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We are excited to take part once again in Bradley Stoke Town Council’s Charity Scarecrow Trail, and this year’s event is particularly meaningful for us. As one of the mayor’s chosen charities for 2024-25, The Brightwell will benefit from the council’s fundraising efforts, which will go a long way towards supporting the centre. There are 17 stops on this exciting trail hosted by local business and creative individuals. This year’s trail theme is “work" and we’ve chosen to celebrate the hard work of some very important people at the Centre. George, this year’s scarecrow, can be found in our beautiful, accessible garden. The garden is nurtured through the dedication of wonderful volunteers with the help of corporate sponsors, making it a peaceful space where we can all enjoy fresh air and the beauty of nature in comfort. Councillor Natalie Field, Mayor of Bradley Stoke said:   ‘I am delighted that so many people and organisations have come forward to make scarecrows as all the money raised will go to the Mayor’s charities which are Diabetes UK, Mamas Bristol and the Brightwell Centre. The trail is fun for everyone but particularly for families. This year the theme for the trail is ‘scarecrows at work’ to celebrate all the important contributions people make and recognises the importance of diversity in the workplace Stoke’. We’re thrilled to be part of this year’s Charity Scarecrow Trail and hope that George’s story inspires others to recognise the importance and value of inclusivity and to embrace their passions and truly enjoy their work. Trail Maps cost £2 and can be purchased from the Town Council Office, The Brightwell Centre, Willow Brook Centre Management Offices, Aztec West Hotel and Mama's Bristol.

I wanted to thank you all for taking the time to engage with and respond to our Consultation Survey for current stakeholders of the Charity and to the survey for lapsed members. We had a fantastic response with over 127 complete entries to both surveys. Please click below to view the full Members’ Consultation Survey Report as a PDF I thought it would be beneficial to present some of the learning we have made from the responses and any interesting findings the surveys have highlighted. Over 75% of all respondents were over the age of 50 and over two thirds were women, which fits in with our demographic, as well as the demographic for people who are living with a neurological condition like MS, nationally.  Almost 50% of all respondents were retired.  The Brightwell’s services were rated Excellent by 67% of the people that use them, followed by 28% Good, 4% Satisfactory and >1% Poor.  The majority of “Excellent” responses were for the Café, followed by “Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy” and the “Neuro-physiotherapy”. The poor ratings were few and were concentrated on the clinics and therapies that took place infrequently during the year. The main areas highlighted for improvement are around better communication so that members know what is on offer and when, appointment bookings and reminders, around transport and improvements to our facilities, mainly around the café space. Many of these themes were repeated under question 16 including: improved communication, another Chamber, extended hours and transport, which came up again very strongly. 77% of members are extremely satisfied with our service delivery and 21% are satisfied. Under 2% are dissatisfied. And over 92% rate the quality of the activities offered at the Centre like the Bingo and Quizzes as "Excellent" or "Good". We had varied responses for additional services the Brightwell should offer. These included; out of hours therapy sessions, carer support, skill based sessions, another Oxygen Chamber, more daytime social events, developing coping strategies for living with long term conditions and specialised information for newly diagnosed people, amongst others. When asked about changes to the demand for therapy over the next 5 years, the majority of respondents thought that this would significantly increase as more people are diagnosed and have to become more proactive in finding symptom management tools that works for them. Long Covid and CFS were highlighted time and time again as a growing area for concern, with the feeling that the demand on Hyperbaric Oxygen will also increase within that timeframe. The Brightwell’s greatest strengths are its people and its community!  The words that stood out from this question were “Friendly” “Welcoming” “Professional” “Support” “Affordable” “Accessible”. The staff and Volunteers were mentioned positively almost in every single response. The main challenges faced by current stakeholders were around therapy resources including staff and oxygen appointment availability. Some facility issues including parking and training requirements from volunteers also featured as well as the struggle for affordable and accessible transport to and from the Centre. This was echoed in the consultation responses from lapsed members, where distance from the centre, transport and costs were highlighted as the main reasons for current non-attendance. 95% rated our services as “Affordable” or “Very Affordable” and 5% as “Expensive”.  I would like to underline here that we ask for a contribution towards our therapies. The rate we set is highly subsidised by all the fundraising activity that takes place and other sustainable income sources. We do not means-test for service contributions or turn anyone away if they are unable to contribute at the requested level. 87 respondents believe that the Brightwell’s services are accessible to those that need them. The barriers to accessibility that the remaining 12 respondents highlight fall into two main categories; transport and cost.  80% of our lapsed members also think that the Brightwell is accessible to those people that need the services. They identified current opening hours and no weekend services, as well as lack of transport to and from the Centre and the relaxing of the strict covid infection control rules as the main reasons behind the barriers to attending. 98% of members are either “very satisfied” or “somewhat satisfied” with the Centre’s facilities and only 2% “somewhat” or “very dissatisfied”, mainly around the hand drying facilities in the W.C.s. Communication is an area that we will definitely be looking at with 7% of respondents feeding back that our communication is poor or inconsistent.  Email came top of the communications methods preferred by respondents followed by text messages. In respect of reaching communities those that responded wanted to see greater connections with Health Centres and medical professionals. As well as better promotion of our Oxygen facilities and outreach to the local business community for support. Under half of the lapsed members that responded to the survey, have let us know that they are able to access similar services closer to home. These are neuro-physiotherapy, exercise classes, counselling, and some complementary therapies like acupuncture andmassage.  The majority of lapsed respondents do not access similar therapies anywhere else.   When asked what would bring lapsed members back to the Centre the responses that stood out were “Therapies and classes that you can bring kids along to”, “a reliable transport service to and from the centre for wheelchair users”, “Appointment times that fit in around my work schedule”. Our stakeholders have produced a number or innovative ideas for the Brightwell going forward which include outreach for people who are newly diagnosed and building stronger bonds with the NHS and neuro services. Also, extending social activities for Members into the evening as well as outreach and healthy lifestyle activities inside and outside of the Centre. Finally, 99% of all respondents are likely to recommend our services to others and this was backed up by so many wonderful comments like “Incredible supportive community”, “friendly, efficient, affordable”, “Professional and caring for users”, “It changed my day to day life”, “Excellent care”, ”I find it a lifeline”, “It is the only thorough physio service I have encountered in 25 years of being diagnosed…” “excellent facility whose value should be more widely known” “I thing there is no place like it, it is an important resource and yet so undervalued….” “My experience of the Brightwell has always been positive”, “It is the only place that provides continuing therapy for neuro conditions”, “It’s always good to pass on great news and that is what the Brightwell is!” All your comments, suggestions and ideas will be discussed and considered.  They will guide our new 5-year strategy and business plan, which will be shared with you once completed.    Your input has been invaluable, and we look forward to evolving our services and delivering excellence in care at the Brightwell . If you did not get chance to complete the online survey or attend the consultation meeting, please call Reception and ask to be put through to me personally, I will gladly welcome any additional thoughts or feedback. Doro Pasantes CEO, The Brightwell

