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How much does it cost? All the sessions for those members living with neurological conditions are subsidised through our fundraising efforts and supporter donations. However, as a charity we do ask for a contribution towards each session, the details of which are below. It is the Charity’s policy to never deny someone support due to financial reasons and we welcome the opportunity to confidentially discuss any payment issues with anyone struggling to contribute towards their therapy sessions. Contributing by Standing Order ​ Where possible we request that members contribute by standing order. The benefits are as follows: It helps us with planning for staffing/volunteer levels Members know they have a definite booking. You only contribute for 44 weeks a year, to take into account holidays We are only usually closed for 1 week over Christmas and New Year You know you have made the right contribution, so there are no concerns about forgetting. It is easier to budget. 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 nonattendance for any reason. 1-2-1 Physio @ £25 per session X 44 weeks / 12 months = £91.66 per month Oxygen @ £15 per session X 44 weeks / 12 months = £55.00 per month Exercise class @ £ 8 per session X 44 weeks / 12 months = £29.33 per month For fortnightly sessions the following applies: 1-2-1 Physio @ £30 per session X 22 weeks / 12 months = £55.00 per month Please download a Standing Order Form A member of staff or a member of our Reception Team will be pleased to work out your monthly payment with you based on your individual treatment plan. We can also print off any forms and complete them with you. For further information please visit our Therapies page

Winter Solstice Sunrise Swim 7am | Friday 22 December Our charity swims at the legendary West Country Water Park are HUGELY successful & a fantastic way to support the Centre whilst having a blast with your friends & family. Are you up for the challenge of a lake dip this December? There's no expectation to fundraise in addition to the sign up fee but hey, you may like to set up a Just Giving page as we're sure your pals will be pretty impressed by your impulsiveness to have a go!! Go on . . . this exhilarating swim is the perfect way to set you up for the busy festive period ahead. They'll not only be a pretty chilly lake to enjoy but also; Festive headgear sale - let's get fantastically festive! Scrumptious cakes and bakes to purchase Old school raffle with some fantastic prizes up for grabs! Tickets are £12 each with 40% of ticket sales coming to The Brightwell. https://ecom.roller.app/.../activitiesfull.../en/products... More info to follow on this one of a kind festive fundraiser so keep your peeled!

When and where 03 Dec, 11:00 – 14:00 The Brightwell, Bradbury House, Wheatfield Drive, Bradley Stoke, Bristol BS32 9DB, UK About Come and join us for a fabulous festive market as we countdown to Christmas. With a variety of different local stall holders, you are sure to find the perfect Christmas gifts for family and friends. Showcasing a wide variety of gifts and crafts this will be the perfect opportunity to start (or finish) your Christmas shopping. This year we will even be joined by the fabulous team from Puxton Park for a meet and greet with some of their gorgeous animals for donation to The Brightwell. So, come along and kick off the festive season whilst supporting The Brightwell and our mission to support people affected by MS and other neurological conditions. There will be refreshments on sale throughout the event to purchase and festive carols to get you in the spirit; Christmas starts here! There is no need to book just come along and enjoy, entry is FREE. Should you wish to have a stall at this event please contact; community@thebrightwell.org.uk

The Brightwell has been approached to ask for potential participants for a eesearch project. You are being invited to take part in a research project. Before you decide to consent to take part it is important for you to understand why the research is taking place and what your participation will involve. Please take time to read the following information carefully and discuss it with others if you wish. Ask us if there is anything that is not clear or if you would like more information. Please consider carefully whether you wish to consent to take part. Who is doing this research? This research is being carried out by a Trainee Clinical Psychologist, Tilly Mastroianni, at Royal Holloway, University of London, and is being supervised by Prof. Andy MacLeod. This research has received ethics approval from Royal Holloway, University of London’s Research Ethics Committee, with the approval ID of 3685. Why are we doing this research? This research is being done as part of a doctoral thesis, as part of a Doctorate degree in Clinical Psychology (DClinPsy) being undertaken at Royal Holloway, University of London. Please download the document below to find out more and how to take part.

