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← Multiple Sclerosis International Federation

2024-12-31-accounts

Report and financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2024

Multiple Sclerosis International Federation

(A company limited by guarantee)

Company registration number: 05088553 Charity registration number: 1105321 Registered address: Canopi Unit A, Arc House 82 Tanner Street London SE1 3GN

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Contents

Contents
Introduction
Trustees’ report
Who we are and what we do
MSIF’s progress against 2024 priorities
Looking ahead, 2025 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 2024
Prior year Statement of financial activities
Cash flow statement for the year ended 31 December 2024
Notes to the financial statements		 3
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success

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Introduction

This year’s report reflects the progress and priorities of the Multiple Sclerosis International Federation (MSIF) as we work towards a shared vision: a world free from multiple sclerosis (MS). For me, this journey began many years ago with a simple question from a friend who lived with MS:

“Is there any news for me?”

And he was asking the same question many times during the year hoping a breakthrough solving the so called at that time “mystery of MS”

That question became a driving force. It captured the urgency and hope felt by millions of people affected by MS around the world. It also reminded me that progress must be measured not only in research outcomes or policy change, but in the lives of people who live with the condition every day.

MSIF is a UK-registered charity with a truly global remit. Our work brings together MS organisations, healthcare professionals, researchers, and people affected by MS to improve quality of life and accelerate progress towards effective treatments and, ultimately, prevention and cure.

Our Strategy 2023–2027 focuses on three long-term aims:

This report outlines our activity and impact across each of these areas. In 2024, we helped strengthen international collaboration on MS research through the updated Pathways to Cures Roadmap. We continued to support research on progressive MS, patient reported outcomes, diagnostic criteria, the specific needs of women with MS and patient engagement.

We advocated for better access to medicines and diagnosis through our engagement with the World Health Organization and national-level partners. Specific activities were related to WHO Essential Medicine List and Atlas of MS.

Our information resources reached more people in more languages. We expanded support to regions historically underrepresented in global MS work, including Africa, Latin America and the Middle East and North Africa region. World MS Day 2024, centred on the theme My MS Diagnosis, mobilised people in 124 countries, helping to raise awareness and push for earlier, more accurate diagnosis worldwide.

We are proud of what we have achieved, while recognising that much work lies ahead. On behalf of the Board of Trustees, I thank our members, partners, funders, staff and volunteers for their commitment. We remain focused on our charitable purpose and determined to make meaningful progress, together with and for people affected by MS across the world.

Mario Battaglia Chair

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Trustees report

The trustees present their report and financial statements for the period ended 31 December 2024. 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 2024 we entered the second 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 2023, we set out objectives and actions for 2024 towards the aims in our 5-year strategy. Here we restate those objectives and report on our progress towards them in 2024.

MSIF’s progress against 2024 priorities

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

Goals:

Key Actions for 2024:

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Together with member organisations, support the strategic alignment of the global MS research community

In 2023, MSIF and member organisations from Australia, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the United Kingdom (UK), and the United States (US), jointly declared their collective commitment to a global research strategy for cures for MS. This is based on the Pathways to Cures Roadmap, focused on three research pathways: (1) stopping the MS disease process, (2) restoring lost function by reversing damage and symptoms, and (3) ending MS through prevention.

Led by the National MS Society, USA, in 2024, a revised Pathways to Cures Roadmap was published. The publication refined research priorities within the three pathways and presented recommendations for accelerating progress. MSIF and the member organisations mentioned above also completed and published a landscape analysis of MS research funding and infrastructure. This landscape analysis highlights the current distribution of MS research investment between topics and begins to suggest where the MS community should focus, to increase potential impact for current and future endeavours.

An important focus for the MS community is research into topics relevant to women’s health in MS. MSIF was pleased to support this effort, through enabling consultation with members of our International Medical and Scientific Board (IMSB) and – with the support of our member organisations – people affected by MS across the world.

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, which is led by the National MS Society, USA. In 2024, the Alliance launched a new funding scheme, requesting proposals for Experimental Medicine Trials that aim to test potential new treatments for progressive MS. Importantly, this funding scheme emphasises that the perspectives of people affected by progressive MS must be included in the applications, including how people with progressive MS influence trial design and execution. Three webcasts on new treatments, mobility challenges and clinical trials took place, and after each webcast, subtitles in French, Spanish, Italian and Arabic were made available by MSIF and our members.

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. In 2024, members of the initiative have focused on analysing the results of the global survey about the impact of MS symptoms, which reached over 5,000 people in almost 70 countries. In addition, a new task force was established to map the use of PROs across MS registries. These findings will feed into recommendations for PRO measures to be used in research and the clinical setting. 2024 has also had a theme of eHealth for the PROMS initiative, with the analysis of a catalogue of eHealth digital tools for MS, and the development of a global survey to people with MS focused on their use of digital tools to measure key symptoms. Results have been disseminated at the ECTRIMS Congress, in a new publication, and during the PROMS annual meeting.

Provide fellowships and grants, with a focus on supporting researchers in LMICs and review the grants and fellowships.

MSIF awarded the 2024 McDonald Fellowships with our partners ECTRIMS and FRANCESEP. The MSIFECTRIMS McDonald Fellowship was awarded to Dr Yohane Gadama from Malawi. He will be conducting a project with Professor Franclo Henning at Stellenbosch University in South Africa on ‘Impact of HIV infection and treatment on the epidemiology and clinical progression of MS’. The MSIF-FRANCESEP McDonald Fellowship was awarded to Dr Maria Agustina Piedrabuena from Argentina. She will be conducting her project with Professor Jennifer Graves at the San Diego VA MS Center in the US on ‘Investigating biomarkers in aging patients with MS’.

We agreed with our partners ECTRIMS and FRANCESEP to increase the annual award for the McDonald Fellowships to bring them into line with similar fellowships in the field. This will take effect from 2025/26.

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We also consulted widely on the future of the Du Pre grants, which are currently paused due to the financial situation. There is general agreement that these grants could be used to address key challenges relating to the research and access needs of low resource settings, but more work is needed to refine the scope of these awards and source funding for them.

Aim: Greater access to effective healthcare, information and support

Goals:

Key Actions for 2024:

Further develop the MS Resource Hub to share member resources throughout the movement. Work with members and the working group in reviewing priority topics, adapt and translate 1 information resource to address the global gaps, improve user experience and increase the use of the Hub across the MS movement.

To help ensure that the resources we share across the movement are clear and trustworthy, MSIF outlined a new and more rigorous approach to quality assurance, developing a Quality Assurance Guide for our information work. We began implementing this approach by testing part of the process when we added a new resource to the hub, which is shared by the National MS Society, USA.

