support our member organisations to raise more funds for research. The most prominent part of this programme is the global May50K campaign which in several countries contributes to funds for research, whilst also providing unrestricted funds for MSIF.

Atlas: The Atlas of MS presents data on the global, regional and national epidemiology of MS, and the resources available for the treatment, management, rehabilitation and support of people with MS in every country with a significant prevalence of MS. Individuals, groups and organisations use it as a tool to illustrate the results of comparative analysis of epidemiology and resource data across geographical areas.

Greater access to effective healthcare

Improving access to treatment: This programme aims to improve access for people with MS to all forms of healthcare, medical treatment and MS drugs around the world, that are effective, affordable, and of reliable quality. The transfer out of the fund during the year relates to our access to treatment work in the MENA region and our access & communications advocacy work.

Capacity building access: Bring together MS organisations in the MENA region to increase and strengthen regional communication and cooperation, improve staff/volunteers’ advocacy skills and increase capacity of MS organisations in this area.

Access and communications advocacy: Produce communications tools to help engage members and the wider movement around our work on access to healthcare and communicate our work on access to the public.

Greater access to information and support

Access to information: Repurpose and translate information materials for adaption and use around the world.

MSIF communications: Any communications about the organisation itself, such as banners or materials and attendance at international conferences. Digital communications, including keeping MSIF’s website up to date with free, trusted information about research, treatment and other aspects of MS, as well as MSIF’s and our member’s activities, for use by member organisations and other groups and individuals throughout the world. Prepare, send and translate (into Spanish and Arabic) MSIF’s e-newsletter: Making Connections.

42

Notes to the financial statements

World MS Day: World MS Day (30 May) is an opportunity for people worldwide to join the global MS movement and participate in events and activities to raise awareness of MS as a global issue.

Stronger, broader MSIF movement

Global and other countries: building capacity, by supporting member organisations, amongst others through coaching, visits, exploring new partnerships and providing travel grants for attendance at meetings.

Arab Region: Build capacity, by initiating or supporting the development of MS organisations in Arabic speaking countries.

Asia : Build capacity, by initiating or supporting the development of emerging MS support structures and groups and MS organisations in Asia, including through small grants for workshops, world MS Day activities and newsletters.

Latin America: Build capacity by supporting the development of MS organisations in Latin America.

Skills networking: To provide opportunities for the membership to learn about each other’s areas of work and share best practice.

Fundraising - The May 50K: a virtual international event, which enables people around the world to raise funds for vital research into MS and support people living with MS today.

13 Future Commitments

Equipment
Less than one year
More than one year
Land and Buildings
Less than one year
More than one year
At 31 December 2023, MSIF had total minimum
lease payments under operating leases as set out
below:		 2023 £
2022 £
-
700
-
175
8,194
83,374
-
2,969
8,194
87,218

43

Notes to the financial statements

14 Related Party Disclosures

==> picture [500 x 723] intentionally omitted <==

----- Start of picture text -----
Nature of Membership Dues Membership Dues
Name of Entity
Relationship Received 2023 £ Received 2022 £
Joint Trustee
MS Society, Australia 46,435 46,435
and Chair
Ligue Nationale Belge de la Sclérose en Joint Trustee
7,134 8,306
Plaques, Belgium and Chair
Joint Trustee
MS Care, Egypt 12 12
and Chair
Ligue Francaise contre la Sclerose En Joint Trustee - 6,514
Plaques, France
MS Society Greece Joint Trustee 198 358
Joint Trustee
MS Society Italy 36,682 33,332
and Chair
Esclerosis Multipla Espana, Spain Joint Trustee 658 598
Joint Trustees
National MS Society, USA 111,421 110,004
and Chair
Nature of Membership Dues Membership Dues
Name of Entity
Relationship Accrued 2023 £ Accrued 2022 £
Joint Trustee
MS Society, Australia 32,186 25,039
and Chair
Ligue Francaise contre la Sclerose En
Joint Trustee 5,453 5,453
Plaques, France
Grants Received Grants Received
Name of Entity Nature of Relationship
2023 £ 2022 £
Ligue Nationale Belge de la
Member 9,711 12,195
Sclérose en Plaques, Belgium
MS Canada Member 151,273 173,592
DMSG, Germany Member 86,974 -
Ligue Française contre la
Member 34,680 -
Sclérose En Plaques, France
Ligue Française contre la Joint member
- 8,361
Sclérose En Plaques, France Progressive MS Alliance
Fondation pour l’Aide à la
Member 64,000 64,000
Recherche sur la Sclérose En
UK MS Society Member 55,548 50,667
Joint member
MS Ireland 2,568 4,248
Progressive MS Alliance
MS Ireland Member 38,146 40,697
Stichting MS Research,
Member 52,688 96,298
Netherlands
Esclerosis Multipla Espana, Joint member
25,862 43,554
Spain Progressive MS Alliance 44
----- End of picture text -----