Our amazing friends at Bradley Stoke Lions Club arranged a fantastic Apollo Wind Band concert last month which raised an incredible £719 for the Centre. We'd like to take this opportunity to so thank Margaret from Bradley Stoke Lions for organising this wonderful event, and having us as the beneficiary, we are so grateful. Our core therapies #oxygentherapy & #neurophysiotherapy are vital for members to manage symptoms & live the best life possible. Our members daily lives are affected by their chronic conditions but we aim to ensure the Centre offers a calm, non-judgemental & friendly space to visit. We want our members to feel part of our community & see a positive affect on both their physical & mental health as a result of coming to The Brightwell. Events like these keep our life-enhancing therapy offering available to those affected by #neurologicalconditions. We rely solely on donations from the public, member contributions and fundraising initiatives to continue our work and are thankful for every penny and donation the Centre receives. If you are looking to support a local, independent charity we'd love to hear from you! Please contact community@thebrightwell.org.uk to discuss fundraising ideas or ways to support the Centre.

Hi, I am Angela Ball, the Oxygen Coordinator, here at the Brightwell. I am responsible for ensuring that everyone who uses oxygen therapy is safe, welcome, comfortable and cared for. I look after all of our dedicated and hard-working oxygen volunteers, and the running of the department. I ensure that we follow the correct treatment protocols for every condition and every individual. I book risk and continuing assessments and deal with appointments and any queries. One aspect of my role that I particularly enjoy is going out and giving talks so that people can find out more about Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy, it’s benefits and how The Brightwell can support potential service users and new members. I am passionate about how oxygen therapy can help people, as I know first-hand how I personally benefit from it. I was diagnosed with relapsing remitting MS in 1995 and the NHS care was non-existent. I was given a handful of leaflets and no offer of post diagnosis care. I left that appointment feeling devastated, alone and suicidal. I had to give up work due to worsening symptoms and with two young children to support on statutory benefits and I began to research how I could be proactive in my own care. I found the Centre, in those days, we were located in Nailsea, and started oxygen treatment in Jan 1996. Straight away, I found it alleviated the overwhelming fatigue, my eyesight began to improve, and I was able to lose my eye patch! Then after about a year the numbness in my hands and feet had almost gone. I also had counselling and then found that I had improved so much that I was able to volunteer at the Centre. I started doing supermarket collections and later coordinating the team of collectors. As my confidence grew, I started a self-help group for members “chatterbox” and trained as a “Volunteer Chamber Operator” and also became a valued Trustee of the Centre, helping with the move from Nailsea to Bradley Stoke. My work as the Oxygen Coordinator is very rewarding as I thoroughly enjoy working with all the HBOT Users, all the volunteers and the whole team at The Brightwell. I feel very lucky to call many of those that I work with and help, close and long-term friends. I am the proud Mum of three grown up children, a daughter and two sons and have three grandchildren, who are an absolute joy! I moved to my brand-new house in Yate just over a year ago. 2024 promises to be a very exciting year, as I will be marrying my lovely partner of 14 years. I really enjoy meeting visitors and new members, please come and say hello to us in the Oxygen Department next time that you’re at The Brightwell. For more details about our Oxygen Therapy please click here

We have recently taken delivery of an outstanding piece of equipment kindly lent to us by Rugged Interactive. Several months ago, Libby Jordan, our Community and Events Development Officer, attended an event at the Empire Fighting Chance Charity based in Easton, Bristol. The key speaker for the event was Bob Reeves from the Foundation for Leadership through Sport. Libby was inspired by both the work Empire Fighting Chance do and by Bob’s talk. There was a piece of equipment being used which fascinated Libby and after showing an interest Bob introduced her to Robin Mills, from Rugged Interactive, who had supplied the Cardio Wall, which was the name of the equipment. The cardio wall is a highly interactive piece of equipment to develop fitness, coordination, movement and speed. Libby discussed at length the potential benefits for our members and service users at The Brightwell. Robin was keen to help and after discussions with the Directors at Rugged Interactive, they generously delivered a Cardio Wall Landscape to The Brightwell. This new piece of equipment was welcomed by the physio team and they have already been impressed by users positive reactions to using the wall. Due to the highly engaging nature of the activity, it helps develop not only positive physical strength and coordination but also aids mental agility. We are exceptionally grateful to Rugged Interactive. On 16 October, they team from Rugged Interactive came a videoed some of our physio team and members using the equipment to use in one of their promotional videos. We have promised to provide Rugged Interactive with feedback, not only to help our own physio users but potentially others living with chronic and neurological condition. Thank you to everyone involved, your interest in our charity and commitment is greatly appreciated.

