What?

BRANCHOUT is a MS Society programme that will transform the way we support people affected by MS locally. People want services, information and support aimed directly at them, whatever their circumstances. We need to ensure that everyone’s needs are met within a reasonable distance of where they live, beyond the restrictions of branch boundaries.  

When?

After a successful pilot in 2006 throughout south-west London and the north-west of England, BRANCHOUT was launched at the 2006 AGM. 

Where?

In 2007, BRANCHOUT will “go-live” across 11 regions in England before spreading further in 2008. 

Who?

Unlike the Essentials; a core set of basic expectations for each branch; the BRANCHOUT programme does not expect every branch to provide all the services on the “Menu”. Instead, branches are encouraged to develop partnerships within their region; whether that’s neighbouring branches, health professionals or therapy centres, other charities or organisations; this will ensure that people affected by MS can easily access services that support their needs within a reasonable distance of their home. 

Why?

The idea behind BRANCHOUT is not to re-invent the wheel, neither is it a set of instructions that must be adhered to the letter, nor is it a competition. It is simply a means of identifying and promoting services that are currently in existence and initiating new services, as and when there is a demand, then distributing the workload sensibly so minimising the pressure on volunteers. 

What has BRANCHOUT meant to you?

BRANCHOUT was officially launched at the AGM in 2006, now two years on we want to know the impact that BRANCHOUT has had. Some key impacts have been identified, but to make these ‘real’ we want to collect quotes from across the country demonstrating what BRANCHOUT means to regional staff, regional volunteers, branch volunteers, professionals and volunteers outside of the MS Society.

• Have branch committees become rejuventated in the last two years; demonstrating increased hope, ideas and communication?
• Has local knowledge and the use of the varied support services improved recently?
• Have you noticed any breakdown of territorial attitudes since 2005?
• Have problem areas been easy to identify and the offer of peer support more readily accepted?
• What relationships are there between the local elements of the MS Society and professionals or others?
  

 

» Menu of Local Support
The 8 points that together make the Menu of Local Support

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