My name is Janet and I have been a volunteer at the Brightwell with the Fundraising team since 2017. I was born and brought up in the London Borough of Ealing and started off my working life at NatWest Bank in Wembley where my main hobbies were socialising with my friends and going to watch West Ham United matches with my Dad.  I met my husband Mike in 1974 in the Mecca Ballroom in Leicester Square in London when he was serving in the Army with the 1st Battalion Welsh Guards and posted to Chelsea Barracks.  We got married in 1975 and then our adventures began! During Mike’s military service we welcomed our daughter, Olivia, in 1976 and Victoria, in 1979. By the time Mike had left the Army in 1994 we had lived in eight different married quarters in Uckfield, Berlin, Pirbright, Hohne (near Hannover), Pirbright (again!) and Nuneaton and finally we moved into our own house in Barry in South Wales in 1991.  As we moved around so much I had many varied jobs over the years including shop worker, Avon rep, childminder, Guards Museum cleaner, microfiche operative, chambermaid, receptionist, kindergarten teacher, and nursery school manager before finally joining the Civil Service in 1989 as a Pay Office Clerk at the Guards Depot in Pirbright, Surrey.  Life as an Army wife had its ups and downs especially when Mike was away for months at a time but it was a great life and I would not have changed it for anything. When we moved to Nuneaton I worked as a Clerk with a Royal Artillery Junior Soldiers Training Battery and then when we moved to Wales I started work with the MOD at RAF St Athan where I was given the opportunity to study to become a Chartered Management Accountant on day release and evening classes at the University of Wales.  It was a great challenge but also very rewarding and I become fully qualified in 2001. Our travels were not finished as my MOD job then took us to live in Bedford for two years, then Westbury, Wiltshire where we thought we were settled until my job relocated to Bristol; so, in 2011 we moved to Bradley Stoke into what is hopefully our forever home!  It was a lucky move for us as our two daughters were already living around Bristol so we actually moved closer to our family. At MOD Abbey Wood in Bristol I worked as a business analyst in the development of MOD finance and HR computer systems.  It sounds really boring but  it I loved that job as it involved meeting lots of interesting people all around the UK and talking to them  find out what they needed from IT systems either to help employees do their jobs more efficiently or to help customers better access the services they required. I retired in 2017 a couple of years earlier than planned when Mike suddenly had to have an operation and treatment and I wanted to be at home more, Once Mike was on the road to recovery I had more time on my hands so I became a volunteer at The Brightwell.  At the time the Fundraising Team needed some admin support which was just what I wanted to do and the rest is history! I really enjoy coming in to volunteer at the Brightwell every week as it is such a friendly place and there is always lots of varied things to keep me busy (I love being busy!) plus it helps me keep my skills from my working life and develop new skills I didn’t know I possessed.  In recent weeks I have written lots of thank you letters, input finance data onto the database, sorted out cupboards, re-stocked the shop, made hamper prizes, sorted out bingo prizes and made the Brightwell scarecrow for the Bradley Stoke Council Scarecrow trail! Besides my time at The Brightwell I am a member of Bradley Stoke WI, belong to a book club, go swimming, love knitting mainly for charities and enjoy travelling. I expect that I will be busy in the next few weeks helping the Fundraising Team get ready for the Christmas Market and then helping out on 30th November.  It will be a great event and a great opportunity to get some Christmas presents so I hope to see you all soon. Best wishes to everyone. Janet

