1. England Council Acts locally to improve services Shares best practice with branches Presents the views of people with and affected by MS in England to the Board and other stakeholders

2. 2014 Review In 2014 we Acted as Ambassadors Communicated extensively about the role and purpose of the EC and the part it plays in supporting people with and affected by MS.

3. Worked with local staff to address concerns and supported branches through difficulties Attended Branch annual meetings and volunteer forums to listen to and engage with volunteers and members

4. Attended benefits information events to learn more about the needs of people affected by MS Supported and contributed to fundraising events Attended Branch development days to support volunteer learning and skills

5. Supported local service development initiatives Presented the views of people with and affected by MS in England to the Board and other stakeholders Led by the strategic plan promoting the MS Society’s vision, mission and strategy.

6. Examples of Activities undertaken by England Council to deliver the 2014 plan

7. Raise standards of care and lead the MS agenda Promote branch advice partnerships in areas of greatest identified needs Cognition information Day Appointed to the Patient Carer and Public Neurological Advisory Committee Chaired regional support and volunteer forums Promote and actively support branch to hold benefit awareness events Chaired benefit Awareness meetings Supported branches to organise benefit events Chaired regional conference on financial impact of PIP and ESA

8. Raise standards of care and lead the MS agenda Working with NHS on new proposed community nurses Secured new Botox clinic by lobbying locally Additional MS Steering groups in regions Attended Regional Community MS Team Attended local AGM’s open forum sessions Strategic Clinical networks Neurological Steering group Promote branch advice partnerships in areas of greatest identified needs Ensure there are appropriate representatives on identified local groups

9. Supports the Area Fundraising programme Contribute to Area fundraising plans & identify activities to support Officially welcomed and started the Coast to Coast walk of MS visitors from Australia Attended fundraising training sessions Raised Awareness of Marathon de Sables events Attend pitches and events to promote the Society to potential funders Completed zip slide Afternoon Tea and Cake garden party Golf day Bike ride Raffles School reunion Jazz night Christmas tree event Football World Cup lottery Cake break

10. Supports the communication of key MS Society messages Council Members agree locally which regional activities they will support, such as conferences, information events, branch and volunteer forums Attended Committee Meetings Development days Research conference Volunteers forum Branch annual meeting Network meeting Communication meetings MS Life/Zone hosts Council Members will support area staff in activities planned for MS week, Volunteers week and Carers week MS Life launch evening Carers week events Volunteer Support Programme

11. Listen to the views and opinions of members, volunteers and paMS locally and provide independent feedback Information gathered locally is shared at each council meeting and collated in a timely manner for the board Attended Networking meeting Branch committee Sector meeting MS Society Values discussion

12. Contribute to the development and delivery of regional plans Council Members are engaged with regional teams in the development of regional plans Interviewed for VDO Work with LSDOs Worked with local staff to identify and support fundraising activities Worked with regional teams to develop plans and activities Identify and regularly review which activities would most benefit from ECM support Engaged with Area Managers Reviewed activated with all regional staff Host Newly Diagnosed Days

13. Council is fully integrated into MS Society structures Council Members produce a presentation for sharing at volunteer forum meetings What the council do presentation used at Development day Annual Meeting Article written for MS Matters Support the content of articles for MS Society publications and other media Article written for MS Matters Interview with national press on blue badge issues Judge for MS Awards Council Members produce a presentation for sharing at volunteer forum meetings What the council do presentation used at Development day Annual Meeting Article written for MS Matters

14. Council is fully integrated into MS Society structures Council Members plan, develop and deliver their Annual meeting Meeting held 7 th June Well attended Good feedback Advice provided Shared knowledge

15. Support work to address key volunteering challenges such as recruitment of volunteers Council Members work with staff to support recruitment activity, focussed on those branches with greatest need Volunteer Recruitment Day Branch annual meeting Open Days

16. Supports and promotes positive change in the branch network Council Members support staff by engaging branches at volunteer forums & branch meetings Regional Development Day Committee meetings Volunteer Forum Networking meetings Interview panel for English Council Members Council members will support staff in targeted conversations with branches that are challenging to engage Attended Branch Committee to negotiate future roles in MS Society Support branches to recruit new committee

17. Regional Development Day Committee meetings Volunteer Forum Networking meetings Interview panel for English Council Members Attended Branch Committee to negotiate future roles in MS Society Support branches to recruit new committee Work with local staff to support the resolution of volunteer issues Council Members support staff by engaging branches at volunteer forums & branch meetings etc. Regularly engage with Area Managers Face to face Telephone conversation Email Council Members work with local staff to respond to issues with volunteers Working with local staff to build links with health and social care professionals Attending meetings with local officials Supporting area staff with awareness activities

18. England Council 2015 Focus Our purpose remains the same Our 2015 plan is aligned to the new MSS Strategy to ensure a joined up approach We have 11 key objectives to assist in delivery of the strategy We will continue to work closely with staff and volunteers to achieve this

19. So far in 2015 our focus has been on: Supporting the change programme Continuing to work with staff and local branches to improve services and share best practice Listening to people with and affected by MS and presenting their views to stakeholders Ensuring we have a good succession of candidates for upcoming EC council roles and helping branches with this too.

20. Questions?

21. Question we’d like your help with.. “How can you get the best from the England Council?”