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Oxygen Therapy is offered as a specialised service to help athletes and fitness enthusiasts accelerate recovery from sports injuries. Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy for Sports Injuries At The Brightwell, Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) is offered as a specialised service to help athletes and fitness enthusiasts accelerate recovery from sports injuries. While the charity primarily supports individuals with neurological conditions, their oxygen therapy suite is open to the public for "non-neurological" needs, including sports rehabilitation. Benefits for Sports Injuries HBOT involves breathing almost 100% pure oxygen in a pressurised chamber. At The Brightwell, this is used to: Accelerate Healing : By increasing the amount of oxygen dissolved in the blood plasma, it reaches damaged tissues, ligaments, and tendons more effectively than normal breathing. Reduce Inflammation : It helps decrease swelling and odema in injured areas. Stimulate Repair: The therapy promotes the growth of new blood vessels (angiogenesis) and collagen production, essential for recovering from fractures or soft tissue tears. Faster "Return to Play": Many users see noticeable benefits after approximately 5 sessions, significantly shortening recovery time compared to rest alone. Pricing & Membership Because The Brightwell is a charity, their sports injury services are not subsidised like their neurological treatments, but they are priced competitively: Registration/Membership Fee: £50 (for non-neurological/sports users). Session Cost: Approximately £30 per 1-hour session. Availability: Sessions are available 50 weeks a year (closed briefly over Christmas). How to Get Started Enquiry : Contact the "Member Journey Officer" at 01454 201686 or email hello@thebrightwell.org.uk . Registration : You will need to complete a Sports Injury Registration Form, which can be downloaded here or from our Join Us page . Assessment : You may be required to have a brief clinical assessment or chat to ensure HBOT is safe for you (e.g., checking for ear/sinus issues or certain heart conditions). The Chamber: The Brightwell uses a "multi-place" chamber with 7 seats, meaning you sit comfortably in a shared room-like environment while breathing oxygen through a mask. All staff and volunteers are fully trained and experienced in dealing with sports injuries. For further information, please visit Website: www.thebrightwell.org.uk/oxygen-therapy

The Brightwell Our History Following the introduction of Centres elsewhere in the country, a local group of people living with Multiple Sclerosis, their families and friends were brought together by Jackie and Ray Brightwell. With the support of ARMS (Action for Research into Multiple Sclerosis) a national organisation, they set up the first MS Therapy Centre to support people in the Bristol area. The Centre was opened in Nailsea in 1985 and at that time only offered oxygen therapy. Over time physiotherapy, exercise and yoga were introduced. We soon realised how important access to on-going physiotherapy was for people living with long-term conditions and the nucleus of our now well-equipped and well-staffed physiotherapy unit was established. As the Centre continued to grow counselling, reflexology and acupuncture were added to the therapies available. We also started to host various NHS clinics at the Nailsea Centre, these included an MS specialist nurse, a continence clinic and a speech therapist. The Centre in Nailsea had been expanded to take in three industrial units but planning restrictions, the nature of the buildings and the cramped car parking facilities made improving our facilities and further expansion impractical. On the 20th February 2012 we opened the doors at our brand new, purpose built Centre in Bradley Stoke. The Centre was officially opened by The Princess Royal, Princess Anne on the 31st October 2012. Research into the benefits of Oxygen therapy has been on-going with many agreeing that it can help many conditions, not just Multiple Sclerosis. From the beginning of 2012 we opened our doors to anyone with a neurological condition, as well as to others through our trading arm with all proceeds going back to the Charity. In 2016 discussions began with the members to formalise this expansion. At the Cente's AGM in 2017 it was agreed that renaming the Centre in memory of Jackie Brightwell would not only be a fitting tribute to a lady who gave so much to help so many but, was also a way of reaching out to those living with neurological issues. In 2019, we began the transition to The Brightwell - a Centre for neurological wellbeing and physical recovery. Our aims, strengths and core values remain the same as they were way back in the Nailsea days and we hope to continue to provide timely and effective help for the people who need us, well into the future.