The global movement continued to make resources available in more languages. The booklet ‘MS: Yoga and Meditation’, originally published by Esclerosis Multiple Argentina in Spanish then translated into English by MSIF, was translated into Hebrew and Russian by the Israel MS Society, and Polish by Polskie Towarzystwo Stwardnienia Rozsianego. Our guide ‘Living well with MS as you grow older’ was translated into Urdu, making that the 11th language it is available in.

An Urdu translation of ‘Living well with MS as you grow Older’ was completed by a non-member organisation in Pakistan. The MS Society of Canada are currently adapting the guide for use in their

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country. The Israel MS Society translated ‘MS: Yoga and Meditation’ into Russian and Hebrew. The Polish translation of this resource is also in progress.

Adaptation of a resource on complementary therapy, underwent multiple iterations based on recommendations from the IMSB. After incorporating these suggestions, the finalised content is now ready for production and is expected to be launched in early 2025.

The MS Resource Hub views reached 81,526 from Non-Member Countries and 138,529 from Member Countries. The total number of resource downloads is 1,833. The number of countries that visited the hub is 122.

Write, collaborate and/or contribute to scientific papers, guidelines and other content on off-label DMTs, essential medicines and the WHO essential medicine application and outcome. Disseminate publications to MS community.

Building on the success of adding MS treatments to the WHO Essential Medicines List in 2023, we are ensuring that all the evidence behind the application is made available through scientific publications, as well as highlighting our overall approach more widely, such as through the ECTRIMS webinar series. In addition, a WHO report on Improving access to medicines for neurological disorders featured data from the Atlas of MS and our application to the WHO EML.

In 2024, we learned that in Chile, it is now possible for neurologists to prescribe rituximab as a first-line therapy for people with highly active MS, which is due to the listing of rituximab as an essential medicine on the WHO EML.

The following articles relating to our work on access to healthcare were published in 2024:

With input from members and the wider community to understand the needs, create tools and resources that will help MS organisations and healthcare professionals advocate effectively for improving access to treatment.

Support members and the wider MS movement to use the tools and resources mentioned above, including EML outcome, to improve access to treatment at the national level.

The International Working Group on Access met four times during the year to advise the Secretariat on their activities and to share experiences around access to healthcare in different countries. We did not produce any new tools and resources in 2024, due to reduced capacity in the Secretariat.

Work with members, industry, WHO and other relevant global organisations to explore potential for future activities relating to reducing cost and improving affordability of DMTs

During 2024 we have been working in an advisory capacity with a pharmaceutical company about a potential scheme to donate DMTs to some selected low and lower-middle income countries. This has involved consultation around the feasibility of such a scheme with the company, with local neurologists and with WHO representatives in the African region.

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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 diagnosis.

In 2024 we updated the core epidemiology data for the Atlas of MS, with 80 countries amending or confirming their core data, and a further 5 countries providing core data for the first time. We also conducted a focused survey around the topic of MS diagnosis. With the update of the McDonald diagnostic criteria coming in 2025, questions investigated country preparedness in relation to availability of tests and equipment. The new data is more representative of the global MS community than ever, with responses from 122 countries representing 93% of the global population (compared to 2022 where 96 countries participated in the topical survey). We are pleased to report that more than twice as many low-income and African countries took part in the 2024 data collection than in 2022. Also in 2024, the Atlas of MS epidemiology article published in the MS Journal in 2020 received over 500 additional citations, taking the total to approximately 1500. We were pleased to see that the Atlas of MS has inspired a detailed investigation into access to DMTs in Southeast Asia and the specific factors that influence availability and affordability of DMTs.

Gather information and build on insight from World MS Day to start exploring the strategy around improving MS diagnosis.

In 2024, MSIF commissioned a feasibility study to analyse where the global movement should focus its activities from 2026 onwards to have an impact on improving MS diagnosis. To ensure the outputs of the feasibility study will be useful for our members, we established a small steering group with representatives from 5 member organisations in Australia, Brazil, Egypt, Switzerland and Poland. To date we have hosted a workshop on MS diagnosis at our Global Networking Meetings and held discussions with the International Working Group on Access and the International Medical and Scientific Board. The aim of these consultations was to identify the largest barriers to accessing an early diagnosis of MS, how these barriers vary across countries, and out of many potential solutions, which ones might be most impactful and feasible to implement. We also collected examples of what member organisations are currently doing to improve access to MS diagnosis, and what ‘best practice’ looks like. Consultation will continue into 2025, with a report and recommendations to be shared with member organisations and the Board.

Key Actions for 2024:

We aimed to hold at least 4 board and global networking meetings, 3 in a virtual manner and one, in person.

Key Actions for 2024:

Provide travel grants for new and continuing MSIF Board members from emerging countries/organisations without the means to attend and participate in MSIF’s 2024 Global Networking Meetings.

Travel grants enabled Board members from Egypt, India and Lebanon to attend the 2024 Global Networking Meetings, widening diversity of representation in discussions and enabling them to input into global strategy and planning. As some Board members were unable to attend the meetings in-person, grants were extended to member organisation delegates from Brazil, India, Slovakia, Spain and Turkey. The networking opportunities presented led to the delegate from Spain arranging to host a visit for the delegates from MSIF’s member organisation in the Czech Republic.

Hold a virtual global forum for people with and affected by MS connected to Member organisations in order to engage them in the MSIF movement’s global activities.

Whilst a forum did not take place due to reduced capacity, MSIF partnered with ECTRIMS to run their 2024 Patient Community Day 1,907 people with MS and 106 caregivers from 74 countries registered to attended (online and in-person). MSIF also encouraged the participation of people with and affected by MS from Australia, UK, Italy, Ireland, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Turkey and Lebanon in the October Global MS Research Meeting, co-organised with the US National MS Society

Hold a global information/training event/workshop (in the area of fundraising, information, advocacy or communications).

A live webinar for MS organisations focusing on the new World MS Day diagnosis theme was held on 30 April. MS organisations had the chance to learn from each other and get ideas for the ‘My MS Diagnosis’ campaign. During the webinar, MSIF’s members in South Africa, India and Uruguay presented case studies on their work to improve diagnosis. Organisations from 38 countries in all world regions registered to attend and around 50 people attended the live webinar. Arabic and Spanish subtitles were added to the recording for further sharing. The post-webinar survey showed 90% of responses rated the webinar as ‘excellent’ or ‘very good’ while 10% rated it ‘’good.

Process up to 3 MSIF membership applications (including in world regions where MSIF does not currently have many members).

Applications from South Africa and Netherlands were approved in January 2024. Applications from organisations in Argentina and the UK were progressed and the review of applications from Yemen and Honduras was initiated.

Encourage and enable members to commit people, time and resources to achieve our shared goals.

