Pathways
MEDIA INFORMATION 2024
New
The publication of choice for people living with MS in the UK
UK’S LONGEST PUBLISHED MS MAGAZINE - 31 YEARS UK’S MOST FREQUENT MS MAGAZINE – 6 ISSUES PER YEAR
THERE IS NO BETTER WAY TO REACH A TARGETED AUDIENCE IN THIS SECTOR NEW PATHWAYS New Pathways is MS-UK’s magazine, published for 31
Sept/Oct 2023 Issue 141
years, making it the publication of choice for people living with MS in the UK. As the premier communications channel for MS-UK, it features editorial covering the latest news and views from all areas related to the treatment and support of those living with MS. Full of the latest news regarding trials, drugs development and research as well as competitions, special offers and product reviews. We share real people’s stories and experiences and
I proved to myself I do still have lots to look forward to Craig Mosley
our readers offer their advice, experience and support to one another. We cover a variety of articles and features in each issue
News | Views | Features | Real life stories
addressing a wide range of topics including:
www.ms-uk.org
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· Exercise · Diet
MS-UK is a national charity formed
· Mobility
in 1993, dedicated to empowering
· Travel
people with multiple sclerosis to make
· Clothing & footwear
the most of today, and live life to
· Independent living
the full. Its mission is to put people
· Complementary therapies
affected by MS at the heart of their
· Home equipment
work. MS- UK provides independent
· Leisure
information, support and professional
· Specialist services
and transparent services. More importantly, there are no taboo subjects: if the subject is important to people affected by MS, we will explore it. It is the most frequent MS dedicated magazine in the UK, providing you with a clearly defined and engaged audience, ensuring all advertising within New Pathways reaches a highly targeted audience and delivers a good return on investment. New Pathways is much more than simply a stand- alone publication. People tend to engage with more than one service during their journey with MS-UK, and are invested in New Pathways because they regard it as part of a bigger picture.
C O N TA C T: L E E M O R R I S | 0 2 0 3 9 0 0 0 1 0 2 | M S - U K @ SYO N M E D I A . C O M
EDITORIAL PROGRAMME 2024 JANUARY/FEBRUARY
JULY/AUGUST
• Accessible breaks abroad
• Help with bladder and bowel
• Real-life story: HSCT
urgency
• Bowel issues – from constipation
• Aids and adaptations for the
to urgency, an MS nurse advises
home
on what can help.
• Travel – a look at what travel
30 Sym p to m sp otlig ht
Bladder subsidies you are intitled to, plus issues
Bladder problems can be very real when you have MS - here are some common issues
MARCH/APRIL
accessible cars
M
ultiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic autoimmune disease that affects the central nervous system, including the brain and spinal cord. Because of its impact on nerve signals, you might find you experience a range of bladder problems, which are often referred to as neurogenic bladder dysfunction. These bladder problems can vary in severity and can significantly affect your quality of life. Some common bladder problems that people with MS may experience include
• Accessible Spring fashion • Preparing for medical appointments • MS and the menopause
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER
1 Urinary urgency and frequency. Many people with MS may feel a frequent and urgent need to urinate. This can lead to increased trips to the bathroom and disruptions in daily activities.
• Spotlight on SPMS • Get a good night’s sleep
MAY/JUNE
to, of the various MS diets
• Accessible winter fashion
• Dealing with the heat in summer –
• Avoiding winter bug/keeping
diet/lifestyle advice, helpful products
healthy for winter
4 Nocturia. Nocturia refers to the need to wake up during the night to urinate. MS can disrupt the normal sleep pattern by causing increased urine production during nighttime hours. 5 Hesitancy. Difficulty initiating the urinary stream is another common issue. This can be frustrating and time-consuming. 6 Straining. Straining to initiate or maintain the urinary stream can occur due to MS-related nerve damage affecting the muscles involved in bladder control. 7 Dysfunctional voiding patterns. Some individuals with MS may have irregular patterns of voiding, which can further complicate bladder management.
