Search Results

At The Brightwell, we are proud to offer specialist Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy in our on-site chamber. To learn more about this service, please visit: www.thebrightwell.org.uk/oxygen-therapy We support individuals living with long-term neurological conditions, including MS, Parkinson’s, Stroke, ME, and Fibromyalgia, as well as those managing other chronic conditions such as cancer and long COVID. Our facilities are also available to those experiencing short-term issues, including sports injuries and post-operative recovery. Our Hyperbaric Oxygen Department is staffed by a dedicated team of fully trained Oxygen Operators who help ensure a safe, welcoming, and friendly environment for all. Volunteering as an Oxygen Operator is a highly rewarding role and offers a wonderful opportunity to make a meaningful difference. Read Peter Spring’s story. Peter is one of our valued Volunteer Oxygen Operators. We will be holding an Open Event on Monday, 26 January, from 2–3 pm , for anyone interested in learning more about our work and volunteer opportunities. Location:  The Brightwell, Wheatfield Drive, BS32 9DB. If you have any queries, please get in touch with Angela Palmer on 01454 201686. Join us for a cup of tea, a friendly chat, and the chance to discover whether becoming part of The Brightwell community is the new challenge you’re looking for in 2026. If you are interested in finding out more, but can’t attend this event, please call Angela on the number above, and she will be delighted to have a chat with you. We look forward to welcoming you!

On Wednesday 10 December, we held our annual Members’ Christmas Buffet Lunch from 12–2pm, and what a fantastic celebration it was! With all 25 tickets sold out, the room was full of festive cheer from the moment everyone arrived. Guests were treated to live festive tunes performed by Liz, Caroline and Barry, adding the perfect soundtrack to the afternoon. Doro hosted a lively Christmas Dingbats round that brought plenty of laughs, before the whole room joined together for a joyful rendition of “The 12 Days of Christmas.” The buffet was a real highlight, featuring a delicious spread of sandwiches, scones, quiche, crisps, snacks, and sweet treats, something for everyone! Members enjoyed squash and Bucks Fizz, along with festive crackers packed with jokes that kept spirits high. All round, it was a wonderfully festive afternoon, full of community, laughter, and Christmas spirit. We’re already looking forward to next year’s celebration! 🎄✨

Please see the information below that we have been sent by the team at Birmingham Community Healthcare. Please help if you can. Do you use, or have you used, CBD products? We would love your help with an online survey! Pippa Mundy is a Trainee Clinical Psychologist, and together with the MS Team at the West Midlands Rehabilitation Centre, she is running a survey to help us understand more about CBD products, why people with MS use them, and the impact they have. As you may already know, CBD products have become really popular and are readily available on the High Street or online. Patients with MS have told us that these products have helped with their symptoms. However, there are currently no scientific studies to support this. In fact, the MS research so far has only looked at Sativex (a medically prescribed drug which contains THC and CBD). Therefore, in this research, we will be looking at over-the-counter CBD (which doesn’t contain THC). If the survey shows that CBD products could be helpful, it could help us design a research trial of CBD in the future. How can I help? If you have a diagnosis of MS, live in the UK, are over 18, and have used CBD products, please complete the survey at the link below (accessible via your computer, smartphone or tablet). It will take you about 10 minutes, and includes multiple choice questions so that you can tell us about why you use CBD, and any effects you have noticed on your MS symptoms, or your physical or emotional wellbeing. If you complete the survey, your response will be completely anonymous, so we won’t be able to trace your answers back to you. Your medical team will not know that you have completed the survey. Can I contact you? Yes! You are welcome to contact Pippa Mundy on email if you have any questions or concerns: philippa.massingberd-mundy@nhs.net . Take me to the survey! https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/ZCIJP3/ You will see an information page and a consent form – follow the instructions on the screen and you’ll be taken to the survey. Thank you to MS National Therapy Centres for their support in sharing this research, and thank you for taking part!

We are delighted to share The Brightwell’s strategic plan for the next five years. This document reflects months of dedicated work by our Leadership Team and the Board of Trustees. Our Business Plan outlines the charity’s goals and aspirations through to 2030, and it will be regularly reviewed and updated to reflect progress and emerging opportunities. It details how we will ensure financial stability and growth, while continuing to enhance the therapies and support we provide to our members. The plan also explores ways to extend our reach and broaden our offer, ensuring we can make an even greater impact in the years ahead. This strategy sets out many of the operational aspects of the Centre, and the next step will be to break each action point into smaller, manageable projects. This will allow us to carefully assess operational, staffing, and logistical considerations. Fundraising will play a vital role in supporting the successful delivery of these projects. We hope you find our Business Plan inspiring and informative. For any questions, please contact our CEO, Doro Pasantes.

On Saturday 6th December , our centre transformed into a winter wonderland as we welcomed over 30 excited children to our incredible Frozen-themed event! From the moment the doors opened, the atmosphere was filled with sparkle, laughter and pure Disney magic. The children were thrilled to meet the royal sisters themselves, Anna and Elsa, who brought the magic of Arendelle to life with enchanting performances of favourite songs including “Let It Go,” “Into the Unknown,”  and “For the First Time in Forever.”  Little faces lit up as they sang, danced and joined in the fun. Alongside the performances, we had a whole range of magical activities: ✨ Frozen-themed games ✨ A bubble-filled dance party ✨ Party bags ✨ And so much more snowy fun! Our event was made even sweeter by the delicious Frozen-themed cupcakes lovingly baked by Eliza’s Bakes , and our special Frozen hamper raffle drew plenty of excitement from guests. A huge highlight of the day was the support from our incredible sponsor, Explore Learning , who not only funded the event but also joined us on the day to run brilliant activities including letters to Santa and festive colouring sessions. Thanks to their sponsorship, every penny raised was able to go directly to helping our charity continue supporting people living with neurological conditions. And we are thrilled to announce that we raised an amazing £506.28! 🎉 This day wouldn’t have been possible without our wonderful supporters: 💙 Magical Moon Entertainment – for an unforgettable Frozen performance 💙 Eliza’s Bakes – for the delicious themed treats 💙 Explore Learning – for sponsoring the event and providing fantastic activities 💙 Our staff and volunteers – for their hard work and preparation Thank you to everyone who attended, supported, and helped make this magical Frozen day such a huge success. We can’t wait to bring more enchanting events to our community! ❄️💙

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 will take place either in person at the Centre or via Zoom, whichever suits you better. 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.