At the end of 2024, 68% of member organisations were involved in Working Groups/the Board/ Committees/attended the 2024 Global Networking Meetings. 4 members participated in The May50K. AISM, Italy and the US National MS Society continue to act as Lead Agencies for PROMS and the Alliance respectively

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World MS Day: Flexible tools developed with input from the working group for members and others to use as they best see fit including to mobilise, fundraise, raise awareness, advocate etc. Launch the new multi-year theme around diagnosis and the early part of the journey with MS.

The first year of the My MS Diagnosis campaign was one to remember. The global MS movement campaigned for better MS training for health care professionals, new research, and clinical advancements in MS diagnosis. Together we are working towards building informed, caring communities and systems that support people diagnosed with MS. 124 countries took part in World MS Day 2024 and there were 6 countries, or territories where World MS Day activity took place for the first time, or the first time in a number of years: Angola, Azerbaijan, Belize, Guernsey, The Republic of Moldova and Vietnam.

We launched a new brand and a new toolkit with graphics, posters, countdowns, a campaign handbook and much more, the toolkit saw fantastic uptake from across the movement.

As part of the campaign, people with MS from across the globe shared personal stories about MS diagnosis. The ‘My MS Diagnosis Animation’ which used real stories to show what it’s like to navigate an MS diagnosis was viewed over 65,000 times on the World MS Day social media channels.

The campaign was recognised by decision makers across the world including the Puerto Rican House of Representatives and Senate, and Health Ministries in Luxembourg, Syria, Paraguay and beyond. The MS movement used its voice across the world to mobilise support and advocate for early, and accurate diagnosis.

Provide mentoring/coaching and support to MS organisations within Latin America and the LATEM network (up to 5 small grants)

The Latin American (LATEM) Network now consists of 24 MS organisations from the region, including MSIF’s members in Argentina, Brazil, Guatemala and Uruguay.

During 2024 an external agency supported the LATEM Network in rolling out the communications plan developed with MSIF in 2023. A series of training sessions were held to upskill MS organisations’ representatives in establishing, managing and building social media channels and online platforms. The training was designed to ensure that the LATEM Network’s external communications can be maintained in the long-term.

In September, the 7th LATEM Network Regional Congress took place online. MSIF supported the Network leadership with a grant so they could hire a specialised agency to run the online congress infrastructure. MSIF also coached the leadership team in event planning, budgeting and management and helped them to put the agenda together and engage with keynote speakers. These speakers then presented on topics including the role of patient organisations in policy making, the rights and responsibilities of people with MS and corporate fundraising. An average of 56 participants from 15 organisations attended over the two days. 92% of those who completed the post-event evaluation felt that the Congress met their expectations and 93% considered the topics discussed relevant or very relevant to the needs of their organisation.

In parallel, MSIF carried out an Organisational Needs Assessment Survey during the summer. There were two aims for this survey. The first was to learn more about the barriers to early diagnosis in the region and what actions and activities organisations could take to tackle these, with the potential to be supported by MSIF small grants in 2025. The second was to find out in which areas of organisational development MS organisations needed support to strengthen their organisations (and undertake the actions to tackle the barriers).

19 organisations responded to the survey which revealed that the barriers faced are similar to those identified globally. However, some were unique to the region including the centralisation of diagnostic

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services in capital cities. In terms of their organisational development needs, the top priority areas were data collection & management, financial sustainability and volunteering.

The results of the survey are being used to develop multi-year work (2025-26) that will start with a comprehensive 3-month regionwide online training programme in the prioritised areas of organisational development. This will underpin small grants to be awarded later in 2025 linked to the diagnosis theme, the results of which will be presented at the 2026 LACTRIMS Congress in Mexico.

Provide mentoring/coaching and support to the MSSI, India through 2023 - 25 Capacity Building Project .

2024 was the second year of the final phase of the MS Society of India (MSSI) and MSIF Capacity Building Project, a multi-year project that aims to advance MSSI’s advocacy efforts through investing in organisational development.

MSIF contributed towards salary costs for the Project Director and the fees for a communications agency that is supporting the MSSI in its internal communications and external campaigns. MSIF provided regular support to the MSSI throughout the year with monthly progress calls and meetings held, when needed, to discuss areas where MSIF guidance and advice could be employed.

This year, the Project Director, and colleagues from the National Office, visited 6 Chapters and co-ordinated several workshops with them. The workshops were designed to empower and build the skills of the volunteers involved in running the chapters and included topics such as caregiving, early diagnosis, and the role of support groups.

Together with the Project Director and leaders of the National MSSI Youth Wing, the communications agency managed the #InsureMyMS campaign, launched on 28 June, National Insurance Awareness Day in India. The month-long campaign included a petition which successfully gathered over 8,000 signatures, raising critical awareness about the high cost of medicine in India and advocating for more affordable healthcare insurance. There was great engagement on social media with a 200% increase in the MSSI’s LinkedIn engagement and a 50% increase on X (Twitter) as a result.

MSIF also supported the MSSI to develop 7 new organisational policies to strengthen their internal systems and inter-chapter relations. These policies included anti-bribery, procurement and whistleblowing. These policies will help to ensure that the chapters work cohesively and allow the organisation to function more effectively.

In March, the Indian Government shared revised disability assessment guidelines for people with MS under the 2016 Rights of Persons with Disability Act. As a result of the advocacy work, funded by MSIF and delivered by MSSI, separate guidelines for MS, the presence of a neurologist on the assessment panel and consideration of the varied disabilities that can result from MS, were included in the disability assessment guidelines for the first time.

This year, MSIF identified financial sustainability as a key objective that needs to be addressed to ensure that the MSSI can continue to staff the National Office once the MSIF project finishes. Through remote coaching the focus has been on donor mapping, particularly those donors who are able to contribute to staffing and overhead costs.

Provide mentoring and support to the MENA region via the 2021-25 MENA Capacity Building for Access Project.

For the first time, MS organisations in the region came together to celebrate World MS Day as a region by lighting up buildings/monuments in orange and designing and using the same hashtag throughout their

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social media channels. Inspired by a similar campaign that has been successfully running in Latin America for several years, 12 countries participated furthering regional collaboration and solidarity. Following on from the 2023 MENA Charter, a small grants programme was launched to support national advocacy projects linked to one or more of the Charter Statements.

One grant was awarded in 2024 to the Sudanese MS Association to empower health professionals to better support people with MS in Sudan. The Association’s project aimed to work towards ‘ensuring that pathways to care and treatment anticipate and respond to the changing needs of each person with MS’. The project was delivered in Egypt due to the conflict in Sudan having displaced both the Sudanese health professional and people with MS communities.