9 Mixed incontinence. This refers to a combination of stress incontinence (leakage with physical activity) and urge incontinence (sudden strong urge to urinate). 10 Overflow incontinence. In cases of severe urinary retention, the bladder may become overfull and leak small amounts of urine. Managing these bladder problems often requires a multidisciplinary approach involving neurologists, urologists, physical therapists, and other healthcare professionals. Treatment options can include
• Bladder training. This involves
scheduling regular bathroom breaks to gradually increase bladder capacity and control
• Medications. Certain
medications can help relax the bladder muscles and reduce urgency and frequency
• Catheterisation. Intermittent self-catheterisation or using an indwelling catheter may be necessary to empty the bladder fully
• Physical therapy. Pelvic
floor exercises and techniques can help improve bladder control and reduce incontinence
• Lifestyle modifications.
Managing fluid intake, avoiding bladder irritants (such as caffeine and alcohol), and maintaining a healthy weight can help alleviate symptoms
• Surgical interventions. In
severe cases, surgical options like bladder augmentation or sling procedures may be considered
It’s important to work closely with your healthcare team to develop a personalised treatment plan that addresses specific bladder issues to improve your overall quality of life. At MS-UK, we produce a Bladder and Bowel Choices booklet which is packed with information about bladder and bowel problems that can be caused by MS. It covers options for treatment and management, including catheters, drug treatments, plus lifestyle tips. There is also advice from other people living with MS and bladder and bowel problems. You can download it free at ms-uk.org/bladder-andbowel-choices-leaflet
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Support 41
Rehoming equipment
• MS diet special – we look at the
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER
3 Urinary retention. Some people with MS may have difficulty fully emptying their bladder. This can lead to a feeling of incomplete voiding, which in turn can increase the risk of urinary tract infections.
8 Bladder spasms. Neurogenic bladder dysfunction can lead to involuntary contractions of the bladder muscles, causing spasms and discomfort.
Ca ll 01206 226500 Bladder 141.indd 26
• Benefits you may be entitled to
evidence, and the ease of sticking
Sym p to m sp otlig ht 31
2 Urinary incontinence. MS can disrupt the signals between the brain and the bladder, leading to involuntary leakage of urine. This can happen during physical activities, when coughing or sneezing, or even spontaneously.
When your needs have changed, how can you rehome used independent living and mobility aids and equipment? Independent living aids can be pieces of large specialist equipment or small useful gadgets. They can even be pieces of furniture or mobility equipment. Independent living aids can be anything that makes life easier and aids with independence or your mobility. By the very nature of multiple sclerosis (MS), people’s needs can change. If needs or circumstances progress, you may end up with independent living aids and equipment that you can no longer make full use of. There are many good reasons for finding a new home for your old equipment
• Many people will describe independent living aids as life-changing. If they’re no longer suitable for you, someone else may find them life-changing too
• Given that society is doing
its best to reduce the amount of waste being sent to landfill, it’s understandable that there’s a big push on recycling, reusing and rehoming items
• Equipment is often very
expensive and may have cost you a lot of money. If your current aid is no longer working for you, it makes sense to try and sell it to see if you can recoup some funds towards the cost of an aid that will meet your needs now
Returning equipment
If the equipment is something that has been given to you by the local authority, the NHS or a charity, it is only right that you offer it back to them now that you can no longer make www.ms-uk.org
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42 Support
RATES
Support 43 with MS then you could try offering it to one of the many therapy centres (www.msntc. org.uk) dotted up and down the UK. Some of the organisations that are part of the Neuro Therapy Network specifically support people with MS and others support people with a range of neurological issues. One such organisation is Warrington Disability Partnership (www. disabilitypartnership.org.uk). This is a user-led charity with over 30 years’ experience of developing and delivering mobility and independent living services. They have a scheme called LovedB4 which recovers, recycles and reuses mobility aids and restores and services them so they can be used by their Shopmobility and independent living equipment
SERIES
DISPLAY
1
3
6
DPS
£1,895
£1705
£1425
FULL PAGE
£1,095
£985
£825
HALF PAGE
£660
£594
£495
QUARTER PAGE
£430
£387
£325
EIGHTH PAGE
£250
£225
£185
full use of it. If they tell you that they cannot accept the item for any reason, it is a good idea to ask them to pop that in The charity ships the aids to writing for you, just in case you developing countries where only are ever challenged over ownership or the right to sell, 10% of disabled people that need donate or gift the item. a wheelchair have access to one If this is an item that you have bought, the original supplier or manufacturer loan services. Surplus goods are is a large community and may buy it back from you, sold on at affordable prices to voluntary services directory recondition it and then sell it people in need. covering Norther Ireland. on or donate it themselves to If you wanted to offer your The Scottish Council for someone in need. This happens item locally there are often Voluntary Organisations quite often, particularly with local ‘association of voluntary (SCVO – www.scvo.scot) is the stairlift suppliers. services’, ‘council for voluntary membership organisation for services’ or similarly named the voluntary sector in Donating used aids organisations that support Scotland. They have over You may wish to donate the districts, boroughs, or regional 2,700 member organisations aid or piece of equipment. If charitable infrastructure. These made up of social enterprises, you wanted it to be used for charities are usually charities and voluntary the benefit of someone else membership organisations groups. They have a ‘member