On 13 September, we held the most incredible day at Village Hotel Club for our first Charity Abseil! We had promoted this challenging adventure mostly to corporate groups and local businesses, although some individuals took part. In total over 60 participants took part raising a whopping £4,500!! The Village Hotel Club, located in Filton, just a few miles from the Centre, is an iconic landmark being a distinctive black cube shaped building. It was from the top of this hotel that our brave supporters abseiled from! All the team from the Village hotel worked tirelessly to ensure that the day went smoothly and were excellent hosts, we would like to say a massive thank you to every member of staff who worked so hard on the day., everyone commented on how utterly amazing, so friendly and accommodating they were. Huge thanks, of course, goes to all the 60 participants who took the descent to raise funds for the Centre. We had a brilliant turn out of corporates join us on the day too so a shoutout to: CLARK - UK GKN Aerospace Business West Lovell Place Care Home Toyota Bristol South Rolls-Royce Filton For most of these businesses it was the first time that they had taken part in such a daring challenge, plus the first time many of them learnt more about the work we do here at The Brightwell supporting those living with chronic neurological conditions through specialist therapies. We will definitely be running this event again next year and we look forward to welcoming the participants to our wonderful Centre very soon, so that they can find out more about us. Thanks everyone involved!

Bradley Stoke Town Council will be launching the 2023 Charity Scarecrow Trail on Saturday 21 October at 9am. The trail will close on Sunday 29 October at 6pm. Twenty-one scarecrows will be distributed throughout Bradley Stoke for people to find using trail maps which can be purchased for £2 from today. The trail maps can be purchased from the Town Council Office, Jubilee Centre, Baileys Court Activity Centre, Brook Way Activity Centre, The Willow Brook Centre, Black Sheep Kitchen, Mamas Bristol and The Brightwell Centre. Visit Bradley Stoke Town Council website for more information: www.bradleystoke.gov.uk/scarecrow23 Councillor Dayley Lawrence, 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 Mamas, the Brightwell Centre and Prostate Cancer UK. I really look forward to judging the scarecrows. This year the theme for the trail is ‘international’ to celebrate all the people in the world and the diverse cultures which we live in and embrace within the community of Bradley Stoke’. Councillor Natalie Field, Deputy Mayor of Bradley Stoke commented: ‘The scarecrow trail is great fun for families with children, but anyone can do it. It’s an enjoyable way of getting out and about and to be active whilst finding the scarecrows then working out which countries they represent. It’s wonderful as well that the people/organisations who have made the scarecrows are making them out of recycled materials. It shows people care about their environment.’ Libby, from the Brightwell Centre, who has worked alongside the Council remarked ‘The Brightwell are very excited to be part of the Charity Scarecrow event this year. There are some fantastic prizes up for grabs including day trips to local attractions and meals out to be won. I hope the community really enjoy this engaging activity through half term and wish everyone luck in finding the scarecrows and identifying which countries they represent.’ Photo shows – Mayor, Dayley Lawrence and Libby from The Brightwell Centre There will be an award ceremony for the best scarecrow and the Mayor’s favourite scarecrow on Saturday 4 November between 2.30pm and 4.30pm at the Brook Way Activity Centre.

We are really delighted to present this delicious range of Hotel Chocolat selection for our next draw. This fantastic draw includes. The Hotel Chocolat Grand Advent Calendar full of the best that Hotel Chocolat offers – nearly 1 kilo in weight! Hotel Chocolat Milk Chocolate Advent Calendar Hotel Chocolat Everything pocket selection of desserts Santa lolly Large Hotel Chocolat Tote bag. Worth £100! Please note that this draw is for over 18s only as the Grand Advent Calendar contains alcohol. No matter how old you are, there’s something inherently exciting about an advent calendar. The anticipation of opening up a window each day, revealing a bitesize piece of festive joy. If you’re after something extra special this year, then look no further than The Grand Advent Calendar. Brimming with decadent chocolate slabs, batons and truffles, you’ll discover a new indulgent treat each day in the run-up to Christmas. But it doesn’t stop there. Not only does this advent calendar contain twin packs of truffles, festive chocolate slabs and Selector packs. You’ll also find an array of tipples, beauty lip balm, and maybe even a sachet of insatiably creamy hot chocolate. After all, variety is the spice of life. The Grand Advent Calendar makes a beautiful gift for a partner or lucky friend, so why not spread the Christmas cheer? Tickets for this draw are £1 each and can be purchased from our online shop or from Reception at The Brightwell. The draw will take place electronically on Friday 24 November 2023. We would like to thank Nicky and Lee at Blackfriars Auto Services for sponsoring this draw. You can buy tickets via our online shop https://www.thebrightwell.org.uk/product-page/hotel-chocolat-christmas-advent-decadent-chocolate-draw or from r4eception at The Brightwell.