Notes to the financial statements

Related Party Disclosures continued

==> picture [476 x 241] intentionally omitted <==

----- Start of picture text -----
Nature of Grants Paid Grants Paid
Name of Entity
Relationship 2023 £ 2022 £
Progressive MS Alliance - National MS Society,
Joint member 28,430 76,442
USA
ALCEM, Argentina Member - 500
EMA, Argentina Member - -
MS Australia Member 27,799 -
ABEM, Brazil Member - 500
Unie Roska Czech, Republic Member - 1,000
Sleroseforeningen, Denmark Member 21,786 28,532
MS Society, Greece Member - -
MS Society, India Member 7,800 16,000
MS Society, Luxembourg Member - 1,000
Polskie Towarzystwo Stwardnienia Rozsianego,
Member - 1,000
Poland
EMUR, Uruguay Member - 1,000
----- End of picture text -----

Prior Year Related Party Disclosures

Name of Entity Nature of
Relationship		 Membership
Dues
Received
2022 £		 Membership
Dues
Received
2021 £
Ligue Francaise contre la Sclerose En Plaques,
France
MS Society Greece
MS Care, Egypt
MS Society of Canada
Ligue Nationale Belge de la Sclérose en Plaques,
Belgium
MS Society, Australia
Esclerosis Multipla Espana, Spain
National MS Society, USA
MS Society Italy		 Joint Trustee
Joint Trustee
and Chair
Joint Trustee
Joint Trustee
Joint Trustee
and Chair
Joint Trustee
and Chair
Joint Trustee
and Chair
Joint Trustees
and Chair
Joint Trustee		 358
33,332
598
-
-
46,435
8,306
12
110,004		 358
33,332
598
6,544
33,335
58,943
12
8,308
110,004

45

Notes to the financial statements

Prior Year Related Party Disclosures continued

Name of Entity Nature of Relationship Membership
Dues Accrued
2022 £		 Membership
Dues Accrued
2021 £
MS Society, Australia
Ligue Francaise contre la Sclerose En
Plaques, France		 Joint Trustee
Joint Trustee and Chair		 25,039
5,453		 -
-
Name of Entity Nature of Relationship Grants
Received 2022		 Grants
Received 2021
MS Canada
Ligue Française contre la Sclérose En
Plaques, France
Fondation pour l’Aide à la Recherche
sur la Sclérose En Plaques, France
Fondation pour l’Aide à la Recherche
sur la Sclérose En Plaques, France
Esclerosis Multipla Espana, Spain
Ligue Nationale Belge de la Sclérose en
Plaques, Belgium
MS Ireland
Stichting MS Research, Netherlands
MS Ireland
Swiss MS Society, Switzerland		 Joint member
Progressive MS Alliance
Member
Joint member
Progressive MS Alliance
Member
Member
Joint member
Progressive MS Alliance
Joint member
Progressive MS Alliance
Member
Member
Joint member
Progressive MS Alliance		 149,586
24,597
8,361
64,000
12,195
4,248
-
43,554
72,044
0
75,804
-
-
51,802
64,000


1,698
-


41,250
151,906
63,966

46

Notes to the financial statements

Prior Year Related Party Disclosures continued

==> picture [478 x 248] intentionally omitted <==

----- Start of picture text -----
Grants Paid Grants Paid
Name of Entity Nature of Relationship
2022 £ 2021 £
Progressive MS Alliance - National MS
Joint member 76,442 256,136
Society, USA
ALCEM, Argentina Member 500 -
EMA, Argentina Member - 5,150
Ligue National Belge de la Sclersoe en
Member - 1,000
Plaques, Belgium
ABEM, Brazil Member 500 500
Unie Roska Czech, Member 1,000 100
Sleroseforeningen, Member 28,532 -
MS Society, Greece Member - 1,000
MS Society, India Member 16,000 15,730
MS Society, Luxembourg Member 1,000 -
Polskie Towarzystwo Stwardnienia Member 1,000 -
EMUR, Uruguay Member 1,000 -
----- End of picture text -----

15 Company Limited by Guarantee

Every full voting member undertakes to contribute such amount as may be required (not exceeding £10) to the company's assets if it should be wound up while it is a full voting member or within 1 year afterwards, (2023 33 members (2022 - 33 members)).

47