At The Brightwell, we are absolutely delighted to announce the completion of a long-term project that has been over five years in the making: the total conversion of our Centre’s lighting to LED. This milestone is a massive achievement in our ongoing Sustainability Pledge , and it marks a significant step toward our ultimate goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2035. A Journey of Five Years Great things take time, and for a charity like ours, they also require careful financial planning. This project began half a decade ago, and because of the costs involved, we approached it in stages as funds were raised. We began with the exterior, converting our car park and building lights to ensure a safe and bright welcome for our service users. From there, we moved inside, upgrading the Oxygen Suite and then our Physiotherapy areas. When our lounge and new offices were constructed, LED lighting was built-in from the start, setting the standard for the rest of the building. Today, we have finally crossed the finish line. The final stage covering the corridors, the original offices, our smaller treatment rooms, and all toilet facilities, is now complete. Powered by Community Support We could not have reached this goal without the incredible generosity of our corporate partners and supporters. A special mention must go to Howards Motor Group , the founding members of our Brightwell 100 Corporate Network . Howards Motor Group kindly sponsored our very first outdoor LED project years ago, and they have once again stepped up with a significant contribution to fund this final stage. Their long-term commitment to our centre has been instrumental in making this vision a reality. We would also like to extend our heartfelt thanks to Solarsense , MS People’s Help , and the many other donors and supporters who have contributed to our sustainability fund over the years. A Greener (and More Cost-Effective) Future Completing the LED conversion is about more than just new bulbs; it’s about environmental responsibility and financial resilience. By switching to LED, our lighting bills are now a staggering 78% cheaper. These savings are vital, as they allow us to redirect more of our precious funds directly into the care and support of our service users. This project sits alongside our other major green initiatives, including: A vast array of Solar Panels Three 14kw Tesla Batteries for energy storage Our very own Oxygen Generation Plant, reducing the need for deliveries and heavy transport. The Road to 2035 While we have "ticked a massive box" with this project, our work isn't finished. We have several smaller projects currently underway as we continue to refine our operations and reduce our environmental footprint. A massive shout out and thank you to Paul Williams and his excellent team from Kubix who carried out the work with the minimum amount of disruption to everything going on here at our busy Centre. Every light we switch on today is a reminder of what we can achieve when our community comes together. Thank you for helping us shine a light on a more sustainable future!

On Monday, 13 April, many of our staff and Oxygen volunteers took part in an important safety and knowledge training session. This session was taken by one of our senior oxygen operators, Howard Cheatham. Howard is also a Trustee for The Neuro Therapy Network. The training focused on some vital technical and emergency procedures. Although many of the attendees were experienced operators, we also welcomed some newer volunteers. This session was well attended, and there was a lot of interaction and interesting observations from the participants. It was a particularly busy day at The Brightwell, as we also had our annual fire inspection, so not only did we have lots of additional people in our Oxygen Suite, we also had firemen throughout the centre! It was all very exciting with fire engines on-site and lots of alarm testing! Thank you to everybody who had to change their sessions due to this training. If you would like to find out more about the Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy that we offer, please visit www.thebrightwell.org.uk/oxygen-therapy

If there is one thing we’ve learned at The Brightwell, it’s that our community loves a challenge—especially when it involves trivia, music rounds, and a bit of healthy competition. Our "Fantastic Quiz Nights" have become a staple of our calendar, and for good reason! They are more than just a test of knowledge; they are a celebration of the incredible support system that keeps our Centre running. A Tradition of Trivia and Togetherness As we’ve shared in our recent blog posts, these evenings are all about the atmosphere. Whether it’s the legendary questions set by Gus McVeigh and his sister Mary-Jo—who have been the masterminds behind our brain-teasers for years—or the collective groan when a particularly tricky music round starts, the energy in the room is always electric. These nights are a chance for members, volunteers, and the local Bradley Stoke community to come together, share a laugh, and raise vital funds for the neurological support services we provide. What to Expect: Our Next Quiz # is Just Around the Corner! Are you ready to claim the title of The Brightwell’s brightest? Our next event is officially open for booking, and we want to see you there! When: Wednesday, 22nd April 2026 Time: Doors open at 6:30 PM | Quiz starts at 7:00 PM Where: The Brightwell, Bradbury House, Wheatfield Drive, Bradley Stoke Tickets: Just £5 per person (Teams of up to 6) Why Join Us? The Ultimate Brain Workout: Expect a variety of rounds, including our fan-favourite picture and music rounds. Whether you’re a history buff or a pop-culture pro, there’s something for everyone. Bring Your Own Banquet: We keep things relaxed! You are more than welcome to bring your own selection of drinks (alcoholic or soft) and your favourite nibbles to keep those brain cells fueled. The Raffle: It wouldn’t be a Brightwell event without our exclusive Quiz Night Raffle. We have some fantastic prizes lined up, so don't forget to grab your tickets on the night! Inclusive Fun: You don’t need a full team of six to join. Come solo and we’ll find you a friendly team to join, or bring a bunch of friends or a "cosy couple" duo. Everyone aged 10 and up is welcome. Support a Great Cause Every pound raised from our quiz nights goes directly toward supporting people living with MS and other neurological conditions. It’s a way to have a "fantastic" night out while making a real difference in the lives of our service users.   Spaces fill up fast (our last few nights have been total sell-outs!), so don’t wait. Book Your Tickets Here Polish up those trivia skills, gather your smartest friends, and let’s get quizzical! We can’t wait to see you there.