Check Out Our January 2026 Newsletter! We very much hope that you enjoy our first newsletter of 2026. This edition includes some great articles. • A Tribute to Mark Whitehouse • There is a full review if 2025 by Doro, • Details about all the events in the coming months. • Brightwell 100 Wishlist Update • New Menu ideas from round the Café • Information about our classes. • Plus lots more…

Time to Talk Day is the nation’s biggest mental health conversation. It’s a day for all of us to come together to talk, listen and change lives.

As the winter weather continues, we’ve been adding some delicious winter warmer dishes to the menu at The Brightwell Café. As many of us start the new year with aims to improve our health, we have been extending our menu

We have an active Carers Group here at The Brightwell. Any carer who looks after any of our members is most welcome. You can be a paid or unpaid carer, a partner, family member or a friend, to take part in our events. Our next talk is called “Practical Hints and Tips for Carers”

As well as the wide range of exercise and physio sessions available at The Brightwell, we also offer 3 options for Online Classes. Online Classes are great if you are working, can’t easily get to the Centre or just fancy a top-up to your usual exercise routine.

We are deeply saddened and shocked to share the news that Mark Whitehouse passed away unexpectedly on Sunday, 11 January 2026. Mark was a much-loved friend, Trustee and a valued member of our community for many years. Many of you will have known him from the early Nailsea Centre days, where his presence, humour, and generosity of spirit made a lasting impression.

A new analysis of published research suggests that people who drink coffee may have a lower chance of developing multiple sclerosis (MS). The review brought together data from more than 4,500 people across seven countries and found that those who drank coffee had about a 22 per cent lower risk of developing MS compared with those who did not.

Every Monday, Audrey runs a fantastic dance/exercise class for one hour here in the Brightwell gym area. It is suitable for all skill levels. The current group includes wheelchair users, those who prefer to do the class seated, as well as those who can stand.

We are very much looking forward to welcoming everyone back to the Centre on Monday, 5 January 2026. Please note that with effect from that date, we will be operating from a new timetable. This will mostly affect our P2 session, which will now be on a Friday morning.

Living with a neurological condition—whether it’s Multiple Sclerosis (MS), Parkinson’s, ME/CFS or a stroke recovery—can often feel like your body is playing by a different set of rules. When your nervous system is sending mixed signals, the idea of "keeping fit" might feel daunting or even impossible.