Muscular Dystrophy Support Centre

21/08/2026

Meet the team: Lynsey

Lynsey joined our team in February 2026 as our Clinical Administrator. Here she shares a little about her role and why she was keen to become part of the Muscular Dystrophy Support Centre.

Can you tell us about your role?

"I'm the Clinical Administrator, so part of my role is processing referrals and working with the clinical and management teams to make sure the referral process is as smooth as possible."

"I organise and book initial assessment appointments for potential service users, manage the clinical and management diaries and make sure they're up to date and open for bookings. I also cover reception when required."

Why did you want to work for the Muscular Dystrophy Support Centre?

"I'm from the local community and when I heard about the Muscular Dystrophy Support Centre and the amazing work they do, I was keen to get involved."

"I wanted to use the experience I bring from working within the NHS as a medical secretary to support such a worthwhile service. It makes it even more rewarding to meet the people and see the real difference the service makes to them."

What does the Muscular Dystrophy Support Centre mean to you?

"Even in the short time I've been part of the team, I've been made to feel so welcome by the team, service users and their families."

"It has been an honour to get to know and listen to the stories of such inspiring, lovely people."

And finally, tell us a fun fact about yourself!

"I'm currently studying towards a Psychology and Counselling degree with The Open University in my spare time, around family life and a loopy fox red Labrador called Ronnie!" 🐶

19/08/2026

A message from Ruth Hereford, Chair of Trustees:

On behalf of the Board of Trustees and team — congratulations, Zoe Richardson, on your first year as CEO of Muscular Dystrophy Support Centre! 🎉

From the outset, you understood something essential: the people-centred spirit and heart that has always driven this organisation. This year has seen real progress — stronger governance and structure, new partnerships, and laying the groundwork for our ambitious 2027–2030 strategy — but what stands out most to us is how you've carried that spirit forward, with real energy and passion, finding new ways to do what we do even better. The belief that the support MDSC provides should help people live well, not just manage decline, has always been part of who we are — and you've given it fresh momentum.

Thank you for your energy, your openness, and the care you've brought to our team, our service users, and your partnership with the Board this year. We are fortunate to have you leading us into MDSC's next chapter.

Here's to year two — we can't wait to see where you take us. 👏💙💚🧡

With congratulations and best wishes,

The MDSC Board of Trustees and team

18/08/2026

A message from our CEO, Zoe Richardson:

One year ago this week, I walked through the doors of Muscular Dystrophy Support Centre for the first time as its CEO.

Twelve months later, it is difficult to capture in one post quite how much has happened.

It has been a year of change, challenge, learning and, most importantly, progress.

We have strengthened the foundations of the organisation, developed new services and partnerships, invested in our governance and our people, increased our visibility and begun shaping an ambitious strategy for 2027–2030.

We have also started to articulate something I have come to believe very strongly over this past year: that specialist rehabilitation for people living with muscular dystrophy and neuromuscular conditions should be about far more than managing decline.

It should be about helping people live well.

That principle is increasingly becoming the golden thread running through MD Support Centre and our plans for the future.

But the greatest privilege of this first year hasn't been developing strategies or building organisations.

It has been meeting the people.

Our service users and families, who continually remind us why this work matters. Our staff and volunteers, whose expertise, compassion and determination make MD Support Centre what it is. Our trustees, supporters, funders, partners and friends who believe in what we are trying to achieve.

I've learned a great deal during my first year – including that there is still a great deal more to do.

And that excites me.

MDSC has an extraordinary history. My responsibility now is to honour what has been built while making sure the organisation is strong, ambitious and ready for its next chapter.

A year in, I am incredibly proud of how far we have come.

But I am even more excited about where we are going.

Year two starts here.

17/08/2026

Hi everyone,

My name is Abbie and I have FSHD. I've been coming to MD Support Centre for a few years now and have really enjoyed every visit, especially as everything is tailored to my needs and condition.

My condition means that I am a full-time wheelchair user, have a bilateral moderate-severe hearing loss, and facial paralysis, which means I cannot smile or show facial expressions.

I'm going to be helping with MD Support Centre's social media pages on Facebook, TikTok and Instagram, where we'll be sharing videos and posts about all things Muscular Dystrophy.

