Talks With MS
Trustees, Annual Report
For the Year Ended 31 January 2025
1. Reference and Administrative Details
Charity Name: Talks With MS
Charity Règistration Number: 1201569
Reglstered Address: 23 Joselyn Close, Middl8S8x EN3 6GE
Trustees In Offlce During the Year:
Terri-Louise Brown (Founder & Trustee)
Joseph Brown
Yolande Brown
Sab'tisha Louise Gordon
2. Structure, Governance and Management
Talks With MS is a registered charity governed by a Board of Trustees who hold ultimate
responsibility for the strategic directton, financial stewardship, legal compliance,
safeguarding, and overall govemance of the organisation. The Trustees meet regularly
throughout the year to review performance, approve strategic priorFties, oversee financial
management. and ensure the charity operates in line with Charity Commission requirements
and relevant legislation.
The charity is registered with the Fundraising Regulator, demonstrating its commitment
to best practi￿, transparency, and ethical fundraising in lin8 With the Code of Fundraising
Practice. This registration provides reassurance to donors, partners, and the wider public
that fundraising activity is carried out responsibly and with accountability.
Talks Wth MS is also registsred with tho Sunflower Lanyard scheme, refiecting the
charity's commitment to improving visibility, recognition, and support for people with hidden
disabilities. This registration supports the charity's wid8r advocacy work around invisible
conditions and accessibility. and reinforces its values-18d approach to inclusion.
Trustee recruitm8nt is carried out through community nthorks, professional referrals, and
open calls, with a focus on lived experien￿, diversity, and skills-based governance. The

Board seeks a balance of trustees with experience in disability advocacy, safeguarding,
finance, risk management, and community engagement.
All new trustees re￿1ve a strudured induction. including an overview of the charity's
mission, strategic objectives, safeguarding responsibilities, financial controls, conflicts of
interest, risk management, and governance pro￿sses. Trustees are supported with ongoing
leaming and sector updates to ensure good governance and compliance.
3. Objectives and Public Benefit
Charitable Objectives
Talks With MS exists to empower, connect, and support people living with Multiple Sclerosis
IMS) and hidden disabilities. The charity aims to redu￿ isolation, improve aC￿sS to peer
support, increase understanding of MS and hidden disabilities, and advocate for accessibility
and inclusion across society, workplaces, and public services.
The charity's work is rooted in lived experien￿ and community-led design. ensuring that
services and programmes reflect the real needs of people navigating diagnosis. fluctuating
symptoms, mobility challenges, fatigue, mental health impacts. and the social barriers
associated with hidden disabilities.
Public Benefit
The Trustees confirm that they have had due regard to the Charity Commission's guidance
on public benefit. The charity delivers public benefit by creating aC￿Ssible, inclusive spaces
for support and connection-, improving wellbeing., reducing loneliness., empowering
individuals to self-advocate- and raising awareness of MS and hidden disabilities through
education and storytelling. Activities are open to the public and designed to create positive
social impact.
4. Achievements and Performance
Community Engagement and Peer Support
During the 202412025 reporting period, Talks With MS delivered eight community and
research events, engaging just under 400 participants across a combination of in-person
and virtual formats. These events provided safe, accessible spaces for individuals living with
MS to share eXperien￿S, aC￿sS emotional support, and build communtty connections.
Feedback from participants highlighted improved wellbeing, reduced feelings of isolation,
and incr8ased confidence in navigating life with MS.

The charity's peer matchlng support model conts-nued to play a ￿ntral role in ils impact.
Individuals were matched with peers based on shared symptoms, similar life stages, and
comparable medication or treatment joumeys. This tailored, lived-experience approach
enabled more meaningful support relationships, particularly benefiting those newly
diagnosed or experiencing progression or change in their condition.
Awareness, Education and Advocacy
Throughout the year, Talks Wilh MS delivered MS awareness and ac￿Ssibl11tY education
through talks, panels, and community discussions. The charity supported individuals to
navigate disclosure in workplaces, advocate for reasonable adjustments, and challenge
stigma surrounding invisible symptoms. These activities contributed to wider understanding
of MS and hidden disabilities among community partners, employers, and allies.
The Empowennent Awards
A major milestone during the year was the curation of The Empowemient Awards, a
disability-led awards programme designed to celebrate leadership, representation. and
impact across the disability communty. The awards were the first of their kind to include..
An Assistance Dogs category, recognising the essential role of assistan￿ animals
in enabling independence. safety, and dignFty
An Additional Needs Personality category, celebrating individuals raising visibility
and driving change for people with additional needs
The Empowerment Awards provided both a platform for recognition and a vehicle for
fundraising and awaren8ss aligned with the charity's mission.
Wellbeing and Legacy Impact
While no ovemight retreat was delivered during the 202412025 reporting period, the Trustees
continue to see meaningful long-term impact from the charity's overnight wellbeing retreat
delivered in 2023. Feedback from participants indicates lasting benefits in confidence,
connection, and emotional wellb8ing. Trust8es remain committed to reintroducing similar
restorative experiences in future years, subject to funding.
The charity also delivered community-led fundraising activity, including a fundraising
football match, which raised awareness and generated unrestricted funds to support core
servI￿s.
5. Financial Review
For the year ended 31 January 2025..
Total Income: £10,751.74
Total Expenditure: £10,338.29

