BMSTC

Who we are

The Berkshire Multiple Sclerosis Therapy Centre (BMSTC) in Reading was founded over 40 years ago, by a small group of local "people with MS, for people with MS". The goal was to address gaps in long-term NHS support, such as physiotherapy, which is only offered when improvement is expected within six weeks. Unfortunately, this approach does not meet the needs of people with a chronic condition like MS, who require ongoing help for mobility, stiffness, pain, and balance issues.

The Centre has evolved over the years, and our purpose-built centre now supports the health and mental wellbeing of people with MS from Berkshire and neighbouring areas of Hampshire, Oxfordshire, Surrey and Buckinghamshire. We now provide a wide range therapies designed to manage symptoms, together with a friendly, supportive space where members, families and carers can socialise, which helps ease feelings of isolation and loneliness. It also gives individuals the opportunity to share information, take more control over their lives and make positive decisions about their future.

What we do:

Treatments on offer include specialist neurophysiotherapy, oxygen treatment, footcare, counselling, and a range of complementary therapies. Our physios are specially trained through one-to-one sessions and classes tailored to your level of ability. We also run very popular virtual support including "live" online exercise classes and mindfulness sessions and have recently developed video recordings which can be accessed online at any time.

We are highly regarded within medical circles, and our success is largely thanks to the work of our dedicated trustees, staff, volunteers, community fundraisers and their families.

The Centre is a charity and receives no central government or NHS support, so we need to raise £700,000 each year to keep it open. Members contribute whatever they can to their treatment, but no one is excluded on the basis of their ability to pay. 

The needs of our members are truly at the very heart of the centre’s operations. The support we provide improves our members' physical health, emotional wellbeing and general quality of life – not just now but for the rest of their lives.

Whilst most of our members are people with MS who use the Centre, anyone who is interested in supporting our work is encouraged to join and:

• help us provide support to people living with MS
• join our MS community
• show that our Centre matters

Individually our voices are small but together we can make ourselves heard!

Our culture and values

Our Values        the principles at the heart of everything we do                   

We are:

• Compassionate    - caring about our members and each other
• Accountable.        - acting with integrity and honesty, aspiring to achieve the highest standards in all we do
• Respectful.           - of the feelings and wishes of others, treating everyone with courtesy
• Encouraging         - having a motivating, constructive, positive attitude
• Inclusive                - treating people fairly and equally, managing our affairs in an open and accessible way,
• Supportive.           - cultivating a community where people can meet and share ideas and experiences

Equality, diversity and inclusion policy

We welcome anyone with MS, from all parts of the community, irrespective of gender, race, colour, age, sexual orientation or disability. Applicants for jobs with us will be selected purely on merit.