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We are really delighted to have opened our new Brightwell Shop display area in the main foyer of the Centre! We have been selling pre-loved items for many years, which has always proved popular as a great opportunity to find a bargain in between appointments! Buying pre-loved is a wonderful way of reducing your carbon footprint, through giving items a second chance.  However, the best part of buying at The Brightwell shop is that every penny spent goes directly to the charity.  As well as pre-loved items, our new shop will also be selling new items when they are available too! So, keep an eye out when you visit for gift ideas, clothes, books, and lots more. We would like to thank Adele Haysom of AJH Governance, a Brightwell 100 member, for her generous donation, earlier this year, providing funds for us to buy the new shop display fittings. Each item is reasonably priced and can be paid for at Reception by cash, card or contactless. To keep the new shop fully stocked, and to help in our fundraising, we would love donations of good quality items that you may no longer want or need, or new items that were perhaps an unsuitable gift.  If you have any items that you would like to donate for the shop or as a raffle prize, please hand them in at Reception or the main office or ask for a member of The Fundraising Team. We look forward to you visiting our new shop very soon !!

Everyone at The Brightwell would like to say a massive thank you to PJs track days for fundraising for the centre at their recent track event.   The track day took place on 13th August at Castle Combe Circuit and raised an incredible £1,452.01. Thank you to Paul and everyone who supported this amazing event.

In order to improve the quality and efficiency of our appointments, we have been working on an e-mail and text reminder system. We are now looking for 50 people to join the pilot and test the system to make sure that it is working correctly before we roll it out across all appointments. If you are happy to participate in the pilot, please complete the details on the form below.  Please ensure that your details are entered correctly. By doing this, you are agreeing to receive regular appointment reminders via text and email. If you are an existing member with an appointment booked within the next 30 days, but have not received an email please click on the link below https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=Y62DSeUVokWqEK59lZ7E7r8ywFri3EdLtBnSFdnm4Z9UQUdKUzdMVUhYR0FaWTg0MlNKSk5KTkRKUi4u&origin=Invitation&channel=0 Please can you submit this form by the 6  September.  Your support is greatly needed and hugely appreciated.  Thank you very much for taking part in this important pilot scheme.  If you have any queries, please give me a call. Best wishes, Doro

Please see above the updated Oxygen Therapy Timetable with effect from 30 August 2024. For further information please visit the Oxygen Therapy page of our website. Call 01454 201686 to find out more or to book an appointment.

Check out our August 2024 Newsletter packed full of interesting articles, all the latest news from The Brightwell, events and much more....

We would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who follows us on LinkedIn. LinkedIn plays an increasingly important part in our Communications and Fundraising strategies. Through LinkedIn we have met so many amazing people, who have helped us to get our message to a wider audience. We have been delighted to connect with many like-minded people who are doing inspirational work in their communities. Every like, comment and repost helps us to reach more people who can benefit from the work that we do. We could not help the 400+ people that we support without spreading awareness and fundraising. In February 2022, we set up The Brightwell 100, our Corporate Supporters’ Network, www.thebrightwell.org.uk/brightwell-100 . Our Brightwell100 supporters are individuals and companies delivering excellence in their specific industries and who like to give back in a big way.  Since that time the network has grown, with tens of thousands of pounds given in direct sponsorship for specific projects, services or goods donated and support with events. We are truly grateful to each and every Brightwell 100 member. We also very much welcome teams of Corporate Volunteers on an ad-hoc basis. If you would like to find out more, about how you can support us as a business, please follow this link www.thebrightwell.org.uk/brightwell-100 Thank you.

On Sunday 25th August, we held our Bank Holiday Family Fun Day at The Hollow Tree Pub which was a great success! We were joined by Lilo and Stitch, and Bluey and Bingo! Along with a bouncy castle and a scavenger hunt, it was a great day full of fun. Staff members Lara and Surabhi had a fantastic day out in the community, talking to locals about everything Brightwell, and joining in with the family fun. It was great to hear locals talking about the charity and spreading the word about what we do. The day finished with Tony Rooke performing a live set in the Pub which added to the upbeat atmosphere. We raised a total of £130.40 through donations and raffle tickets. Raffle Prizes included vouchers for The Village Hotel and Avon Valley Railway, along with a children's themed hamper from Asda. Thankyou to the Hollow Tree staff for their support and generosity, and to Special Occasions Mascots for providing the entertainment. We can't wait to work with you again in the future!

An amazing team from Shiptheory will be taking part in the very challenging Tough Mudder event on 10 August 2024 on the Badminton Estate in South Gloucestershire. This event will be particularly grueling with a challenging run plus  a series of obstacles to climb over, crawl under and scale. Definitely not for the faint-hearted! Shiptheory have been supporters of The Brightwell for a number of years and were one of the first businesses to join The Brightwell 100, the charity’s corporate network. Caz Blake-Symes, one of our members and Trustees, is Godmother to  Mark Mikkelson and James Mikkelson, Founders and Directors at Shiptheory. We really appreciate their support and commitment to our charity, If you would like to show your support for this challenge, please donate using the link below https://fundraising.toughmudder.co.uk/page/Shiptheory POST EVENT UPDATE We are delighted to announce that the Shiptheory team raised £726 for The Brightwell! Thank you all so much!