Last Saturday, 29 November, we held our 2025 Christmas Market and it was a tremendous success! The car park was full, and as visitors approached the Centre, they were greeted by the festive sounds of the Mini-Massive Sax Flex Quartet, along with plenty of chatter and laughter. Inside, our stallholders put on a brilliant display, and The Brightwell ran several of its own stalls, including the 12 Hampers of Christmas  draw, two tombolas, and an extended shop featuring gifts and a clothes rail. The café was bustling too, serving hot and cold drinks alongside a tempting selection of sweet and savoury treats. It was wonderful to welcome so many familiar faces, as well as friends and family from across our wider community. We were especially grateful to the Mayor and Chair of Bradley Stoke Town Council, Natalie Field, for taking time out of her busy schedule to join us, and of course to Santa, who made a very special appearance! The draw for the 12 Hampers of Christmas   will take place on 17 December . If you’d like to buy tickets, please click here . As well as being a fantastic start to the festive season, the event raised an incredible £2,334 . Every penny will go towards supporting people living with chronic neurological conditions. Thank you everyone for your support!

Come and join us for our Quiz Night on Wednesday, 10 December. Our Quiz Nights are always great fun, plus you can bring your own food and drink! Click here to check out our recent blog to see some great photos from our October Quiz. This Christmas Quiz promises to be even more fun with festive-themed questions, and the Centre looks lovely too! Get your Christmas Jumpers on or something gorgeous and sparkly and make a night of it! For more information and to buy tickets, click the button below or from Reception. See you there!

It’s that magical time of year again… and so is our 12 Hampers of Christmas Raffle! With 12 fabulous hampers up for grabs and 12 chances to win, this is your perfect opportunity to add some extra festive sparkle to the season. 🎟️ Tickets: £5 a strip Whether you’re hoping to treat yourself or surprise someone special, our hamper lineup is better than ever. Take a look at the delights you could win this year:   ✨ This Year’s Hampers 🌟 Star Hamper! M&S Delights of Christmas Hamper ( Worth £100! ) A festive feast of sweet and savoury indulgence. Enjoy elegant Pinot Grigio and classic Claret, paired with gourmet treats like Luxury Belgian Biscuits, Perfectly Matured Rich Fruit Cake, Christmas Pudding, and Goat’s Cheese & Rosemary Shortbread Biscuits. With artisan crackers, Marcona Almonds, and Festive Chutney, every detail invites warmth, flavour, and true Christmas magic. The other 11 hampers up for grabs: Afternoon Tea Hamper – everything you need for a cosy afternoon ASDA Hamper – packed with seasonal favourites Port Hamper – perfect for a winter warmer Morrisons Hamper – full of tasty treats Gin Hamper – a must-have for gin lovers Aldi Hamper – affordable delights with a festive twist Cocktail Hamper – mixology magic for the holidays Slow Cooker Hamper – hearty meals made easy Apothecary M&S Hamper – soothing scents and self-care goodies Treats Hamper –snacks and indulgence galore Mulled Wine Hamper – the ultimate festive classic   🎟️ How to Enter You can buy your strips online here:   https://www.thebrightwell.org.uk/product-page/12-hampers-raffle Winners will be selected on Wednesday 17th December. Get yours now for your chance to win these fantastic hampers!   A huge thank you to everyone who supported and donated to make this raffle possible🎄💛

image courtesy of wirestock via Freepix Please note when we are closed over the festive period. We encourage all members to ensure that they have their therapies booked in advance for January. If you have any queries, please call Reception on 01454 201686

Have you renewed your Brightwell Subscription for 2026  If not, Dawn or Monique will be delighted to help you with this next time you are in. Alternatively, you can call us on 01454 201686. You are probably already thinking about booking your sessions for January and February, so you will need to renew your subscription in order to do this. The annual subscription for a Member or a Centre Friend is £40. We are also asking everyone to please consider making their therapy contributions by Standing Order. The benefits are as follows: •         It helps us with planning for staffing/volunteer levels. •         You know they have a definite and regular booking. •         Contributions are based on 44 weeks of therapy to take into account holidays and centre closures. •         We are usually only closed for 1 week over Christmas and New Year, and up to 3  days of servicing and training. •         Your contributions will be correct and timely,  giving you the added peace of mind that you haven’t forgotten to make the contribution.  •         It is easier to budget for both you and us. •         Adjustments can be made for long-term absence e.g. hospitalisation or prolonged illness. Standing orders are worked out on an average of 44 weeks per year if someone attends weekly. This takes into account 8 weeks of non-attendance for any reason. Examples: 1-2-1 Physio at £28 per session X 44 weeks / 12 months = £102.66 per month Oxygen  at £18 per session X 44 weeks / 12 months = £66 per month A member of staff or a member of our Reception Team will be pleased to work out your monthly contributions with you based on your individual treatment plan. We can also print off any forms and complete them with you. If you are a lapsed member and would like to rejoin the Brightwell Community, please come and have a chat. We would really love to see you again. Any queries whatsoever, please get in touch. Call us 01454 201686 or email hello@thebrightwell.org.uk