Volunteer for the MSA Trust

The Trust has a team of volunteers who give their time and skills to support our work, including information reviewers, support group helpers, trustees and ambassadors. Volunteering can be fun and rewarding, and our volunteers know they are helping to improve the lives of everyone affected by MSA, whatever their role.

Our volunteers are at the heart of our work and at the heart of every community so that people affected by MSA receive the support they need. We are committed to ensuring volunteers received the best possible experience whilst volunteering and that they feel fulfilled and valued.
Karen Walker – MSA Trust CEO

How to get involved

Our current volunteering opportunities are outlined below. For more information on the roles and information on how to apply, contact volunteer@msatrust.org.uk. If you have a particular interest or area you feel you can help with that isn’t detailed below, please contact us for a chat.

Want to help, but worried you don’t have the time?

We understand that signing up to volunteer can seem like a big commitment, especially when life with MSA feels uncertain. There are lots of actions you can take without becoming a volunteer. They help us but don’t take a lot of time or energy. We call them Micro Support Actions. They can include:

• Showing support on social media
• Filling in a survey
• Sharing campaigns
• Signing a petition
• Sharing information on fundraising events
• Encouraging friends to buy our Christmas Cards
• Sharing your story on our website
• Letting us know about a useful local resource
• Sharing your views as part of a focus group

Volunteering Opportunities

Ambassador Volunteers

Ambassadors give their time when they can to raise awareness of MSA, and to connect with supporters and the MSA community. There is no minimum time commitment. The role is flexible and depends on the opportunities that come up in your local area.

You might be asked to:

• Deliver leaflets to local hospitals or community groups.
• Give a talk about MSA and our work to community groups and potential donors.
• Attend a cheque presentation by a group that has raised funds for the Trust.
• Talk to fundraisers about your personal experience of MSA.

Cheerpoint Volunteers

Cheerpoint Volunteers work alongside MSA Trust staff to set up welcome points, cheer stations and post-event meet-ups at events like the London Marathon and the Great North Run. They spot our runners, cheer them as they pass, and bring lots of energy and enthusiasm to a special day. Anyone can support the Trust as a Cheerpoint Volunteer, even if you do not know anyone in the race.

On the day, you might be asked to

• Help staff set up cheerpoints along a race route
• Welcome runners and their supporters
• Join other staff and volunteers in cheering runners as they pass
• Meet runners and their supporters at the post-event meet up
• Assist MSA Trust Staff to make sure things run safely and smoothly

Sarah’s Wood Volunteer

We began planting Sarah’s Wood in June 2017, to mark the Trust’s 20th anniversary. The Wood is in Thorsby Park in Nottingham Forrest. We need volunteers to help out at our annual Summer Social and Tree Planting Days.

Tree Planting Volunteers work alongside MSA Trust staff to welcome attendees, help with planting saplings and build a warm and memorable day. Our next Tree Planting Day is on 29th of November 2025.

On the day, you might be asked to

• Meet and greet visitors, direct them from the car park to the tree planting area
• Help Trust members to plant saplings, following guidance from the foresters
• Serve light refreshment to guests
• Help with Christmas card and merchandise sales

Volunteering with a Support Group

Volunteers are a vital part of our support group service. Responsibilities can include booking and setting up meeting rooms, arranging refreshments on the day and greeting attendees. This role may be for you if you are organised and a good listener, able to make people feel comfortable welcome.

User Information Panel Members

To make sure all our information materials are of a high standard we put each one through an accreditation process. Part of this process involves feedback from users in our community. Our User Information Panel is made up of volunteers with experience of MSA who review our information materials for usability, content and accuracy.

Already a volunteer?

If you’re already volunteering with us, you can find all of the information and resources you need by contacting us by phone or by emailing volunteer@msatrust.org.uk.