I'd love to get some of our service users involved, as nobody knows what it's really like to live with Muscular Dystrophy better than the people who have it. This could be anything from a day in the life, a physio appointment, sharing your story, or talking about how your condition affects you day to day.

We'd also love to hear what kind of videos and posts you'd like to see on our pages, so please let us know your ideas.

If you'd like to get involved, please email us at [email protected] and we'll arrange something.

Thank you,
Abbie

15/08/2026

🎉 Our new website is LIVE!

We’re really excited to finally share our brand-new website with you!

Our website is an important way for people to find out more about Muscular Dystrophy Support Centre, discover the support we offer, access resources, find out about upcoming events and activities, and learn how they can get involved and support our work.

We’ve been working hard behind the scenes to give the website a fresh new look and make it easier to find the information you need.

And while we’re celebrating today, we’re not quite finished yet! 🎉 The new website is still a work in progress, and over the coming weeks we’ll be adding more information, resources and features, as well as making some tweaks and improvements along the way.

So if you spot something that doesn’t look quite right, or you can’t find something you’re looking for, please bear with us while we continue to develop the site. You can also let us know at [email protected].

👉 Take a look at our new website: mdsupportcentre.org

We hope you like it as much as we do!

13/08/2026

At last night's Adapting to Change Peer Support group, we had a really interesting discussion about social care, with people sharing their experiences of accessing support. Afterwards, we got together for dinner and headed out to watch the eclipse. It was a great evening - sharing helpful information and stories about life with MD, followed by a lovely meal and the chance to socialise.

Our Peer Support group is the perfect opportunity to talk to others living with MD about the challenges and changes it can bring.

As Mark said: "Planning for change is one thing, but adapting to change is a process we are all going through." Having the opportunity to go through that process together is truly valuable.

12/08/2026

With the heat warning currently in place across the UK, we want to reassure you that we remain open, and all services and classes will continue as scheduled.

However, we have implemented some mitigations to try and support our services users' and staff wellbeing.

• If travelling to the Centre is difficult in the heat, we can offer an online appointment instead. Please speak to our Reception team if you would like to discuss this option.

• To help keep everyone as comfortable as possible during the heatwave, we have fans and cold water available throughout our clinic rooms and communal areas.

• Our therapists will be shortening in-person therapy sessions to 45 minutes during the hottest parts of the day (11am onwards) for the rest of this week. They will adapt sessions to suit the conditions and your individual needs. This may include a gentler pace, and additional rest breaks required for you, if fatigue becomes an issue.

While we hope to continue supporting you through either an in-person or online appointment, please do not put yourself at risk. If you feel unable to attend and an online appointment is not suitable, you will not be penalised for a late cancellation during this period.

Your health and safety, and our staff's wellbeing, are our priority.

If you have any concerns or would like to discuss your appointment, please contact Reception on 02476 100770.

11/08/2026

Are you accessing or thinking about social care? Join our peer support group tomorrow afternoon to share experiences, hear from others, and get first hand advice from people with lived experience.

Join us in Coventry or online from 4.30 - 6pm.

Our Adapting to Change Peer Support Group is a brilliant opportunity to hear from other people living with muscular dystrophy. Swap stories, exchange ideas, and meet others in a supportive and welcoming place.

And if you attend in-person, you are welcome to join the group for pizza afterwards!

Book now at

Adapting to Change: Social Care - Part One – Zoom, Wed 12 Aug 2026 - The Adapting to Change peer support group is a warm, welcoming space for people living with muscular dystrophy to learn from each other’s experiences. The group is led by peers, and a chance to share stories, ask questions, of...

10/08/2026

Have you seen the news?

Last week, Ruth Hereford received a award for more than a decade of leadership and advocacy for people living with muscular dystrophy and related neuromuscular conditions.

It credits her leadership in helping build “a thriving organisation that continues to transform lives and set a benchmark for excellence in neuromuscular care.”

Read the full story 👇

Ruth Hereford, Chair of Trustees at MD Support Centre, named one of 100 Warwickshire Changemakers 2026 for her leadership and advocacy.

09/08/2026

We'd like to say a big to Elaine Russell for knitting and donating these beautiful baby clothes and blankets. The handmade items are being sold in our shop to help raise funds for our specialist support services.

It's a wonderful way to use your creative skills and support our work at the same time. We are very grateful for your support.