directory’ to help you find charitable organisations. Some local Salvation Army branches will accept donations of second-hand wheelchairs, so it is worth speaking with your local church, charity shop or service. Although you wouldn’t be able to donate a wheelchair to their charity shops (for hygiene reasons), the British Red Cross Mobility Aids Service might accept wheelchair donations. You can call them on 0300 456 1914 to speak to their team. If you are in Scotland, Wheels to Heal is an award-winning charity that ships the aids to developing countries where only ten percent of disabled people that need a wheelchair have access to one. Also in Scotland is the Recycle Mobility Centre (www. recyclemobilitycentre.com) This is a not-for-profit social enterprise that offers a quality service refurbishing and repairing all types of mobility equipment and sells them at an affordable price to those who can least afford to buy new equipment.
Selling your equipment
Some organisations will buy directly from you and some will act as a specialist marketplace to match you with buyers that are in need of your particular aid or piece of equipment. There are also general non specialist buying and selling web spaces such as Gumtree, Preloved eBay, Facebook
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New year changes
IN CORNWALL
Two wheelchair accessible cottages in Cornwall offering • • •
Tailored short breaks with 24 hr nursing care
• Speak to Jo or Katy to book on 01620 892864
En-suite wet rooms Electric profiling beds Air/pressure mattresses Ceiling & portable hoists • • • • •
Leuchie’s fully accessible, self-catering holiday home in Dirleton, East Lothian.
NEW - Sara Stedy NEW - Stand Aid Shower chairs Riser/recliner chairs Local care available
Forget a radical overhaul for 2023 – it’s the little lifestyle tweaks that’ll set you up for the year
Treworgans is centrally located with easy access to attractions making it the ideal place to enjoy Cornwall. We are also very close to The Merlin MS Centre. To find out more and book, visit
01726 883240 / 07762 173860 www.treworgans.co.uk
denisduncanhouse.co.uk
£2,175
£1,950
£1,630
£1,260
£1,135
£950
3 ISSUES
6 ISSUES
Boost your gut
Check out MS-UK’s online activities
In keeping with the traditional new year’s diet changes, this is one you should aim to keep up all year – eat more fibre. The link between gut bacteria – known as the microbiome – and not just multiple sclerosis (MS) but better health in general, is constantly growing. Studies have found differences in the microbiome of healthy people compared with people with MS, and scientists hypothesise that the bacteris might be involved in modulating the immune system. A diverse, healthy microbiome needs the right conditions, and feeding it fibre is a great start. Fruits and vegetables are good sources. Some of the fibre can’t be digested by the body, and is
Live a happier and healthier life with MS
Accessible online exercise classes Interactive workshops Chair yoga classes Information sessions Mindfulness courses Peer Support Service
PRODUCT &
Don’t miss out – sign up for our new online activities today! Visit www.ms-uk.org or contact us at register@ms-uk.org
MS-UK Online Advert A4 NP.indd 1
Registered charity number 1033731
£495
£875
6 MNTHS
FULL YEAR
BASIC LISTING & HYPERLINK
N/A
£250
PREMIUM LISTING
£595
£995
ONLINE DIRECTORY
Take stock of your MS With a long-term health condition such as MS, it’s easy to put it to the back of your mind if you have long periods of remission. But it’s important to pay attention to your body and how symptoms are impacting your life so you can be your own advocate for your care. Sharing any changes, or changes in needs, with your healthcare team is important to optimise your quality of life. Simply assessing your symptoms on a monthly basis can keep you aware of your needs. For example – has your walking ability changed noticeably? How has your mental health been? What about your pain levels – are your healthcare providers aware of any pain you have? What about your cognition – has your memory been worse lately? Keeping a symptom diary can be helpful to show to your doctor. MS-UK offer a free downloadable symptom diary at ms-uk.org/symptoms-diary/
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18 Support
Support 19
Social support Humans are social creatures and having others to connect with is proven to be good for our health. A 2021 study of 185 people who were recently diagnosed with MS linked greater social support with a higher quality of life. People who had more support also reported better mental health and cognitive function, and less fatigue than those without social support. If you like the sound of connecting with others living with MS to make new friends, discuss what works for them, or just put the world to rights, MS-UK Online’s Peer Support Service could be just the ticket for you. The Peer Support Service has been developed to create an online community for people living with MS to connect with others that share a common interest, in a positive and supportive space. This community is comprised of individual ‘Peer Pods’ that are either formed in connection with our online activities (such as Mindfulness or Poetry courses) or have a common interest theme. If you would like to be part of the Peer Support service and get involved with one of our Peer Pods to meet others, please contact our Peer Support coordinator Vicky who can let you know more about the service. Please email peersupport@ms-uk.org.