The project also aimed to ‘increase the number and support the training of a range of health professionals that provide care for people with MS’. Around 30 allied Sudanese and Egyptian healthcare professionals were trained in understanding MS and equipped with the tools to help people with MS from Sudan living in Egypt to access further information, services and support. The grant was also used to support the building of a network of Sudanese and Egyptian healthcare professionals and the strengthening of the relationship between the Sudanese MS Association and MS Care Egypt.

Other applications did not fully meet the grant criteria and MSIF identified the need to improve organisations’ project design and management skills before launching further grants. This would not only prepare the organisations to apply for these but support them in managing other national and regional projects.

MSIF therefore engaged with the American University in Cairo to co-design a Continuous Education Course in Leadership and Strategic Project Management. The 13-week course, carried out online, began in October 2024 and ran until February 2025. 17 representatives from 11 organisations in 8 countries undertook the course to learn more about the types, tactics and skills of leadership and understand and apply the relevant tools and frameworks to plan, execute, monitor, evaluate and learn from projects effectively. The learnings can be applied when MSIF re-launches small grants to support national advocacy projects in 2025.

Provide support to emerging organisations in Africa, Asia and other regions outside Latin America, MENA region and India.

Having decided, with input from the MSIF Board, to reach out to MS organisations and groups in the Africa region, MSIF initiated desk-based research at the end of the year learn more about and better understand the region so to inform the design of a multi-year approach (2025-27).

Provide MS organisations with support to meet specific challenges, via the Time Bank

Throughout the year MSIF collaborated closely with MS organisations across the globe. We participated in member activities, including attending a gala event hosted by the Ligue Nationale Belge de la Sclérose en Plaques (Belgium), presenting on the role of MSIF during MS Ireland’s board meeting, giving a speech at the 50th anniversary event of the AMSEL branch of the Deutsche Multiple Sklerose Gesellschaft Bundesverband e.V (Gerrmany),online participation in the 40[th] anniversary celebrations at Associação Brasileira de Esclerose Múltipla (Brazil), and a message of solidarity for the Japan MS Society’s annual seminar.

MSIF attended the Duoshen conference in China and delivered a talk on how patient organisations support newly diagnosed individuals with MS, sharing examples from the global MS movement. A presentation on building MS communities was recorded for the inaugural KFSH&RC International Neuroimmunology Conference (INIC24) held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

The MSIF team also assisted MS organisations in a variety of ways; making connections in Nepal, Singapore and Nigeria; linking up our members in Denmark and Japan; taking part in a seminar in

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Colombia; supporting communications in the MENA region and advocacy efforts in Guatemala, Uruguay and Argentina. Fundraising opportunities were discussed with India and global campaigning explored with the National MS Society UAE.

Continue to work with members to develop a diverse, sustainable fundraising portfolio and build on collaborative global fundraising initiatives, applying the 7 traits of successful collaborations and fundraising guardrails.

It was another successful year for our virtual challenge event, The May 50K. Members from Ireland, the UK, Germany and The Netherlands, joined our global fitness challenge and raised over £878,000. The event is a great example of collaborative working, with members actively sharing fundraising expertise to develop this important income stream and attract new supporters.

Secure pharmaceutical income & manage relationships with industry.

MSIF has continued to maintain excellent relationships with the healthcare industry, securing a total of £445,000 to support work that is delivered across our three strategic aims.

Build relationships, collaborate with and learn from external strategic partners including health professionals, WHO, WFN, TRIMS, other neurological associations, funders including pharmaceutical industry etc.

As a result of MSIF connecting the new TRIMS for the Africa region (AFRICTRIMS) with the ECTRIMS Executive Committee, the AFRICTRIMS leadership were invited to participate in the global session at the annual ECTRIMS Congress for the first time.

MSIF presented how it has communicated and used the IGAP (Intersectoral Global Action Plan on Epilepsy and Other Neurological Disorders) during the WHO-NGOs Partner Meeting in September.

Additionally, MSIF participated in an NGO meeting to provide input on the WHO Europe's 2024-2029 strategy and action plan for preparedness, response and resilience during health emergencies 2024-2029, advocating for the inclusion of neurological conditions. We also attended the virtual WHO Meeting of NonState Actors on Mental, Neurological, and Substance Use conditions, aiming to align NSA activities with WHO’s goals.

MSIF joined the European Brain Council’s No Health Without Brain Health campaign, supporting their Urgent Call to Action to newly elected Members of the European Parliament. The call advocated for the creation of an Intergroup on Brain Health, national brain plans, and a European brain strategy. MSIF also endorsed the EMSP’s One Million Minds campaign and its Manifesto, urging MEPs to pledge their support.

Most recently, MSIF supported the NCD Alliance’s Time to Lead campaign ahead of the 4th UN High-Level Meeting on Non-Communicable Diseases in 2025, discussed at the Global Networking Meeting in London.

People with MS from 5 member organisations in Greece, New Zealand, the Netherlands, Austria and South Africa, contributed on behalf of the global MSIF movement to the updated report and recommendations from the MS Brain Health initiative.

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Looking ahead, 2025 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 2025.

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

Goals:

Key Actions for 2025:

Aim: Greater access to effective healthcare, information and support

Goals:

Key Actions for 2025:

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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 2025:

In 2025 we will hold at least 3 board and global networking meetings, 2 in a virtual manner and one, hopefully in person. We will report progress against the above objectives and actions in the 2025 Report and Annual Accounts.

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Resourcing the Strategy

Financial Review

Generating funds

In 2024 we raised £1,800,712 (2023: £1,906,004), £103,628 (2023: £113,746) less than of our budgeted income target of £1,904,340 (2023: £2,019,750).

Income generated from our members increased with contributions for projects and membership at 35% (2023: 34%), healthcare companies 25% (2023: 27%), 18% from a mixture of other sources (2023: 18%), 15% from the May50K (2023: 16%) and 7% from Cykelnerven (2023: 5%).

The total cost of fundraising activities increased to £393,967 in 2024 (2023; £347,928). Expenditure was over budget by £163,562 (2023: £102,538), including £112,660 (2023: £112,672) covered by members for the May50K. The remaining increase in expenditure related to the organisation of Cykelnerven directly rather than through the Danish MS Society event as in previous years. Around two-thirds of these costs was for income generated in 2024 and around one third was an investment in future income.

MSIF income from the May50K decreased from £306,690 in 2023 with 4 participating members to £265,677 (2023: 5 members).

Managing Costs

Budgeted expenditure was £57,238 lower than anticipated. We continued our semi-freeze on staff recruitment where possible as well as savings on consultancy fees and grants were impacted by global events and the economic climate. The budget also contained a provision for rent and costs in relation to an office move, for which we made significant savings.

Summary

Overall, we ended the year with a deficit of £19,960 (2023: £225,499), spending our restricted fund balances brought forward and leasing new office premises.