The charity recorded a small operating surplus
The charity holds no debt and is not in any active repayment plans
The charity does not hold any custodian funds
The charity did not receive any major funding during this reporting period. Income was
generated primarily through community fundraising. events, small grants, and individual
donations. Trustees recognise the financia5 vulnerability of this income profile and continue
to prioritise income diversrfication, partnership development, and sustainable funding
strategies.
Reserves remain modest and are reviewed regularly to balance financial sustainability with
th8 d81ivery of charitable activities.
6. Principal Risks and Uncertainties
The Trustees maintain an active rssk register and review organisational risks on a regular
basis. The principal risks identified during the year include..
Funding Risk:
Reliance on small-scale fundraisin9 and donations presents sustsinabilty challenges.
Trustees are mitigating this risk through funding strategy development. grant applications,
and partnership outreach.
Operational Capaclty Risk:
Growing demand for community support places pressure on limited staff and volunteer
capacity. Trustees manage this risk through prioritisation, partnership working, and ongoing
review of delivery models.
Safgguarding Risk:
As a disability-based charity working with vulnerable adults. safeguarding remains a critical
responsibility. Robust safeguarding policies, reporting procedures, and trustee oversight are
in place.
Reputational and Compliance Risk:
Public-facing advocacy and fundraising activity require strong governan￿. Registration with
the Fundraising Regulator and adherence to the Code of Fundraising Practi￿ fomi part of
the charity's mitigation strategy to protect public trust and reputation.
7. Safeguarding
Safeguarding is embedded across all areas of the charity's work. Talks With MS maintains a
Safeguarding Policy specifically designed lor work with vulnerable adults, including people
with disabilities and hidden conditions. Safeguarding procedures are applied across
volunteering, speaker engagemenl, events. partnerships. and online community spaces.

Trustees r8C8ive safeguarding updates and provide active oversight to ensure safe, inclusive
practice.
8. Plans for Future Periods
In the coming year, Trustees will focus on strengthening the charily's sustainability and
deepening impact. Priorities include expanding peer support and community reach,. securing
sustainable, multi-year funding-, growing the scale and visibility of The Empowement
Awards,. strengthening governan￿, risk management, and Complian￿ frameworks; and
embedding accessibility and inclusion across all activities and partnetships.
The charity will also continue to build on its registrations with the Fundraising Regulator
and the Sunflower Lanyard scheme to strengthen trust, visibility of hidden disabililies, and
ethical fundraising practice.
9. Statement of Trustees, Responsibilities
The Trustees are responsible for preparing the Trustees, Annual Report and financial
statements in accordance with applicable law and UK accounting standards. They are
responsible for maintaining proper accounting records, safeguarding the assets of the
charity, and taking reasona￿￿& Steps to prevent and detect fraud and irregularities.
10. Approval
Approved by the Board of Trustees and signed on its behalf..
Name: Terri-Louise Brown
Role: Founder & Trustee
Signature:
Date:
D2

CHARITY COMMISSION
FOR ENGLANO AND WALES
Talks Wlth M.S.
1201569
Recei
ts and
3110112024
ments accounts
3110112025
CC16a
For the perlod
from
Section A Receipts and payments
Unrestricted
funds
Restricted
Endowment
fund5
Tolal funds
funds
Last year
tvth• ne•rnJt
to th• ￿•r￿*t£
*oth•n•arns1£
tolho near••t£
to the nearest £
A1 Receipts
Donaiuns. le
cTes and
Fundraisin
Èvents. e
Communty EvBntTIGkets
Charikble aGbvth5
r&nL%
ffies.
4180
1.431
1,539
602
S.180
12￿9
3.240
1,514
2,302
urnble
Sub total(Grossincom8 fo
AR)
10.752
A2 Asset and Investment sales.
Iseetablel.
Sub tota
Totalrecelpts
19
A3 Payments
FuTh1raislng costs ltradiw aCtiV￿e$l
Costs of GharEtaWe aGtivilie5
Voluni*r Expgnses
Venue Hire
Subscripbons
Marketiny-stalk)nAiry, exhiblllons
435
1,672
1.500
3.500
312
781J
4,987
1542
4,150
1,009
5,680
312
2.920
Sub total
10
A4 Asset and investment
purcha585. (see lable)
Sub total
Totalpayments
Netof recwpts/(paynFants)
A5 Transf8rs belwgonfunds
A6 Ca8h fund8 last year end
Cash funds this yoar end
41
41
41
41
Ji
CCXX R1 accthjnts ISSI

Unrestrlctsd
funds
to nearqst £
R•strictsd
fund5
to nfrareot £
Endowmen¢
funds
Categorlos
D•talls
Total cèsh funds
s}} ¢X
Unre5trl¢t•d
fvnds
R•strlcted
funds
Endowment
funds
to llqAr•Bt £
to nearest £
to noarest£
Detalls
B2 Other monetsry assets
Signed ty onoor tsDtru5tee5 on
b8haW of ailthe INst888
Date of
Signature
Print Name
approval
T•rri￿oUl$e Brown
1610212026
Joseph Brown
1610212026
CCXX R2 accountslS81
16102r2026