On Wednesday 2nd October we welcomed Wayne Sargent from Refresh Video Productions to the Centre. In recent months many of you have pointed out that the photographs we use on our website and in literature promoting the centre are outdated. We were in desperate need of new materials. We were particularly keen to include Paula and her amazing café volunteers and showcase the treats they provide. We also wanted to show off the new shop and Bradbury Lounge area. However, most importantly we wanted to showcase what The Brightwell offers and celebrate our incredible service users. We had no hesitation in asking Wayne from Refresh to lead the project, after he so kindly provided coverage and interviews at our abseil fundraiser in May. Wayne is a pleasure to work with and his job was made easy by having the best models! We want to thank our fabulous members who allowed themselves to be filmed and photographed. Ably assisted by Caroline Blake Symes the photographs Wayne has produced really do show just how special our community is and how valued you all are. The photographs will be used to raise awareness of the Centre, to promote fundraising campaigns, and to bring to life funding applications. This will all lead to us being able to help more people and continue to provide the services that make the Brightwell the unique place that it is. All that said I’m afraid one member did rather steal the limelight on the day, but honestly who can resist those puppy dog eyes Layla!

We are delighted to let you know about an exciting, informative MS Society event  in Bristol on 30 October. Event highlights: Learn about the latest research and resources in MS care Get tips on living well with MS and connect with others MS Specialist Physiotherapist Emily Wilford, will talk about the benefits of staying active The Brightwell (Neuro Therapy Centre) team will present the therapies they offer and their support services Complimentary lunch and refreshments will be available When: Wednesday 30 October, 10am - 3pm Where: Somerdale Pavilion, Keynsham, Bristol BS31 2FW The event is free , but there are limited places available. To save your place, please make sure to book in advance. Booking is essential. You can also bring along a family member or friend. They'll need to register too. Doro and some of The Brightwell team will be presenting at this event. Places are free but need to be booked. Please visit www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/living-well-with-ms-bristol-area-tickets-1033530977977 If you have any queries or would like to support us by joining the team from The Brightwell, please call Doro on 01454 201686