As at 31 December 2024 we have unspent restricted funds of £80,812 and unrestricted funds of £885,518. The balance of the designated fund was transferred back to unrestricted after completion of our office move during 2024. (2023: unspent restricted funds of £117,795 and unrestricted funds of £768,495 and a designated fund of £100,000 towards an office move).

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 £600,000 - £650,000. The current retained balance is £885,518 (2023: £768,495). 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.

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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 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.

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. These grants were between £500 and £4,000.

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.

17

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:

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.

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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 2024 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 2024, 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 2024 we received 8 complaints, compared to 18 in 2023.

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Governance for a global movement

Governing document and Board of Trustees

The 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 (retired October 2024)

Mario Battaglia (Italy) Chair (appointed October 2024)

Guillaume Courault (France) Vice Chair (retired October 2024)

Ana Torredemer (Spain) Vice Chair (appointed October 2024)

Martin Stevens (UK) Board Secretary (role ceased, October 2024)

Victoria Annis (UK) Treasurer

Victoria Annis (UK)Treasurer
Rami Ayach (Lebanon, appointed October 2024) Hemant Nerurkar (India, appointed October 2024)
Johana Bauer (Argentina, retired October 2024) Viresh Oberoi (India, retired October 2024)
Desmond Graham (Australia, retired January 2025) Ava Battles (Ireland)
Rohan Greenland (Australia, appointed April 2025) Liesbeth Kooij (Netherlands, retired January 2024)
Martinus Desmet (Belgium) Jan van Amstel (Netherlands, appointed October
2024)
Dr Brenda Banwell (Canada, retired May 2024) Nick Moberly (UK, retired October 2024)
Pamela Valentine (Canada) Andrea Prato (Uruguay)
Klaus Høm (Denmark) Dana Foote (USA, appointed December 2024)
Magd Zakaria (Egypt, appointed October 2024) Peter Galligan (USA, retired July 2024)
Jean-Frédéric de Leusse (France, appointed
October 2024)		 Kim Phillips (USA, retired August 2024)
Herbert Temmes (Germany) Cynthia Zagieboylo (USA, retired October 2024)
Dimitra Kalogianni (Greece)

Methods for recruiting, appointing, training trustees

The Annual General Meeting, MSIF’s supreme governing body, made up of delegates from the member organisations, 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 recommended candidates to fill Board positions. The Committee distributes supporting papers to the delegates and submits them with

20

the list for discussion and election. Under the Articles of Association, the members of the Board of Trustees are elected at the Annual General 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.

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 2024, with 5 out of the 18 trustees being people with MS we have reached a figure of 28%. 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.

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.

Management and structure

The structure of the organisation consists of members, made up of representatives from its member organisations, that elects the Board of Trustees. In 2024, the trustees held 1 in-person and 4 virtual meetings, in January, March, June, October and December.

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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 (retired December 2024) Chief Executive Lydia Makaroff (appointed December 2024)


Chief Executive
Lydia Makaroff (appoin
ted December 2024)
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.

Audit information

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

a) there is no relevant information of which the auditors are unaware; and

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.

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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.

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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

Victoria Annis, Treasurer Date: 8 July 2025

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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 2024 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

25

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.

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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.

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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.

Move Kurgthn Quad

Jonathan Aikens (Partner)

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

Date: 15 July 2025

Sixth Floor Appold Street London EC2A 2AP

28

Multiple Sclerosis International Federation Statement of Financial Activities for the year ended 31 December 2024

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 2024
10
Improved understanding to prevent,
treat and stop MS		 2024
2023
Unrestricted
Restricted
Total
Total
Funds
Funds
Funds
Funds
£
£
£
£
419,129
1,034,509
1,453,638
1,482,745
307,004
-
307,004
384,989
22,752
-
22,752
23,245
17,318
-
17,318
15,025
766,203
1,034,509
1,800,712
1,906,004
281,307
112,660
393,967
347,928
4,395
494,102
498,497
554,136
90,680
110,732
201,412
341,894
159,846
136,906
296,752
373,070
212,952
217,092
430,044
514,475
749,180
1,071,492
1,820,672
2,131,503
17,023
(36,983)
(19,960)
(225,499)
17,023
(36,983)
(19,960)
(225,499)
868,495
117,795
986,290
1,211,789
885,518
80,812
966,330
986,290

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 33 to 50 are an integral part of these financial statements.

29

Multiple Sclerosis International Federation Balance Sheet as at 31 December 2024

2024 2023
Note £ £
Fixed Assets:
Tangible Assets
Equipment 6 0 0
0 0
Current Assets:
Debtors & prepaid expenses 7 184,546 817,688
Cash at bank & in hand 8 959,711 520,487
1,144,257 1,338,175
Creditors: Amounts falling due
within one year 9 (177,927) (351,885)
Net current assets 966,330 986,290
Total Net Assets 10 966,330 986,290
The funds of the charity:
Unrestricted funds 885,518 768,495
Designated fund 11 0 100,000
Restricted funds 12 80,812 117,795
966,330 986,290

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 33 to 50 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:

……………………………………………………… Victoria Annis Treasurer Company number: 05088553

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Prior Year Statement of Financial Activities 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
2022
Unrestricted
Restricted
Total
Total
Funds
Funds
Funds
Funds
£
£
£
£
359,986
1,122,759
1,482,745
1,577,786
384,989
-
384,989
367,823
23,245
-
23,245
5,800
15,025
15,025
22,448
783,245
1,122,759
1,906,004
1,973,857
235,256
112,672
347,928
486,109
48,963
505,173
554,136
649,285
-
341,894
341,894
525,217
199,230
173,840
373,070
237,020
237,108
277,367
514,475
546,002
720,557
1,410,946
2,131,503
2,443,633
62,688
(288,187)
(225,499)
(469,776)
62,688
(288,187)
(225,499)
(469,776)
805,807
405,982
1,211,789
1,681,565
868,495
117,795
986,290
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

31

Multiple Sclerosis International Federation Cash Flow Statement for the year ended 31 December 2024

Cash Flow Statement for the year ended 31 December 2024
2024 2023
£ £
Cash generated from / (used in) operating activities
Net cash (used in)/provided by operating activities 416,472 (701,397)
Cash flows from investing activities
Dividends, interest and rents from investments 22,752 23,245
Purchase of property, plant and equipment - -
Net cash provided by/(used in) investing activities 22,752 23,245
Change in cash and cash equivalents in the reporting period 439,224 (678,152)
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the reporting period 520,487 1,198,639
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the reporting period 959,711 520,487
Reconciliation of net income/(expenditure) to net cash flow from operating activities
2024 2023
£ £
Net income/(expenditure) for the reporting period (as per the
statement of financial activities) (19,960) (225,499)
Adjustments for:
Depreciation charges - 1,212
Dividends, interest and rents from investments (22,752) (23,245)
(Increase)/decrease in debtors 633,142 (19,269)
Increase/(decrease) in creditors (173,958) (434,596)
Net cash provided by/(used in) operating activities 416,472 (701,397)

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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.