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Hello. My name is Janice Hunt a long term member here at The Brightwell. You may well recognise me, I have bright red hair!     I have had MS for many years and have been a member at Brightwell  for a long time, going back to the days when the Centre was based in Nailsea.   I used to be a Grants Officer for the MS Society many years ago and supported the Nailsea Centre and the members with grants when required, but I never directly used the facilities at the  Centre,  as I  felt that I did not need to back then.   In March 2023, I was on holiday in Fuerteventura, Canary Islands, in an accessible room with the shiniest floor  that I have ever seen and slipped and broke my left tibia. This was extremely painful, as you can imagine and something else that I didn’t need on top of my MS which was already compromising my walking and balance.   Back in Bristol, the struggle continued. As I live in a townhouse and I could not get up the stairs, I was unable to access the shower.  I rang Doro, our lovely CEO, and asked if I could use the accessible shower facilities at the Centre, for a donation. Doro agreed and I did this regularly for 4 weeks.    After being X-rayed again at Southmead, the break was not healing as it should and Doro said  “Janice, you are going in the Chamber!”  So, I had Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy  three times a week over a period of six weeks. At  the next X-ray we could see that my tibia was now healing really well. I could now weight-bare and could get upstairs to shower at home, as I could stand unsupported, which was a huge relief to me! Since then, I have had two full knee-replacements and have continued to have my weekly session of Hyperbaric Oxygen as well as twice weekly physiotherapy. The operations went really well and  I believe my healing, both internally and the large surgical scars, would not have healed so quickly and so well without the Oxygen Therapy.   What I didn’t realise was how much the oxygen would also help me in managing my MS symptoms. My sleep is so much better, which makes such a huge difference and I feel so well in myself.     The Orthopaedic Surgeon, who operated on my Tibia and both knees is an advocate of Oxygen Therapy and said that oxygen aids healing.   I am delighted with my progress and how well I am doing and always look forward to days out with friends, now that I am unhindered by major mobility issues.

On Monday 5th August long term Brightwell Supporter Martin Law was kind enough to organise a seniors Bowmaker golf tournament at Tall Pines Golf Club. Martin’s Father Dennis lived with MS and his Mother Florence cared for Dennis throughout his MS Journey. Martin has been supporting the Brightwell since the early days in Nailsea and kindly personally donated to pay for our fabulous reception area. The reception is dedicated to Dennis and Florence.   Victoria was delighted to attend and fly the flag for the Brightwell and assist with selling raffle tickets. The day dawned warm, with ideal playing conditions and the competitors arrived bright and early to make the most of the day. Most competitors had also brought goodies for the raffle table making the odds of winning a great prize pretty high! The support of all the staff and players at Tall Pines was second to none.  Paul in the pro-shop was an expert at directing competitors to the raffle ticket buying area and also donated some fantastic prizes. He was also incredibly good natured in promoting the first prize which was a £100 voucher for a rival club’s Pro-shop! Competition amongst the teams of three was fierce, but always good natured and a great day was enjoyed by all. The Brightwell is absolutely delighted that the tournament raised an incredible £735! Thank you to all involved.

The Brightwell charity is thrilled to introduce the ‘Walk to School’ Challenge, an exciting initiative that promotes movement, sustainability, and mental well-being within our community. Sponsored by BCPT, a local personal training studio committing to fostering healthy habits and accountability, the challenge encourages everyone- from children to adults- to incorporate more movement into their daily routines while making a positive impact on the environment and supporting a great cause. As a charity that supports people with neurological conditions and receives less than 1% statutory funding, every penny we raise for the charity ensures we can provide therapies to our members. Why join the Walk to School Challenge? The benefits of walking to school or incorporating more steps into your daily routine are numerous. Regular physical activity, such as walking, has been shown to improve mental health, boost mood, and reduce stress. It also promotes cardiovascular health and supports healthy weight management. Additionally, by choosing to walk instead of driving, you are helping reduce carbon emissions, contributing to a cleaner, more sustainable environment. Inclusivity at its core: The Walk to School Challenge is designed to be inclusive, offering three options to accommodate everyone: 1.       28 Day tracker:  This option is perfect for kids or individuals with limited mobility. The goal is to encourage consistent daily movement, no matter how small, for 28 days. This approach is particularly beneficial for instilling habit of regular physical activity in children and for those who may find longer walks challenging. Every step counts. 2.       5K Step Tracker:  Ideal for those looking to step up their fitness game, this is a moderate challenge that encourages participants to reach 5,000 steps each day. This option is great for anyone who wants to start integrating more movement into their daily routine. 3.       10K Step Tracker : For the fitness enthusiasts or those who want to push themselves further, this option offers a more intense challenge. Aiming for 10,000 steps each day is a fantastic way to boost your fitness levels and reap the full benefits of regular exercise. Everyone’s a Winner! All participants who complete the challenge will receive a finisher’s certificate, a token of their dedication to health and wellness. We also encourage participants to make a small donation of £10 to support The Brightwell Charity. But that’s not all, those who go above and beyond, raising £100 or more, will be awarded a special finisher’s medal. It’s not just about the steps you take, but the positive impact you can make! A Community Effort The Walk to School Challenge is an excellent opportunity for schools, youth groups, and community organisations to get involved. Groups like Girl and Boy guiding, local kids’ fitness centric clubs such as tennis, football, martial arts and more can also use this challenge to encourage a shared sense of achievement. It’s a fantastic way to teach young people the importance of setting goals, staying active, and contributing to their community. Join the Movement By taking part in the Walk to School challenge, you’ve not just committing to your own health and well-being but also joined a movement that supports environment sustainability and mental health. With the backing of BCPT and the shared vision of promoting movement and accountability, this challenge is more than just a walk; it’s a step towards a healthier, happier community. So, lace up your shoes, grab your friends and family, and take the first step towards making a difference. Let’s walk together for a brighter future! To purchase your trackers, please visit: www.thebrightwell.org.uk/shop  To find out more about BCPT, please visit: www.bcpt.uk