Could personalised support help people with MS stay employed? Take part in a study to find out

Overcoming MS is excited to share a new partnership focused on one of the most important, but often overlooked, aspects of life with MS: staying in meaningful employment.  

This UK-based study is testing a practical new way to support people with MS in work, using trained Program Facilitators who also live with MS. It’s part of the MS Work Hub Study, run by the University of Nottingham and funded by the MS Society, in partnership with Overcoming MS, Revive MS, and the MS Trust.

Update – 21st October 2025. Thanks to overwhelming interest, we reached our recruitment goal early – and now a few extra places have been released! If you’re in the UK and would like to take part please read on!

Why take part?

• Get up to 10 hours of tailored support from an Overcoming MS Program Facilitator. 
• Work with someone who understands MS, because they live with it too. 
• Tackle challenges like fatigue, disclosure, adjustments and more.
• Option to include your employer in the support.
• Help improve support services for people with MS in future. 

Employment is not just a source of income – it’s a huge part of wellbeing, identity, and connection,” said Alex Holden, CEO of Overcoming MS. “We’re proud to bring our community and expertise into this vital research.”

Who can join? 

To be eligible to participate, you need to be 

1. Aged 18 or over. 
2. Have a diagnosis of MS. 
3. Be in paid employment (including self-employed). 
4. Live in the United Kingdom.
5. Be able to communicate in English. 

Those planning to retire or leave work within the next year are not eligible to participate. 

How the study will work

As part of the MS Work Hub Study, Overcoming MS will recruit 15 participants in the UK who are currently in paid employment. Half will be randomly selected to receive up to 10 hours of personalised support over six months from one of two trained Overcoming MS Program Facilitators, both of whom live with MS themselves. The remaining participants will continue with standard support from MS charities. 

Participants can also invite their employer to receive guidance on how best to support a colleague with MS in the workplace. 

By comparing the two groups, researchers will evaluate whether this model of support is effective, and how it could be rolled out more widely. 

We are delighted to be working in partnership with the University of Nottingham on this important study,” said Sian Southward, Director of Programmes and Partnerships at Overcoming MS. “The aim is to support individuals in maintaining employment where appropriate and to provide employers with the necessary understanding and resources to effectively support employees living with MS.” 

Why this study matters

Symptoms like fatigue, memory difficulties, or anxiety can make staying in work difficult, and many people feel unsupported.

• People are often diagnosed with MS at the peak of their working lives, between 20 and 40 years of age.
• Globally, 43% of people with MS stop working within just three years of diagnosis, and 70% stop within ten years.
• In the UK, only 41% of people with MS are employed, compared to 81% of non-disabled people. 
• A UK survey of over 1,000 people with MS found that 96% said their MS had affected their ability to work.
• In the same survey, nearly half of those who left work believed they could have stayed if their employer had better understood their needs.  

Leaving work doesn’t just impact income, it can affect confidence, independence and even quality of care. 

Despite all this, research also shows that employment is rarely discussed during healthcare appointments, and NHS support is limited or inconsistent across the country. In contrast, MS charities are often the first place people turn to for practical advice. 

Our research shows that people with MS want personalised support – and they seek advice from MS charities to address their questions,” said Dr Blanca De Dios Perez, Research Fellow at the University of Nottingham. “This project will explore how we offer support with employment with a focus on job retention for people with MS through MS charities to optimise access to employment services.” 

Led by lived experience

Overcoming MS Program Facilitators Yasmin Neves and Laura Crowder have undertaken specialised training to deliver this support as part of the research study. 

Yasmin Neves is an HR specialist and founder of Healthy HR. “I’ve spoken to so many people in the community who’ve had to give up work because they didn’t have the right support in place,” said Yasmin. “This project gives us the chance to change that, and to be part of something that could lead to long-term solutions.” 

Laura Crowder is a qualified health coach. “Training as a health coach after a diagnosis of MS, taught me the importance of  work to overall wellbeing,” she said. “That’s why I was shocked to learn that fewer than 50% of people with MS remain employed ten years after diagnosis. I’m proud to be part of a study that could change that.”

Support sessions will be delivered online and adapted to each person’s needs, from navigating legal rights to managing energy at work. 

Why Overcoming MS is involved

This partnership aligns with our ‘change your life for life’ pillar and furthers our mission to support all aspects of wellbeing, including purpose, independence, and social connection. 

By helping to test a practical, peer-led model of employment support, we’re working to make support more accessible, more personalised, and more rooted in lived experience.

We also recognise that not everyone with MS will want or be able to stay in paid work. This project is about choice and empowerment, helping people who want to stay in employment to do so on their own terms, with guidance that is flexible and human.

While the study is limited to participants based in the UK, we’ll be sharing findings, tools and resources with our global community. The goal is to create something that doesn’t just help the few but informs how charities can support people living with MS worldwide.  

Ready for the next step?

First download and read the participant information sheet: MS WorkHub Participant Information Sheet

Then email the study lead to register your interest [email protected] 

Not based in the UK? Stay tuned, we’ll share what we learn to benefit the wider Overcoming MS community.