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The Brightwell Thank you for choosing to donate to The Brightwell Thank you so much for donating to The Brightwell. We very much appreciate your generosity. If your donation is specifically to be used as a contribution towards a named member’s therapy, please let us know by emailing hello@thebrightwell.org.uk We would very much like to invite you to become an active part of our Brightwell community. If you would like to find out more about how to support us, please click on the links below. Donate Now Please use the form below to donate using a debit/credit card, Google Pay or PayPal Last name First name Email Donate in the name of Enter the amount £ Gift Aid my donation Address Town / City Postal / Zip code Donate Thank you for your donation! Other ways to donate You can donate via JustGiving. Click on the image below to go to our JustGiving page. Want to make a regular donation? If you would like to make a regular donation, please download and complete a Standing Order form. Please click on the link below to download. Standing Order Form If you are a UK taxpayer, donating through Gift Aid means that we can claim an extra 25p for every £1 you give. It will not cost you any extra. For example if you donate £10 that means that if you are eligible and select to add Gift Aid, The Brightwell will receive £12.50. This makes a huge difference to us. In Order for us to claim Gift Aid we ask that you provide us with your name and address. Thank you. Corporate Donations We are delighted to be supported by so many businesses and companies and such donations can be made via our Brightwell 100 Just Giving page Please visit our Brightwell 100 page to see our latest projects and Wishlist. Gift in Will Make a Difference That Lives On Give the gift of therapy, support and friendship by remembering The Brightwell in your Will. Leaving a financial gift to The Brightwell will have a direct and positive impact on those living with chronic neurological conditions. Your gift will enable individuals to be supported by our wonderful Centre. Please visit our Gift in Will page. Thank you.

The Brightwell, incorporating The West of England Multiple Sclerosis Therapy Centre, offers specialised therapies including physio and hyperbaric plus many other support services. As a charity we rely on fundraising and donations to continue our work. Neuro Physiotherapy Find out more At The Brightwell, we are dedicated to enhancing the lives of individuals living with chronic neurological conditions. With over 40 years of unwavering commitment, we strive to empower our members by providing access to a warm and friendly, non-clinical environment that fosters independence, symptom management, and overall well-being. Our aim is to offer a diverse range of specialised therapies, including Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) and Neuro-physiotherapy , all delivered by a dedicated team of experts. We embrace innovation with our in-house Hyperbaric Oxygen Chamber and a self-generated oxygen supply, ensuring top-tier quality and availability. We believe in inclusivity, offering one-on-one physiotherapy sessions, group activities, and online classes. Our subsidies for Brightwell Members, as well as our open doors to individuals in various stages of recovery, showcase our commitment to accessible care. At the Brightwell, we stand alongside those living with conditions like Multiple Sclerosis, Stroke, Parkinson’s, Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Concussion, Motor Neurone Disease, Functional Neurological Disorders, Long Covid, and Cancer, amongst many others. Our services extend to Specialist Clinics and therapies including our own Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) assessment clinic, counselling, acupuncture, reflexology, remedial massage and aromatherapy, foot health and bladder & bowel clinics. We have members from the Greater Bristol area, South Gloucestershire, North Somerset, Bath, Wiltshire, South Wales and from all across the South West and the M4 corridor. There are always lots of social events taking place and a huge and varied number of ways to be involved in fundraising and volunteering. We not only welcome new members but also provide a wide array of volunteer opportunities, fostering a sense of community and collaboration. Click here to find out how to Become a Member. What is a neurological condition? A neurological condition is defined as a disorder that affects the brain, nervous system or spinal cord and, as these control every single part of your body, problems with them often cause serious consequences. Conditions can appear suddenly, for example a stroke or a brain injury; some, like epilepsy, you are born with; and others develop over time, like multiple sclerosis. They can affect anyone, at any age, of any ethnicity, and at any time in life. Some conditions are incurable, some last a lifetime and, sadly, some are life-threatening, but all of them will impact on a persons quality of life. What causes them? Sadly, no one really knows what triggers or causes most conditions. Some, especially ones that occur suddenly, can be linked to genes, the environment, accidents, injuries or infections. Although research is continuing there is yet to be any consensus on causes and, for most people, there is absolutely nothing they, or their family, could have done to stop them. Our Impact Report for 2024 This is the first time that we have produced an Impact Report in this format and we are delighted with how it gives a great representation of everything that goes on here at The Brightwell. The report is packed full of great images, facts, statistics and information. The report includes sections on Our Story So Far Who We Support Our Therapies A Letter From Our Chair A Letter From Our CEO 2024 In Numbers Fundraising Stories from Our Members Meet Our Volunteers Acknowledgements. Whether you are a New or Existing Member,Volunteer,Member of Staff or Supporter this is an excellent document, offering so much information regarding the Charity, its work and people, operational insights and community. You can view or download a copy of this report by clicking on the image above or click here .. A hardcopy version can be available on request, please call 01454 201686.

