MND Scotland

MND Scotland, established in 1981 by police officer John Macleod following his MND diagnosis, is Scotland's leading charity dedicated exclusively to supporting people affected by motor neuron disease (MND), their families, and carers. Its mission is a world without MND while maximising every moment for those living with it, guided by values of approachability, authenticity, boldness, credibility, and collaboration. Distinctively, it combines direct service provision—financial wellbeing grants, respite holidays, home adaptations, counselling, equipment loans—with advocacy, campaigning, and research funding exceeding £8.7 million since 2007, embedding lived experience in all decisions and prioritising person-centred care.

It funds thematic priorities centred on MND causes, treatments, and care improvement, including pioneering clinical trials, biomedical research, translational science, assistive technology, and evidence-based support services, always demonstrating direct benefit to Scotland's MND community. Beneficiaries are individuals with MND, carers, and families; organisational funding targets patient-facing clinical, neurological, or social research via partnerships.

Eligible entities are UK-registered charities, academic institutions, or NHS bodies based in the UK, with projects impacting Scotland exclusively—no income thresholds apply. Unsolicited charity applications are not accepted; individual grants require Support Team engagement (rolling basis), while research uses a two-stage EOI-then-full process during open calls.

Typical individual grants are £300–£1,500 (max £1,500/12 months); research awards like the Gordon Aikman Scholarship reach £50,000–£125,000. Next research deadline: 31 March 2025 (stage 1). It excludes non-MND topics, general core costs, and non-Scottish impacts, standing out as Scotland's sole MND specialist with deep healthcare integration and collaborative ethos.