Kick the habit Studies have found quitting smoking may slow disease progression in people with MS. Researchers found that in people who had quit smoking, disease progression was slowed to a similar rate of progression seen in people who had never smoked. To find out more about the help available to stop smoking, call the MS-UK Helpline Monday to Friday 10am-4pm on 0800 783 0518.
Exercise
Bring nature inside
Sponsorship opportunities available, please contact Lee for further information and rates.
eaten by the gut bacteria, stimulating its growth. Broccoli, chickpeas, lentils and beans are all great sources.
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SERVICES GUIDE
21/07/2023 14:45
Support 17
Treworgans
Denis Duncan House
FULL PAGE
based platform that enables individuals and businesses to buy and sell used or reconditioned disability aids and equipment. They charge a nominal fee to advertise. Mobility Buyers (www.mobilitybuyers.com) is a business that says that it makes selling used or unwanted disability equipment easy. You upload pictures and details of the equipment you want to sell and then they will send you a quote/offer. If you accept their offer, they will arrange collection and make a payment to you.
www.ms-uk.org 21/07/2023 14:45
ACCESSIBLE HOLIDAY COTTAGES
Leuchie is a charity registered in Scotland no SC042249
DPS
Marketplace, and where ever else you see small advertisements for private sales (such as the Exchange and Mart or locally delivered magazines and papers). The Disability Equipment Service (www.disability equipmentservice.co.uk) is a website that provides a service to help buy and sell items of used disability equipment. They say on their website that they are often contacted by people with equipment they either haven’t the time to sell or room to store. Often this equipment is in perfect order and too good to throw away. The Disability Equipment Service will do their best to rehome the equipment. Proceeds from donated equipment goes towards the running costs of the Disability Equipment Service website and they give 25 percent of the funds raised to charity. Skiggle (www.skiggle.co.uk) is a charity that has been set up by parents of someone with profound and multiple disabilities. Skiggle run an online marketplace where people can safely rehome and distribute disability care products and equipment. The Mobility Market (www. themobility market.co.uk) is a business that has a web-
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leuchiehouse.org.uk
ADVERTORIALS
and provide support for small local charities and often delver direct services themselves. These ‘hub’ charities will usually have directories of small, local charities and community groups. Most of these local charities are members of the National Association for Voluntary and Community Action (NAVCA – www.navca.org.uk). NAVCA have a useful interactive map on their ‘find a member’ webpage to help you source the local charitable organisation supporting your local voluntary sector. The Northern Ireland Council for Voluntary Action (NIVCA – www.nivca.org) is a membership body for the voluntary and community sector in Northern Ireland. They have a range of websites including ‘Community NI’ which
nervous system and helped Houseplants are not only lower blood pressure. bang on trend, they make a Another study found that room look lovely and research people working near plants has shown they can lower human stress levels. One study reported better concentration, showed that caring for plants satisfaction and perceived air quality. What’s not to love? calmed the autonomic
Studies have shown that people with MS benefit from exercise, which can improve cardiovascular fitness, mental health, fatigue and cognitive function among other things. But it’s not always easy to exercise when your condition affects you. This is where MS-UK Online comes in. Our exercise specialists run sessions which are accessible for all abilities. They take place on Zoom, so you participate from the comfort of your own home. There are seated exercise classes, chair yoga, plus others to help you manage your symptoms and stay healthy. To find out more, visit ms-uk. org/ms-uk-online
Silence your inner critic
Talking harshly to ourselves is something we can all be guilty of at times. But next time you’re beating yourself up – whether it’s for forgetting something or having to cancel plans due to fatigue – think of what you’d say to a close friend if it happened to them. Self-compassion isn’t just about being nice to yourself for the sake of it – research has shown that practising being kinder to yourself can lower your heart rate and sweating – two symptoms that are a result of stress. Stress-reduction can only be a good thing when it comes to living with MS!