This article has been adapted from an Overcoming MS Blog 1 October 2024 The period between 18 – 20 September 2024, was an exciting one in the world of MS as ECTRIMS (European Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis) was in full flow with some fantastic new research presented on a wide range of topics at their 40th Conference, held in Copenhagan. One of the highlights was the launch of the updated MS Brain Health report, building on the original published in 2015. The initial document marked the start of the ‘time is brain’ movement, pushing for faster diagnosis and earlier access to high-efficacy treatments. It was also the first MS practical policy document to present evidence that healthy lifestyle behaviours can help optimise brain health and MS outcomes. This new, updated version comes from worldwide experts in MS and we wanted to bring you the stand-out headlines for us:  This version of the report covers MS and other related conditions. These include neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) and myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody-associated disease (MOGAD). These are distinct conditions, but there is a lot of crossover in how they are experienced by people and in how they are best managed. Holistic management is now given its own section, including empowering people living with MS and related conditions, prioritising shared decision-making between healthcare professionals and the person living with MS, and a much-expanded section on the evidence for making positive lifestyle choices. The report talks about the importance of providing emotional support for family members and those in a caring role.  There is a focus on making sure people have adequate social support and how this can reduce the burden on healthcare services. The report states that all health services around the globe need to treat every person as an individual, providing thorough care and using collaboration to deliver the best care possible. They talk about ‘flipping the pyramid’ – putting lots of time and effort into early and effective interventions to improve long term outcomes. This early intervention includes combining effective medication and brain-healthy lifestyle choices. The CEO of OMS, Alex Holden, with expert facilitators Dr Rachael Hunter and Dr Phil Startin, went along to the launch. Sharing her thoughts, Alex said: “This report is key in showing the importance of early diagnosis and early intervention. It clearly lays out the importance of lifestyle choices, alongside medication, as part of a holistic management plan for people with MS. This will encourage healthcare professionals to understand the evidence-base and to share this information with their patients, supporting them to make positive changes where possible.” Specific lifestyle guidance in the report We expect you’re keen to know what the guidance says about lifestyle choices! The key aspects of lifestyle management that the report highlights (p31) are across physical and emotional health: managing alcohol intake stopping smoking getting regular physical activity maintaining a healthy weight (which they discuss in reference to healthy eating) getting enough sleep managing any other medical conditions like high blood pressure, or mental health difficulties As a global report, this is an important step in making sure every healthcare professional supporting someone living with MS understands that lifestyle choices play an important role in managing MS, and that they have a responsibility to support their patients making informed choices and accessing necessary support to live as well as possible. You can view or download the full report here. The 2015 report was one of the first policy publications for managing MS to highlight the importance of lifestyle choices. This infograph is taken from the original 2015 MS Brain Health resources for people with MS via msbrainhealth.org The Brightwell is looking forward to  further collaborations with Overcoming MS, as we share many values in our aims to support those living with MS and other neurological conditions.

This is the Prize Draw that everyone has been waiting for! Last year The Brightwell Community went crazy to get their hands on this fantastic prize! Enter for a chance to win this Grand Hotel Chocolat Advent Calendar. Behind each of the 24 large doors, you’ll find generously proportioned chocolate treats and tipples. Think thick, solid chocolate slabs. 50ml servings of Velvetised CreamTM with warming vodka. Chocolate-filled cracker decorations to nestle between the branches of your tree (if they make it that far). And much more. The cost of this from Hotel Chocolat is £80. The draw will take place on Wednesday 27 November , in plenty of time to open the first door. Thanks go again to Blackfriars Auto Services for sponsoring this draw! No matter your age, there’s something inherently exciting about an Advent calendar. This one is definitely for the over 18s, as it contains alcohol. No calendar captures that excitement quite like this Grand Advent Calendar. Grand by name, grand by nature, and updated for 2024 to bring in a whole host of new recipes, this merry monolith is guaranteed to elevate your festive season. Entries are £2 and can be purchased from Reception or our online shop here . For further details about the contents and ingredients please search Hotel Chocolat Grand Advent Calendar 2024. Good luck!

Everyone at The Brightwell would like to wish our wonderful Oxygen Co-Ordinator Angela, huge congratulations on getting married to her long term partner Ryan on 14 September 2024. The Wedding Ceremony took place at the beautiful Grange Hotel in Winterbourne. The weather was perfect and both were surrounded by family and friends to help them share their special day. They then headed off for a romantic honeymoon in North Wales  with Roxy their gorgeous dog. They had a amazing week visiting lots of the outstanding beauty spots, beaches and enjoying the local bars and restaurants. They even went to the iconic Gwrych Castle where they filmed “I’m a Celebrity”, when the programme could not get to Australia! We all wish you a long and happy life together!

This edition is packed full of all the latest news and events from our amazing Centre. Enjoy!