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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

Ares Trading SA
Biogen Intl GmbH
Bristol Myers Squibb
Coloplast
Genzyme
Legacies
MS Organisations - ECTRIMS
MS Societies
Novartis
Roche
Sandoz
Vanneau Trust
Viatris (formerly Mylan)
Be your possible
OGAM
Other		 Unrestricted
Funds
£
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
286,741
-
-
-
-
-
11,406
120,982
419,129		 Restricted
Funds
£
110,000
-
15,000
4,994
100,000
-
63,995
285,165
100,000
110,000
-
220,000
4,912
7,242
1,267
11,934
1,034,509		 Total
Total
2024
2023
£
£
110,000
110,000
-
15,840
15,000
30,000
4,994
5,000
100,000
100,000
-
22,348
63,995
63,995
571,906
526,450
100,000
100,000
110,000
110,000
-
5,000
220,000
220,000
4,912
35,000
7,242
12,673
132,916
139,112
1,453,638
1,482,745

Personal donations from Trustees during the period amounted to £356

Prior Year Donations

Ares Trading SA
Biogen Intl GmbH
Bristol Myers Squibb
Coloplast
Genzyme
Legacies
MS Organisations - ECTRIMS
MS Organisations - MENACTRIMS
donation in kind
MS Societies
Novartis
Roche
Sandoz
Vanneau Trust
Viatris (formerly Mylan)
Wolfensohn Family Foundation*
Other		 Unrestricted
Funds
£
-
-
-
-
-
22,348
-
`
-
207,574
-
-
-
-
-
-
130,064
359,986		 Restricted
Funds
£
110,000
15,840
30,000
5,000
100,000
-
63,995
-
318,876
100,000
110,000
5,000
220,000
35,000
-
9,048
1,122,759		 Total
Total
2023
2022
£
£
110,000
110,000
15,840
-
30,000
76,549
5,000
5,000
100,000
110,000
22,348
18,986
63,995
64,000
-
13,337
526,450
492,790
100,000
115,000
110,000
110,000
5,000
-
220,000
220,000
35,000
-
-
7,650
139,112
234,474
1,482,745
1,577,786

Personal donations from Trustees during the period amounted to £1,065

35

Notes to the financial statements

3. Expenditure

Direct
Grant
Support
Activities £
Funding £
Costs £
Raising funds
Raising funds
382,065
-
11,902
Charitable activities
230,318
155,104
113,075
Greater access to effective healthcare
141,730
4,135
55,547
Greater access to information and support
211,450
-
85,302
A stronger, broader MSIF movement
279,504
19,611
130,929
1,245,067
178,850
396,755
Grants payable comprises:
Grants to
Institutions £
Grants to
Individuals £
155,104
-
Greater access to effective healthcare
4,135
-
A stronger, broader MSIF movement
7,778
11,833
167,017
11,833
Grants payable to institutions comprises:
Progressive MS Alliance - National MS Society, USA
Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, USA, hosting a researcher from Brazil
San Diego VA MS Center, USA, hosting a researcher from Argentina
Stellenbosch University, South Africa, hosting a researcher from Malawi
University of British Colombia, Canada, hosting a researcher from Mongolia
EMUR, Uruguay
Université Bordeaux-Segalen, France
Multiple Sclerosis Sudan
Total £
Improved understanding to prevent, treat and
stop MS
Improved understanding to prevent, treat and
stop MS
Grants payable outstanding comprises:
Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, USA, hosting a researcher from Brazil
San Diego VA MS Center, USA, hosting a researcher from Argentina
University of British Columbia, Canada, hosting a researcher from Mongolia		 Total
2024
393,967
498,497
201,412
296,752
430,044
1,820,672
Total £
155,104
4,135
19,611
178,850
Grants £
33,104
32,000
32,000
32,000
32,000
7,778
-6,000
4,135
167,017
Grants £
32,000
32,000
32,000
96,000

36

Notes to the financial statements

3. Expenditure continued

Prior Year Expenditure

Raising funds
Raising funds
Charitable activities
Grants payable comprises:
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 £
304,255
6,302
114,526
57,999
23,304
506,386		 Grant
Funding £
-
156,430
-
-
20,819
177,249
Grants to
Institutions £
156,430
7,800
164,230		 Support
Total
Costs £
2023 £
43,673
347,928
391,404
554,136
227,368
341,894
315,071
373,070
470,352
514,475
1,447,868
2,131,503
Grants to
Individuals £
Total £
-
156,430
13,019
20,819
13,019
177,249

37

Notes to the financial statements

3. Expenditure continued

Grants payable outstanding comprises:
Progressive MS Alliance - National MS Society, USA
Center d'Esclerosi Múltiple de Catalunya (Cemcat), Spain, hosting a
researcher from Argentina
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
Sandler Neurosciences Center, UCSF Medical Center at Mission Bay,
USA, hosting a researcher from Argentina
University Teaching Hospital, Lusaka, Zambia, hosting a researcher from
Ghana
Grants payable to institutions comprises:
Grants £
Progressive MS Alliance - National MS Society, USA
28,430
32,000
San Rafaelle University, Italy, hosting a researcher from India
32,000
Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, USA, hosting a researcher from Brazil
32,000
University of British Colombia, Canada, hosting a researcher from Mongolia
32,000
MSSI, India
7,800
CHU Pellegrin, Bordeaux, France
-6,000
Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital, Paris, France
-6,000
6,000
University Teaching Hospital, Lusaka, Zambia, hosting a researcher from Gha
6,000
Total £
164,230
Center d'Esclerosi Múltiple de Catalunya (Cemcat), Spain,
hosting a researcher from Argentina
Sandler Neurosciences Center, UCSF Medical Center at		 Grants
£
28,430
32,000
32,000
32,000
32,000
1,100
6,000
6,000
169,530