You may have heard the term ‘sleep hygiene’ which is the practice of doing all the right things to enable you to sleep soundly for seven to nine hours a night. Trouble nodding off? A University of Texas study found that a hot bath 90 minutes before bed, with a water temperature of between 40 and 43 degrees Celsius, helped people get to sleep an average of ten minutes earlier. The rise and then fall in body temperature triggers the release of the sleep hormone melatonin. Surprisingly, what you do first thing in the morning can also affect how you sleep the next evening. Our bodies run on a 24-hour sleep-wake cycle known as the circadian rhythm. The light you are exposed to helps your body figure out when it’s time to sleep and when it’s time to wake. That’s why experts recommend not having screen time an hour or two before bed – the blue light from devices can cause our brains to think it’s time to be awake. In the same vein, getting outdoors in sunlight first thing in the morning lets your body know it’s time to wake up, helping to reset your circadian rhythm.
www.ms-uk.org
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Get your zzzs
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C O N TA C T: L E E M O R R I S | 0 2 0 3 9 0 0 0 1 0 2 | M S - U K @ SYO N M E D I A . C O M
PRODUCTION SCHEDULE
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
ISSUE
PUBLISHED
AD COPY DEADLINE
PAGE SIZE
JANUARY/FEBRUARY
26 JANUARY
08 JANUARY
MARCH/APRIL
30 MARCH
02 MARCH
MAY/JUNE
29 MAY
03 MAY
JULY/AUGUST
31 JULY
05 JULY
DPS BLEED
303mm
426mm
TRIM
297mm
420mm
TEXT
273mm
394mm
BLEED
303mm
216mm
TRIM
297mm
210mm
TEXT
265mm
190mm
HORIZONTAL
132mm
190mm
VERTICAL
265mm
94mm
QUARTER PAGE 132mm
94mm
62mm
94mm
FULL PAGE
27 SEPTEMBER
06 SEPTEMBER
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 22 NOVEMBER
01 NOVEMBER
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER
HEIGHT WIDTH
HALF PAGE
EIGHTH PAGE
Nov/Dec 2023 Issue 142
Sept/Oct 2023 Issue 141
July/August 2023 Issue 140
May/June 2023 Issue 139
I was told for years there was nothing wrong with me
I don’t think I would have got into dance without my disability
Tracey Blamire
Rebecca Fowler
Life is good if we make good use of what’s available to us Ian Tighe-Ford
I proved to myself I do still have lots to look forward to Craig Mosley
News | Views | Features | Real life stories
News | Views | Features | Real life stories
www.ms-uk.org
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News | Views | Features | Real life stories
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News | Views | Features | Real life stories
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ARTWORK SUPPLY Please remember to request a 3mm bleed around the page when artwork is being produced. For all artwork with a white background and no bleed please add a keyline/frame around all edges of your advertisement Hi res. Press ready artwork should be supplied in digital format to ms-uk@syonmedia.com. PDF, JPG or TIFF files accepted. Please note that Microsoft Word and Publisher files are not accepted. All artwork should be CMYK colour (not RGB), 300 dots per inch (dpi), ensuring all fonts and images are embedded. We regret we are unable to accept responsibility for the outcome of digitally supplied material unless accompanied by an exact colour proof.
C O N TA C T: L E E M O R R I S 0203 900 0102 | MS-UK@SYONMEDIA.COM
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