Introduction

The MSIF Twinning Programme provides support, and, if available, funding*, to assist MS societies to come together to share and transfer skills and knowledge in all aspects of work involved in operating a successful national MS society. Such areas could include patient advocacy, fundraising, communications, public relations, governance, leadership and management.

MSIF will endeavour to provide administrative support to any twinning partnerships formed between MSIF member societies. MSIF support could include facilitating initial contact, assisting with the preparation of funding applications, providing information on action planning, completing an evaluation and other such materials relevant to the activities being carried out by the twinning partners.

*The number of partnerships that MSIF can financially support is determined on an annual basis.

Financial support

MSIF offers up to £500 to cover the cost of travel and accommodation for the staff of the visiting MS society for the initial assessment visit.

Following approval of the action plan, MSIF will provide up to £1,000 for the first year of the partnership.

Funding of up to £1,000 per year, for up to two further years, will be dependent on satisfactory end-of-year evaluation results submitted annually.

Eligibility

One MS society must be an MSIF member.

If a society has a federal structure, twinning applications from more than one branch/chapter will be considered. However, applications will need to be approved and submitted by the national office.

Priority will be given to MSIF Full and Associate members and Corresponding Organisations, with which MSIF has been in regular contact for more than one year.

The application process

The 2009 deadline for applications has now passed.

MS societies interested in participating in the 2010 MSIF Twinning Programme are advised to read MSIF's How to Develop a Twinning Partnership and the MSIF Twinning Programme Guidelines (see Documents to download section below).

They should then complete an MSIF Twinning Programme Application Form (see Documents to download section below). The form allows MSIF to collect information about a society’s priorities, skills and needs.

Completed forms should be returned to Zoe Burr at the MSIF Secretariat
by 25 September 2009. Forms can be either scanned and emailed, faxed to +44 (0) 20 7620 1922 or posted to Zoe Burr, International Development Manager, MSIF, 3rd Floor, Skyline House, 200 Union Street, London, SE1 0LX, UK.

MS societies that have already identified a potential twinning partner should submit their applications together. All applications should be signed by the CEO (or equivalent) and Chair/President of the relevant MS society.

MSIF will proactively help to match MS societies that have not identified a potential partner based on the information submitted. Where possible, societies will be twinned in the same region to ensure resources are used effectively.

Selection

The MSIF Twinning Programme Evaluation Committee will review the applications and select the partnerships which will receive MSIF financial support.

The successful partnerships will be announced at the MSIF April Board and Committee Meetings in London and in our weekly newsletter, Making Connections.

MSIF will then liaise with the main points of contacts from the societies involved regarding the initial assessment visit.

Documents to download

• How to Develop a Twinning Partnership


• MSIF Twinning Programme Guidelines (including Annex 1)


• Annex 2 - MSIF Twinning Programme Application Form


• Annex 3 - MSIF Twinning Programme Action Plan


• Annex 4 - MSIF Twinning Programme Annual Evaluation Form

Further information

National MS societies wanting to find out more about twinning should email Zoe Burr, International Development Manager.

The full How to series can be downloaded here.