38

Notes to the financial statements

4. Breakdown of expenditure

Direct Activities
Conferences & Meetings
Travel & Accommodation
Professional Fees
Printing & Publications
Grants (note 3)
Staff Costs (note 5)
Sub Total
Support Costs
Staff Costs (note 5)
Governance Costs
Education & Training
Rent, Rates & Insurance
Premises Maintenance
IT Support & Maintenance
Office Expenses
Financial Expenses
Sub Total
Total Expenditure		 Raising
Funds
£
747
34,299
324,231
184
-
22,604
382,065
8,978
660
22
747
675
587
23
210
11,902
393,967		 Improved scientific
understanding to prevent,
treat and stop MS
£
1,102
1,656
12,804
-
155,104
214,756
385,422
85,288
6,271
205
7,108
6,412
5,576
223
1,992
113,075
498,497		 Greater access to
effective
healthcare
£
157
2,355
33,724
-
4,135
105,494
145,865
41,900
3,080
101
3,491
3,149
2,739
109
978
55,547
201,412		 Greater access to
information and
support
£
747
433
48,265
-
-
162,005
211,450
64,343
4,730
155
5,364
4,835
4,205
168
1,502
85,302
296,752		 A stronger, broader
Total
MSIF movement
2024
£
£
16,348
19,101
1,869
40,612
12,623
431,647
-
184
19,611
178,850
248,664
753,523
299,115
1,423,917
98,753
299,262
7,260
22,001
238
721
8,233
24,943
7,421
22,492
6,456
19,563
261
784
2,307
6,989
130,929
396,755
430,044
1,820,672

Auditors' Fees during the period amounted to £12,750 + VAT. Auditors’ Other Services during the period amounted to Nil. (2023 - Auditors' Fees £12,750 + VAT. Auditors' Other Services - Nil)

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

The above expenditure includes unrestricted expenditure of £749,180 (2023: £720,557) and restricted expenditure of £1,071,492 (2023: £1,410,946)

39

Notes to the financial statements

4. Prior year breakdown of expenditure

Direct Activities
Conferences & Meetings
Travel & Accommodation
Professional Fees
Printing & Publications
Grants (note 3)
Staff Costs (note 5)
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
-
26,106
330,361
10,298
2,307
59
3,087
420
1,428
42
-110
36
17,567
347,928		 Improved scientific
understanding to prevent,
treat and stop MS
£
1,242
3,840
1,205
15
156,430
224,528
387,260
97,832
21,917
561
29,328
3,968
13,566
407
-1,047
344
166,876
554,136		 Greater access to
effective
healthcare
£
632
3,970
107,013
2,911
-
136,613
251,139
53,208
11,920
304
15,947
2,161
7,378
220
-570
187
90,755
341,894		 Greater access to
information and
support
£
430
182
57,387
-
-
189,179
247,178
73,801
16,534
422
22,122
3,000
10,234
307
-790
262
125,892
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
285,916
862,342
330,039
1,545,977
108,127
343,266
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
184,436
585,526
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)

40

Notes to the financial statements

5. Staff costs

Salaries
Social Security
Pensions and Other Costs		 2024
2023
£
£
864,149
1,015,528
99,315
115,997
89,321
74,083
1,052,785
1,205,608

The average number of employees during the year was 17. The average number of part time employees was 5, with their full time equivalent being 4. (2023: 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).

One employee received total taxable emoluments of between £100,000 and £109,999 during the year (2023: £100,000 - £109,999) and pension contributions of £6,377 to a pension scheme (2023: £6,377). Two employees received total taxable emoluments of between £60,000 and £69,999 during the year (2023: Two: £60,000 - £69,999) and pension contributions totalling £7,631 to a pension scheme (2023: £7,594) One employes received total taxable emoluments of between £70,000 and £79,999 during the year (2023: Two: £70,000 and £79,999).

and pension contributions totalling £4,529 to a pension scheme (2023: £9,169).

A defined contribution pension scheme is provided. The costs for the period were £51,856, of which nothing, was outstanding at the balance sheet date. (2023: The costs for the period were £60,752, of which £81 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 £134,370 (2023: £193,364).

No Trustee received any remuneration from the charity in the period. During the period four Trustees received travel expenses of £6,717. (2023: 5 Trustees received travel expenses of £12,740).

6. Fixed assets

Cost brought forward at 1 January 2024
Additions
Disposals
Cost/depreciation carried forward at 31 December
2024
Depreciation brought forward at 1 January
2024
Depreciation for the year
Disposals
Cost/depreciation carried forward at 31 December
2024
Net Book Value at 31 December 2024
Net Book Value at 31 December
2023		 Equipment
£
7,106
-
-
7,106
7,106
-
-
7,106
-
-

41

Notes to the financial statements

7. Debtors and prepaid expenses

Other Debtors
Prepayments
VAT Reclaimable		 2024
2023
£
£
157,734
794,945
24,129
15,639
2,683
7,104
184,546
817,688

8. Cash at bank and in hand

Bank Accounts
Cash		 2024
2023
£
£
959,636
520,409
75
78
959,711
520,487

9. Creditors: amounts falling due within one year

Deferred income
Other creditors
Accruals		 2024
£
0
22,747
155,180
177,927		 2023
£
17,355
70,125
264,405
351,885

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

Fixed Assets
Current Assets
Current Liabilities		 Unrestricted
Restricted
£
£
-
-
1,063,445
80,812
(177,927)
-
885,518
80,812		 Total
£
-
1,144,257
(177,927)
966,330

Prior Year Analysis of Net Assets between Funds

Fixed Assets
Current Assets
Current Liabilities		 Unrestricted
£
-
1,220,380
(351,885)
868,495		 Restricted
Total 2023
£
£
-
-
117,795
1,338,175
-
(351,885)
117,795
986,290

42

Notes to the financial statements

11. Unrestricted fund movement

Balance
Income
01.01.24
£
£
Unrestricted
768,495
766,203
Designated fund:
Office move
100,000
-
868,495
766,203
Prior year unrestricted fund movement		 Expenditure
£
(733,756)
15,424
-
(749,180)		 Transfers
Balance
31.12.24
£
£
84,576
885,518
(84,576)
-
-
885,518
Unrestricted
Designated fund:
Provision for
office move		 Balance
01.01.23
£
725,807
80,000
805,807		 Income
£
783,245
-
783,245		 Expenditure
£
(720,557)
-
(720,557)		 Transfers
Balance
31.12.23
£
£
(20,000)
768,495
20,000
100,000
0
868,495

12. Outline summary of restricted fund movements

Research fellowships & grants
Progressive MS
Data sharing
Increasing resources
Atlas
Improving access to treatment
Movement building access
Access to information
MSIF Communications
World MS Day
Global and other countries
Regional Programmes - Latin America
Skills networking
Fundraising
Regional Programmes - Arab Region
Strategy & research coordination
Regional Programmes - Asia		 Balance
Resources
Resources
Transfers
Balance
01.01.24
Incoming
Outgoing
31.12.24
£
£
£
£
£
-
189,989
178,743
-
11,246
-
62,798
59,186
-
3,612
-
85,104
78,499
-
6,605
-
68,104
47,016
-
21,088
-
25,000
22,698
-
2,302
-
113,112
107,960
5,152
66,732
40,000
106,732
-
-
7,000
-
4,000
-
3,000
2,000
31,250
33,250
-
-
-
31,250
31,250
-
-
-
72,406
72,406
-
-
-
40,836
40,836
-
-
34,313
28,000
48,606
-
13,707
-
35,500
35,500
-
-
7,750
75,500
69,150
-
14,100
-
23,000
23,000
-
-
-
112,660
112,660
-
-
117,795
1,034,509
1,071,492
-
80,812

43

Notes to the financial statements

12. Outline summary of restricted fund movements continued

Prior year 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
Regional Programmes - Arab Region
Regional Programmes - Asia
Strategy & research coordination
 Balance
Resources
Resources
Transfers
Balance
01.01.23
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
-
-
361,315
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
-
-
38,767
72,500
76,954
-
34,313
5,900
56,963
62,863
-
-
-
97,500
89,750
-
7,750
-
112,672
112,672
-
-
405,982
1,122,759
1,410,946
-
117,795

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.

