Our story

From an idea to a lifeline

The Muscular Dystrophy Support Centre was born out of determination and the power of community.

In 2010, people living with muscular dystrophy were told that ongoing physiotherapy and specialist support were simply not available to them. Rather than accepting this, they chose to act.

Together, they set out to create a specialist centre where people with muscular dystrophy and related neuromuscular conditions could access the support they needed to stay active, independent and connected. With the backing of families, volunteers and supporters, that vision became a reality.

After years of fundraising and planning, the charity opened its first centre in Coventry, providing specialist physiotherapy and laying the foundations for the services that would follow.

Today, the Muscular Dystrophy Support Centre operates across seven clinic locations and supports more than 700 people each year through specialist therapies, wellbeing services, exercise programmes and opportunities for social connection.

What started as a small community-led initiative has grown into a trusted specialist charity, but our purpose remains the same: helping people with muscular dystrophy and related neuromuscular conditions live well for longer.

Explore the chapters below to discover the key moments that have shaped our journey so far.

Group of people at a Muscular Dystrophy event, several using wheelchairs, holding colourful signs with charity banners in the background.

Chapter one: a gap that couldn’t be ignored

2009 to 2010

In 2009, the Walton Report highlighted significant gaps in specialist neuromuscular care across the UK. For many people, access to ongoing physiotherapy and other specialist support simply wasn’t available, particularly in the Midlands.

For Karen Bayliss, Mark Field and Jane Field, this reflected the reality they had experienced for years. After campaigning for better services with little progress, they decided that if the support people needed didn’t exist, they would create it themselves.

Inspired by the Neuromuscular Centre in Winsford, they began fundraising to establish a specialist centre in the Midlands. Families, friends, volunteers and local supporters rallied behind the vision, raising more than £30,000 to help make it a reality.

Chapter two: building something new

2011 to 2013

A partnership with Hereward College in Coventry gave the new charity its first home, and in November 2012 it welcomed its first service users.

In the early days, the focus was on providing practical advice, advocacy and support to help people navigate everyday challenges such as benefits, employment and care.

The following year marked another significant milestone as specialist physiotherapy was introduced, followed closely by osteopathy. Demand grew quickly, with people travelling from across the region to access services that were often unavailable elsewhere.

The foundations had been laid for the charity we know today.

A woman behind a computer desk, talking on the telephone and writing in a notepad.

Physiotherapist supporting a person using a standing aid during a therapy session.

erson floating in a swimming pool using foam floats during a water-based exercise session.

Chapter three: growing to meet demand

2014 to 2019

As more people discovered the charity, services continued to grow.

New therapies, exercise opportunities and aquatic sessions were introduced to help people maintain their mobility, independence and wellbeing. Opening hours expanded, more specialist staff joined the team and the first satellite clinics brought services closer to people living outside Coventry.

In 2017, the organisation became the Muscular Dystrophy Support Centre, a name that better reflected both the people we support and our ambitions for the future.

By 2019, the charity had expanded into the East Midlands, supported by investment from the National Lottery Community Fund, creating opportunities to reach even more people.

Chapter four: rising to the challenge

2020 to 2022

When the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted face-to-face services, we adapted quickly.

Physiotherapy, osteopathy, exercise classes, breathing sessions and wellbeing support moved online, helping people stay connected and continue accessing specialist care during an incredibly difficult time. Many of these virtual services continue today, making support more accessible for people who cannot travel to our clinics.

In 2022, we celebrated our tenth anniversary, opened another clinic in Birmingham and moved into our current headquarters at Westwood House, creating more space for therapy, community activities and future growth.

Group photo at the Muscular Dystrophy Support Centre's Daventry clinic showing staff members standing alongside a wheelchair user, with a display table and centre banner in the background.

Chapter five: looking ahead

2023 to today

The need for specialist neuromuscular support continues to grow, and so do we.

Recent years have seen the opening of new clinic partnerships, including Reach for Health in Daventry and the MoveWell Centre at the University of Birmingham. Aquatic exercise sessions have returned, and we continue to develop new ways of helping people stay active, independent and connected.

Today, the Muscular Dystrophy Support Centre supports more than 700 people every year through specialist therapies, exercise programmes, wellbeing services and community support.

While much has changed since those first fundraising events, our purpose remains exactly the same: helping people with muscular dystrophy and related neuromuscular conditions live well for longer.

Our Mission

We work together to support people affected by Muscular Dystrophy, creating an environment where full potential and optimal well-being can be achieved, through provision of, or enabling access to, physical therapies and other support services.

Our Vision

To improve the ability of people with or affected by Muscular Dystrophy to live well for longer, putting people with MD in the lead.

We will do this by:

growing our service capacity, scope, reach, accessibility and relevance
continuously improving our systems for governance, sustainability and clinical effectiveness
diversifying income streams and improving our engagement with service users via strengthened communications/marketing

Our Values

Innovating

Responding positively and energetically to feedback and new ideas
Continually reviewing and improving our services and activities
Seeking new and better ways of working, sharing learning with everyone we work with

Caring

Developing and sharing understanding of the needs of people with MD
Being sensitive to the needs of others
Working towards our vision and goals with enthusiasm, drive and courage
Ensuring that we treat everyone with respect and courtesy

Unifying

Bringing together people affected by MD
Drawing upon the views and experience of others in developing the Charity
Enabling access to the best possible support for people with MD and their carers by working in partnership with other organizations
Being proactive, acting as a facilitator to encourage others to share knowledge and best practice to expand the safety net and support network for people with MD

Empowering

Ensuring that we provide quality information and advice to people with MD for them to make their own choices
Working collaboratively to make a difference to the lives of people with MD and those affected by MD
Encouraging the involvement of people with MD in the development and work of the charity

Featured News and Insights

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Reception Volunteer

12 Jan,2026 | Volunteer Positions

Muscular Dystrophy (MD) Support Centre is seeking enthusiastic volunteers for reception and waiting area support. The role includes welcoming service users and carers, offering refreshments, and assisting with administrative tasks. Volunteers will receive training and...

Physiotherapist

12 Jan,2026 | Job Vacancies

We’re looking for physiotherapists to join us in our mission to transform access to physical therapies for people with muscular dystrophy (MD) in the Midlands. If you’re looking for a role where you can make a meaningful difference in the lives of people with MD and...