Meet Cobseo’s Members – introducing Mutual Support

Tell us about your organisation…

Mutual Support is a vital lifeline for service personnel, veterans and their dependants living with Multiple Sclerosis (MS). The 1200 strong group offers a uniquely understanding and inclusive network. It was founded in 1991 to address the specific challenges faced by military personnel with MS, from deployments, to medical discharges, applying for benefits and beyond.

Run entirely by volunteers who live with MS themselves, Mutual Support offers empathy, practical assistance and reassurance. For those navigating diagnosis and the transitions of military life, this support network is not just helpful, it’s empowering, inclusive, and life-affirming. Mutual Support restores military level support, caring, love and gallows humour for not just the Booty, Crab and Jack Tar but crucially their families.

The group sits within the National MS Society benefiting from the National groups training, oversight, knowledge communications and safeguarding. We report to MSS HQ to assure financial and safeguarding propriety.

How does your organisation support the Armed Forces Community?

Mutual Support offers support for military personnel, veterans and their dependants living with MS. Led by a Coordinating Team and a dedicated Support Team we send quarterly newsletters, signpost services and provide online forums and activities.

The impact of an MS diagnosis can be life changing and lead to service exit, removing the security blanket of military institutions. Vitally our members retain that connection.

Its fully funded Respite and Wellbeing Weekends are family-friendly, with dedicated sessions for children, partners, and the individual living with MS. These weekends not only provide information and therapeutic support but also foster military camaraderie and normality.

Sessions led by professionals give space for children and carers to share experiences and gain confidence.

Mobility issues can be isolating, causing those with a chronic condition to shy away from contact.

Having a fully inclusive group with an Armed Forces background and a connection with MS is empowering.

What makes you proud of the work in the sector?

Mutual Support is proud to be an inclusive military charity, still serving its members after 35 years from three founding members to 1200 members today. We are proud to have bridged the gap between civilian support services and those available to serving military personnel, veterans and dependants.

“As one of the Patrons of Mutual Support and as a Clinical Neuropsychologist I believe you cannot put a price on the benefit the Support Weekends have on members. People come broken and return home whole; people come lonely and go home with friends; whole families who come fractured go home in one piece; children who come as young carers go home as themselves once more. These benefits are priceless, life affirming and life changing. “

Consultant Clinical Neuropsychologist: DR ANITA ROSE. B.A. (hons), D.Clin Psy., AFBPsS, C. Psychol

Mutual Support was recognised with the ‘Family Values’ Soldiering on Award in 2023.

How does being a Member of Cobseo help you to do your work?

Membership of Cobseo gives Mutual Support vital information about Armed Forces resources and frontline organisations, information which can be shared with our members.

Our events are fully funded through grant applications and from fundraising. Being part of the Cobseo network not only raises Mutual Support’s profile across the regular Armed Forces and

Veterans groups but membership signposts us to grant applications available from Armed Forces charities.