Hi, my name is Max and I am a Neuro Physiotherapist. I started working at The Brightwell in October of 2022, my two year anniversary will be coming up next month.   Before studying to become a Physiotherapist I worked in Retail Management for over half a decade. However, I found that I wanted to do something that was more aligned with my values. I looked into various options but overall Physiotherapy was the best fit. I was drawn to the holistic approach, looking at people as a whole.   Unfortunately, most of my A-Levels were in humanities; Sociology, History and a Philosophy AS. With my most relevant one being in Psychology. So before applying for Universities I had to do an access course to get my relevant science qualifications. Once I had attained this I began to apply for Universities and chose to study in Bournemouth, Dorset. Here I studied and then went on to graduate after 3 and a half years (due to a skateboarding injury I had to postpone my practical exams, which meant I graduated a bit later than anticipated).   I moved to Bristol in the last year of my studies and worked as a Baker. Usually after graduating, physios will do rotations to explore which area they want to specialise in. However, it was always clear to me that I would work in Neuro and I pursued this upon qualifying.   When I came for my interview I sat in the reception and I observed how everyone interacted with each other. I knew that this was the place that I wanted to work due to how friendly and welcoming everyone was. Community has always been very important to me and I felt that this was one I wanted to be a part of.   I am leaving The Brightwell next month to go traveling. My partner and I are going to Canada and the North East coast of the United States. This will be a big trip for me because I have never been outside of Europe before. As for when I get back, I am currently not sure what I will be doing but as everyone keeps telling me “You’re only young once.”   Max- everyone at The Brightwell wishes you well for your new adventures. A huge “Thank You” from everyone that you have worked with and helped over the past two years. You are an excellent Physiotherapist!

As well as our excellent one to one physio sessions we also offer a wide range of classes and group sessions both at the Centre and via Zoom.   These sessions are suitable for all abilities and one of our Physio Team will be happy to  give you advice about the class which will be most suitable and beneficial for you.   Below are some more details about timings and what is included, sessions may vary  from time to time to suit to needs of the participants.   Monday Group 12pm-1pm Balance & stability focused - Improves mobility and upper and lower limb strength. First half of session - upper limb strengthening Second half of session - standing balance + lower limb strengthening Help reduce fatigue and improve flexibility and cardiovascular fitness. ​ Wednesday 9:30am-10:30am Class Cardiovascular training – muscle endurance and fatigue focused. Moderate intensity aerobic exercises to help reduce fatigue and improve cardiovascular fitness and flexibility. Finishes class with relaxation.  ​ Wednesday 12-12.30pm Seated Zoom Class suitable for  upper limb strengthening Strength & power training with the use of dumbbells to increase blood circulation to release endorphins and develop muscle tone and strength. Helps improve balance to avoid injuries. ​ Wednesday Zoom 12.30-1pm Standing Zoom Class for standing balance + lower limb strengthening/stretching. Endurance, strength and balance focused. Great class for those who are unable to commute to the centre but want to stay active and increase their fitness.  ​ Thursday Group 10:15am-11:15am Flexibility training & seated leg and trunk stretches to increase range of motion and reduce spasms and fatigue. Use of rehab and other equipment to help with fitness and balance. ​ Friday Neuro Yoga/Pilates 10:30am-11:30am Class Low impact stretches to help increase strength, endurance and flexibility, done in seating, lying and standing. Finish class with relaxation   The contribution towards these classes can be added to your Standing Order or made in advance. Don't forget, you can always stay and have lunch in our excellent Brightwell Café. Many of our members often pre-book their lunch or morning snack with Paula and the Café Team. To find out all about the excellent Neuro Physiotherapy we offer please click here   For further information and to check availability of classes please call Reception on 01454 201686 .

Join us for some Halloween fun with Wednesday Addams and Weird Barbie. When and where 26 Oct 2024, 11:45 – 14:00 The Brightwell , Bradbury House, Wheatfield Dr, Bradley Stoke, Bristol BS32 9DB, UK Join us for a Halloween Party at The Brightwell! With Wednesday Addams and Weird Barbie presented to you by Magical Moon Entertainment.  Join us for music, characters, refreshments and games to celebrate Halloween during the October half term holiday.  IMPORTANT INFORMATION Children will be sat on the floor so please feel free to bring a cushion or two! Doors open 11.45 and show begins at 12. Show will finish at 1.15.  Refreshments available to purhase on the day. We have a limited amount of space at the centre so we kindly ask that only 1 adult attends for every 2 children.  This fundraiser is kindly sponsored by Explore Learning. Explore Learning are a dedicated tuition company supporting children aged 4 – 16 in their maths and English, and are local to Bradley Stoke based at the Willow Brook Centre.  Tickets are non-refundable. Limited Parking is available on site or on-street parking just outside the grounds. Click here to Buy Tickets