Search Results

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

The Brightwell team were absolutely thrilled to welcome Martyn and Sue Olds on Monday, 24 November. Martyn, the Men’s Club Captain at Kendleshire Golf Club, arrived with an extraordinary gift: a cheque for an incredible £10,000! Doro, Lara, and Brightwell member Liz proudly and gratefully accepted the kind donation. Martyn chose The Brightwell as his Charity of the Year for 2025, and he and his golfers have been hard at work raising this phenomenal sum. One of the most inspiring highlights was on 3 September, when a group of Kendleshire Members left their golf clubs behind, jumped on their bikes, and took on an epic 100-mile ride to Machynys Golf and Monk Island Resort in Llanelli. But Martyn didn’t stop there. He and the team kept the momentum going throughout the year with a whole range of fundraising ideas, including the creation of a special Brightwell Beer! The Kendleshire has supported The Brightwell whenever they can for many years, even sponsoring a therapy room when the Centre first opened. To Martyn and Sue, to the incredible cyclists, and to every single member of Kendleshire Golf Club who donated or cheered the efforts on: thank you. Your support helps ensure we can continue offering essential therapies and care to people living with neurological conditions. This generous donation will go directly towards funding therapies, equipment, and support services that make a real difference to the lives of our community; our members, their families and carers.

image courtesy of gpointstudio via Freepix Sleep is fundamental to brain health and is inextricably linked to neurological conditions, acting as both a vital restorative process and a potential early indicator or risk factor for disease. Adequate, quality sleep (typically 7-9 hours for adults) is crucial for managing existing conditions, improving treatment outcomes, and potentially preventing or slowing neurodegenerative decline. Key Functions of Sleep for Neurological Health During sleep, the brain performs several critical functions that are essential for optimal neurological function: Waste Clearance: The glymphatic system, the brain's waste removal pathway, is most active during deep (slow-wave) sleep. It flushes out toxic proteins and waste products that accumulate during the day, such as amyloid-beta and alpha-synuclein, which are associated with Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. Memory Consolidation and Learning: Sleep plays a crucial role in consolidating new information and experiences into long-term memory. Different sleep stages, particularly slow-wave and REM sleep, are associated with strengthening various types of memories and enhancing synaptic plasticity (the ability of brain connections to change and adapt). Neuronal Restoration and Repair: Sleep provides an opportunity for neurons to repair themselves, regulate neurotransmitter levels, and restore energy metabolism. This helps maintain the integrity of neural circuits and signalling pathways. Emotional Regulation: Sufficient sleep is vital for regulating emotions and managing stress responses. Sleep deprivation can lead to increased emotional reactivity, mood swings, irritability, and a higher risk of developing mood disorders like depression and anxiety. The Link Between Sleep and Neurological Conditions Sleep disturbances and neurological disorders share a complex, bidirectional relationship: Risk Factors: Chronic poor sleep is considered a potential modifiable risk factor for developing neurodegenerative diseases such as dementia, Alzheimer's disease, and Parkinson's disease. Sleep disorders like untreated obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) have been linked to an increased risk of stroke and cognitive decline. Symptoms/Early Warning Signs: Sleep problems are a common symptom and can even be an early marker of underlying neurological issues. For example, REM sleep behaviour disorder (RBD), where individuals act out their dreams, often precedes the clinical onset of Parkinson's disease or dementia with Lewy bodies by years. Disease Exacerbation: Inadequate sleep can worsen symptoms of existing neurological conditions. For people with epilepsy, sleep deprivation is a known seizure trigger. In those with multiple sclerosis (MS), poor sleep exacerbates fatigue, pain, and cognitive fog. Impact on Recovery: Good quality sleep is linked to improved outcomes after a neurological event, such as a stroke, by supporting brain plasticity and recovery processes. Importance of Addressing Sleep Issues Given this profound connection, addressing sleep problems is a critical part of comprehensive neurological care. Interventions aimed at improving sleep quality - ranging from better sleep hygiene and cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) to medical treatments for disorders like sleep apnoea - can significantly improve a patient's quality of life and potentially slow the progression of their condition. If you are experiencing persistent sleep problems, it is important to consult a healthcare provider for a proper evaluation and diagnosis. 10 Tips for Better Sleep 1.      Stick to a Sleep Schedule : Go to bed and wake up at the same time every day, including on weekends. This consistency reinforces your body's natural sleep-wake cycle (circadian rhythm).   2.      Create a Relaxing Bedtime Ritual:  Spend the last 30 to 60 minutes before bed doing calming activities. This could be reading a physical book, taking a warm bath, listening to soothing music, or gentle stretching.   3.      Optimise Your Bedroom Environment:  Keep your bedroom dark, quiet, and cool. 4.      Limit Blue Light Before Bed:  Turn off phones, tablets, computers, and TVs at least one hour before your target bedtime. The blue light suppresses the production of the sleep-promoting hormone, melatonin.   5.      Use Your Bed Only for Sleep:  Avoid using your bed for work, eating, or watching TV. This helps your brain associate your bed with rest.     6.      Watch Your Diet and Drink Intake:  Avoid consuming caffeine (coffee, tea, soda, chocolate) and nicotine for several hours before bed. Limit alcohol, especially in the late evening, as it disrupts sleep quality. Try to avoid large, heavy meals close to bedtime.   7.      Manage Worries and Stress:  Try to resolve your concerns before you get into bed. You can set aside a "worry time" earlier in the evening or write down a to-do list for the next day to clear your mind.     8.      Exercise Regularly (But Not Too Late ): Regular physical activity improves sleep quality but avoid vigorous exercise within 3 to 4 hours of bedtime, as it can be stimulating. Gentle yoga or stretching is fine.   9.      Limit Daytime Naps:  If you must nap, keep it short (under 30 minutes) and take it earlier in the afternoon (before 3pm). Long or late naps can make it harder to fall asleep at night.     10.  Don't Force Sleep:  If you find yourself lying awake in bed for more than about 20 minutes, get up and go to another room to do something quiet and relaxing (like reading) until you feel sleepy again. Then, return to bed.   We hope you have found this article of interest, and you will get some benefits from it.