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” This talk will cover topics, including accessing health care, benefits, Priority Services Register, aids and adaptations, Emergency Plans, 3 rd Party Mandates, Powers of Attorney and Carers Assessments. There will be an opportunity for an open discussion, allowing members to share experiences as well. This session will be led by Wendy Paterson, our Carers Support Co-Ordinator. Click here or on the image above to book your FREE place. Call 01454 201686 Getting Involved and Feedback We are keen to hear your views and suggestions about how the Centre can best support Carers, so whether or not you can come along to these sessions, we would love to hear from you. You can contact Wendy by leaving a message at Reception, or look out for the short survey form we are planning to make available in the next few months. Carers' Information Point Don’t forget to take a look at the leaflets and information now available on the poster and in the information racks at the Carers Information Point. This can be found in the corridor past the Café.

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. Each class is led by one of the Physio team, who will guide and encourage you through each session. A Zoom link will be sent to you when you book. Option 1: Medium Intensity Interval training with Millie. This class takes place on a Tuesday from 8:45 am until 9.15 am. This class is aimed at those members with higher mobility and relatively good balance. Sessions include: Upper Limb,  Lower Limb and Core  exercises (standing) Mixed exercises to allow for muscle groups to rest Use of weights/dumbbells Interval training - 30 seconds on, 30 seconds rest Option 2: ​Seated Zoom Class  with Audrey This class takes place on a Wednesday from 12noon until 12.30 Suitable for upper limb strengthening Strength & power training with the use of dumbbells to increase blood circulation, release endorphins and develop muscle tone and strength. Helps to improve balance to avoid injuries. Option 3: Zoom Exercise Class with Audrey This class also takes place on a Wednesday directly after the Seated Zoom Class from 12:30 pm-1 pm.   Suitable for lower limb strengthening. Helps strengthen, maintain mobility and improve balance. Participants can book to take part in both or either of these Wednesday classes. The suggested contribution for any of these online classes is £6 per session. To book any of these classes, please call Reception(option1) on 01454 201686 or email hello@thebrightwell.org.uk For further Information about any of the classes or one-to-one physio sessions we offer, please visit our physio page. www.thebrightwell.org.uk/physio ​         ​

Mark and Evelyn Whitehouse 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. Born and raised in Middlesex, Mark spent a short time living in Sussex with his parents before returning to Twickenham. Later, when his parents moved to Somerset, Mark followed in 2007, settling in Uphill near Weston-Super-Mare so he could be closer to his family, including his brother John. After moving to North Somerset, Mark joined the West of England MS Therapy Centre in Nailsea. Although he struggled with his mobility, he committed himself wholeheartedly to weekly physiotherapy sessions, which he continued faithfully right up until the Monday before his passing. Mark was determined, resilient, and never one to give in easily. Mark was a clever, witty, and fun-loving person, always smiling and willing to help others. During his working life, he enjoyed a successful global career in the IT industry with Intel, travelling extensively and collecting countless fascinating stories along the way.  While working abroad, Mark began to notice early symptoms of MS and was formally diagnosed with Primary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis in 2003. Mark never let his diagnosis define or limit him; he continued working, contributing, and helping others wherever he could. In every sense, Mark lived a life well lived. Many will remember Mark whizzing around the Centre in his custom-built wheelchair or proudly demonstrating his specially adapted car to impressed visitors. His ingenuity and enthusiasm were infectious. Mark’s contribution to our charity was truly extraordinary. Over the years, he worked on numerous IT and communications projects, beginning with the development of our original branding and website at Nailsea. His knowledge, awareness, and foresight were invaluable during the planning of our move to the new Centre in Bradley Stoke, ensuring that the systems we put in place then would not only meet the Centre’s needs at the time, but continue to support our work well into the future. Mark even wrote the code for the database contact system that we still use today. Since our move in 2012, Mark worked tirelessly alongside fellow IT volunteer Dave Whittaker, ensuring the Centre always had reliable, up-to-date systems. He managed our servers and security systems and was a driving force behind our name change to The Brightwell , as well as all subsequent rebranding and website development. One of Mark’s most recent major projects took place last year, when the majority of the Centre’s equipment and software was upgraded, a huge undertaking for which we are exceptionally grateful. As recently as last week, Mark was still advising the team on our new appointment programme and proposed CRM system, a testament to his ongoing dedication. Mark was also deeply involved in fundraising. He was particularly proud of the charity motorcycle ride he organised with his brother John which saw hundreds of bikers and classic motorcycles ride from Weston-Super-Mare across the Clifton Suspension Bridge to the Centre. It was a truly unforgettable spectacle! Mark was a regular visitor to The Brightwell with his wonderful wife, Evelyn. They met in 2019 and married two years later. Evelyn’s caring nature shone through in everything she did, and she was a tremendous support to Mark. When we published an article about him, Mark said, “To be honest, I’m not sure what I’d do without her.” We sincerely hope Evelyn will continue to be part of our Brightwell community. Beyond The Brightwell, Mark generously gave his time and expertise to the Multicultural Friendship Association and his local GP practice in Weston-Super-Mare. He touched the lives of so many people, and the kind words shared over the past week speak volumes about the impact he had on our community. We will share details of the funeral arrangements as soon as they are confirmed. We also hope to hold a celebration of Mark’s life at the Centre and will provide further information nearer the time. Our deepest sympathies and heartfelt condolences go to Evelyn, John and all of Mark’s family and friends. Rest in Peace Mark.