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.

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.

44

Notes to the financial statements

12. Outline summary of restricted fund movements continued

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.

Movement 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.

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.

45

Notes to the financial statements

13. Future Commitments

At 31 December 2024, MSIF had total minimum lease payments under operating leases as set out below:

Land and Buildings
Less than one year
More than one year
 2024 £
2023 £
5,100
8,194
-
-
5,100
8,194

14. Related party disclosures

14. Related party disclosures
Name of Entity Nature of
Relationship		 Membership Dues
Received 2024 £		 Membership Dues
Received 2023 £
National MS Society, USA
MS Society Italy
MS Society Greece
Esclerosis Multipla Espana, Spain
MS Society, Australia
Ligue Nationale Belge de la Sclérose en
Plaques, Belgium
MS Care, Egypt		 Joint Trustees
and Chair
Joint Trustee
and Chair
Joint Trustee
Joint Trustee
Joint Trustee
and Chair
Joint Trustee
and Chair
Joint Trustee
and Chair		 -
38,501
691
116,992
-
7,491
-		 198
36,682
658
111,421

12
46,435
7,134
Name of Entity Nature of
Relationship		 Membership Dues
Accrued 2024 £		 Membership Dues
Accrued 2023 £
MS Society, Australia
MS Care, Egypt
Ligue Francaise contre la Sclerose En
Plaques, France
MS Society of India
Dutch MS Association		 Joint Trustee
and Chair
Joint Trustee
and Chair
Joint Trustee
Joint Trustee
and Chair
Joint Trustee
and Chair		 53,633

13
-
314
724		 32,186
-
5,453
-
-

46

Notes to the financial statements

14. Related party disclosures continued

Name of Entity Nature of Relationship Grants Received
2024 £		 Grants Received
2023 £
MS Canada
FISM, Italy
Dutch MS Association
Ligue Française contre la
Sclérose En Plaques, France
Sleroseforeningen, Denmark
DMSG, Germany
Fondation pour l’Aide à la
Recherche sur la Sclérose En
Plaques, France
Ligue Nationale Belge de la
Sclérose en Plaques, Belgium
Esclerosis Multipla Espana,
Spain
Stichting MS Research,
Netherlands
UK MS Society
MS Ireland
MS Ireland		 Member
Member
Member
Member
Member
Member
Member Joint Trustee
and Chair
Member
Joint member
Progressive MS Alliance
Member
Member
Joint member
Progressive MS Alliance
Member		 -
17,355
118,653
49,656
4,067
60,569
31,944
-
63,994
-
34,296
33,104
162,264		 151,273
-
86,974

-

-

38,146
34,680
9,711

55,548
2,568

64,000
25,862

52,688
Name of Entity Nature of
Relationship		 Grants Paid
2024 £		 Grants Paid
2023 £
MS Australia
Sleroseforeningen, Denmark
EMUR, Uruguay
Progressive MS Alliance - National MS Society,
USA
MS Society, India		 Member
Member
Joint member
Member
Member		 26,291
-
33,104
10,900
7,778
27,799
21,786
7,800

28,430

-

47

Notes to the financial statements

14. Related party disclosures continued

Prior year related party disclosures

Prior year related party disclosures
Name of Entity Nature of
Relationship		 Membership
Dues Received
2023 £		 Membership
Dues Received
2022 £
MS Society Greece
Ligue Francaise contre la Sclerose En Plaques,
France
MS Care, Egypt
Ligue Nationale Belge de la Sclérose en Plaques,
Belgium
MS Society, Australia
MS Society Italy
National MS Society, USA
Esclerosis Multipla Espana, Spain		 Joint Trustee
Joint Trustee
Joint Trustee
and Chair
Joint Trustee
and Chair
Joint Trustee
and Chair
Joint Trustee
and Chair
Joint Trustee
Joint Trustees
and Chair		 198
36,682
658
12
-
111,421
46,435
7,134		 358
33,332
598
12
46,435
6,514
8,306
110,004
Name of Entity Nature of
Relationship		 Membership
Dues Accrued
2023 £		 Membership
Dues Accrued
2022 £
Ligue Francaise contre la Sclerose En Plaques,
France
MS Society, Australia		 Joint Trustee
Joint Trustee		 32,186
5,453		 25,039
5,453

48

Notes to the financial statements

14. Related party disclosures continued

Prior year related party disclosures continued

Name of Entity Nature of
Relationship		 Grants
Received 2023
£		 Grants
Received 2022
£
MS Canada
DMSG, Germany
Stichting MS Research, Netherlands
Esclerosis Multipla Espana, Spain
MS Ireland
MS Ireland
Fondation pour l’Aide à la Recherche sur la
Sclérose En Plaques, France
UK MS Society
Ligue Française contre la Sclérose En Plaques,
France
Ligue Française contre la Sclérose En Plaques,
France
Ligue Nationale Belge de la Sclérose en Plaques,		 Member
Joint member
Joint member
Member
Member
Member
Joint member
Progressive
MS Alliance
Member
Member
Member
Member		 151,273
86,974
38,146
52,688
25,862
2,568
64,000
55,548
-
34,680
9,711		 173,592
-

40,697
96,298

43,554

4,248
64,000

50,667
-
8,361


12,195
Name of Entity Nature of
Relationship		 Grants Paid
2023 £		 Grants Paid
2022 £
ALCEM, Argentina
MS Australia
ABEM, Brazil
Sleroseforeningen, Denmark
EMUR, Uruguay
MS Society, India
Polskie Towarzystwo Stwardnienia Rozsianego,
Poland
MS Society, Luxembourg
Unie Roska Czech, Republic
Progressive MS Alliance - National MS Society,		 Member
Member
Member
Member
Member
Member
Member
Member
Member
Joint member		 27,799
21,786
7,800
-
-
-
-
-
-
28,430		 500

500
1,000

28,532
1,000
-

16,000
1,000
1,000

76,442

49

Notes to the financial statements

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, (2024 32 members (2023 - 33 members)).

50