MS Society Preston Group

06/06/2026

A reminder on our next social, this coming Thursday in Penwortham. It would be great to see you there!

Hi everyone 👋

As our May meet-up was so early in the month, just a reminder about our next social meet, we’d love to see you there!

📍 The Brown Hare
📅 Thursday 11 June
⏰ 7pm – 9pm

If you’re free, please come along for a drink or a meal and a relaxed catch-up 😊 It’s a great chance to meet others, have a chat, and enjoy a bit of time together in a friendly, informal setting.

Whether you’ve been before or it’s your first time, you’ll be very welcome — feel free to pop in for as little or as long as you like.

We’d love to see you there! 👍

26/05/2026

🤖 MS and Artificial Intelligence – Friend or Foe?

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is becoming increasingly common in healthcare, and one writer living with MS believes it could play a valuable role in improving care and accelerating research.

In a recent article, Ben Hofmeister reflects on how his views on AI have changed. While he acknowledges concerns around bias, outdated information and the way AI interprets patient experiences, he also sees significant potential benefits. AI can analyse huge amounts of data far more quickly than humans, helping clinicians access relevant information and allowing researchers to process complex trial data more efficiently.

For people affected by MS, faster analysis of research data could help speed up the development of new treatments and improve our understanding of the condition. As Ben puts it, anything that helps MS research move faster is worth exploring.

What do you think? Would you be comfortable with AI playing a bigger role in healthcare and MS research, or do you have concerns about where it might lead?

Read the full article here: https://multiplesclerosisnewstoday.com/columns/chairborne-a-column-by-ben-hofmeister/2026/05/21/making-peace-artificial-intelligence-healthcare-settings/

While columnist Ben Hofmeister admittedly is no expert on artificial intelligence and healthcare, he thinks it'll be good for MS research.

03/05/2026

Hi everyone 👋

As our May meet-up was so early in the month, just a reminder about our next social meet, we’d love to see you there!

📍 The Brown Hare
📅 Thursday 11 June
⏰ 7pm – 9pm

If you’re free, please come along for a drink or a meal and a relaxed catch-up 😊 It’s a great chance to meet others, have a chat, and enjoy a bit of time together in a friendly, informal setting.

Whether you’ve been before or it’s your first time, you’ll be very welcome — feel free to pop in for as little or as long as you like.

We’d love to see you there! 👍

26/04/2026

As MS Awareness Week (20–26 April) comes to an end, it feels like a good moment to reflect.

One of the most important messages this week has been about challenging assumptions and creating space for more open, honest conversations about MS.

For many people, one of the hardest conversations is at work, knowing what to say, when to say it, and how it might be received. This guide from the MS Trust is a really helpful resource for anyone navigating that:
👉 https://shop.mstrust.org.uk/.../telling-people-at-work.../

It’s a reminder that awareness isn’t just about understanding the condition, it’s about creating environments where people feel able to speak, be heard, and be supported.

Thank you to everyone who has shared, supported and helped raise awareness this week 💛 The conversation doesn’t stop here.

MS diagnosis at work? This guide provides a template to share your experience, symptoms, & suggest workplace accommodations.

21/04/2026

A brilliant article about one of our wonderful members, Suzanne, and her story which led to her MS diagnosis.

More important than ever to share stories in MS Awareness Week and we're really grateful for Suzanne both shining a light on MS but also the work of this local group in Preston 💙

Suzanne Juniper says seeking help from The MS Society has changed how she now views having multiple scelerosis

19/04/2026

💙 MS Awareness Week starts tomorrow (20–26 April) 💙

This year’s theme is — challenging assumptions about MS and the impact they can have on people living with the condition.

It’s a great opportunity to learn more, show support, and connect with others. There are loads of resources available, including ways to get involved, downloadable materials, and support services if you need them.

👉 Take a look here: https://www.mssociety.org.uk/get-involved/ms-awareness-week

You can also access support, speak to someone who understands MS, or connect with others through their MS Help Hub.

Whether you’re living with MS, supporting someone who is, or just want to learn more — this week is a reminder that awareness really does matter. 💙

30/03/2026

📢 Our latest MS Society Preston newsletter is here!

We’ve just released our March 2026 newsletter, packed with updates, support, and opportunities for our local MS community 💙

Inside, you’ll find:
✨ Upcoming social events
✨ Details of an MS Information Day
✨ MS Awareness Week info
✨ New wellbeing support tools
✨ Opportunities to share your views and shape future services

Our aim is simple — to make sure anyone affected by MS in Preston knows what support is available and feels part of a supportive community.

📖 Read the full newsletter here:
https://mcusercontent.com/5f8dd362fa5cc3599a0d1897b/files/12e27419-59a3-1cb2-5c5d-b6756d682288/March_2026_Newsletter_3.pdf

If you or someone you know is affected by MS, please take a look — and feel free to share to help us reach more people 🙌

Together, we can make sure no one faces MS alone 💙

29/03/2026

We want your ideas on the services we provide 💙

We’re always looking at how we can better support our local MS community — but the truth is, we can’t do that without hearing from you 🗣️

At the moment, we offer a range of subsidised services like physiotherapy, home podiatry, reiki and reflexology, yoga and pilates — all aimed at supporting both physical and emotional wellbeing 🧘‍♀️💆‍♂️

But MS affects everyone differently. What helps one person might not work for another… and there may be things we haven’t even thought of yet 🤔

So we’re asking — what would make a difference to you?

• Is there a service you wish was available? 💡
• A type of session you’d find helpful? 🏃‍♀️
• Or even a social activity you’d enjoy being part of? ☕

No idea is too small, and everything you share helps us shape future support for our community 🤝

We can’t promise we’ll be able to do everything, but we will listen — and we will take your ideas seriously 🙌

Drop us a message on Facebook or email us — we’d genuinely love to hear from you 💬

18/03/2026

⚡️ Support Preston MS Society Group – and save on your energy bills! ⚡️

We’ve partnered with Octopus Energy through their People Power programme 💜

If you switch to Octopus using our link, you’ll get £50 energy credit – and Preston MS Society Group will also receive £50 as a thank you 🙌

It’s a simple way to support the group while choosing greener, cheaper energy 🌱

👉 Use our link here:
https://mssocietyprestongroup.octopus.energy

A big thank you to one of our members, Phil Ikin, for bringing this to our attention 👏

Please feel free to share with friends and family!

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14/03/2026

💬 Preston MS Society – Social Meets

We have several upcoming social meets planned. These are relaxed get-togethers where people affected by MS can come along for a chat, meet others and enjoy some company. Everyone is very welcome.

📅 Friday 10 April | 2pm – 4pm
📍 The Mill, St Catherines
Lostock Hall, PR5 5XU

📅 Friday 1 May | 2pm – 4pm
📍 The Black Bull
Garstang Road, Preston, PR2 9UP

📅 Thursday 11 June | 7pm – 9pm
📍 The Brown Hare
Penwortham, PR1 0XW

📅 Monday 13 July | 11:30am – 1:30pm
📍 Loft Bistro
Trident Way Retail Park, Port Way, Ashton, Preston, PR2 2YQ
Kindly hosted by Anne – thank you!

We are also thinking about arranging some evening social meets in August and September, so if you have any suggestions for venues please let us know.

We hope to see some familiar faces and some new ones too 😊