We are delighted to announce that The Brightwell now offers Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) assessments and advice. Functional electrical stimulation (FES) is a treatment that applies small electrical charges to a muscle that has become paralysed or weakened, due to damage in your brain or spinal cord. The electrical charge stimulates the muscle to make its usual movement. In MS and other neurological conditions, it is mostly used as a treatment for foot drop, where disruptions in the nerve pathways between the legs and brain mean the front of your foot cannot be lifted to the correct angle when walking. How does FES work? A FES device consists of a control box, about the size of a pack of cards, with a battery and electrodes. For foot drop, the device is usually worn in a cuff below the knee. This is where the electrodes can stimulate the nerve that goes to the muscle that would normally lift the front of your foot. At the right moment in your gait, when your foot is about to lift up to be swung forwards, the FES device stimulates the nerve and lifts the foot. The stimulation stops when the foot hits the ground again.​ It may take some time to adjust the timing specifically for you and your gait. Some FES devices have a sensor that is worn in the heel area, to help with the timing, but in modern devices that is optional. This means that the FES device can be worn with bare feet or sandals. What are the benefits of FES? Research and experience has shown that treatment with FES produces a more normal walking pattern, enabling people to walk faster, further and with less effort. It can also help build confidence in walking and increase independence as well as reducing the risk of trips and falls. As well as being a treatment for foot drop FES can also be used in rehabilitation, complementing physiotherapy techniques, often to assist with movements in muscles that have become weak. This allows you to build up strength and range of movement. This may also help with reducing spasticity and sometimes in reducing swelling, depending on the cause. Who can use FES? If you have difficulty with walking due to foot drop, you may benefit from FES. However, as FES stimulates the existing nerves in the legs, it is important that your nerve fibres between the spinal cord and the muscles are not damaged. To be suitable for the treatment, you need to be able to walk, even if only for a few metres with a stick or other walking aid. Typically, you will have an initial assessment that lasts for about an hour to see if you are suitable for treatment and if you respond to the FES stimulation. If you do respond, then you can start the treatment process. One of our physiotherapists will set up the device with you and teach you how to use it. At first you may find it difficult and time consuming to put the device on and position the pads correctly, but this becomes easier with practice. Once one of our trained physiotherapists and you have agreed that a FES device is beneficial and suitable, we will give you a clinical referral to a recommended supplier. That supplier, will discuss cost and options with you, as well as delivery timescales. Follow up sessions at The Brightwell will be necessary to adjust the electrode position and the strength of the electrical stimulation. This can change as your muscles strengthen and your nerves get used to the level of stimulation. How do I get an appointment at The Brightwell FES Clinic? If you are an existing member and/or come to The Brightwell for therapy, your physiotherapist will be able to recommend your suitability to be booked into an assessment session. We would like to thank Woodstock Homes for their ongoing support and for funding to set up The Brightwell FES Clinic. Please visit the FES Clinicpage of our website for full details and assessment information www.thebrightwell.org.uk/therapies/fes-clinic

The resurgence of shingles in recent years has raised concerns within the medical community and prompted action to protect vulnerable populations through the National Shingles Programme. In this blog we highlight the reasons behind the shingles surge, the science behind the vaccines and the importance of informed voluntary choices. We would like to emphasise that the choice for individuals to participate in the programme is a personal one. The NHS offers a vaccine that reduces your risk of developing shingles. This guide describes the national shingles programme, the benefits of the vaccine and who is eligible. There are two shingles vaccines, Zostavax® and Shingrix®. Your GP practice or local pharmacy will advise which is the right vaccine for you. Unlike most other infections, you don’t catch shingles from someone else. Most of us had chickenpox when we were young, although some of us will not be aware that we’ve had it. After you have chickenpox, the virus remains dormant living in the nerves. For most of your life, you will not be aware of this, but from time to time the virus can come back and spread to the skin causing a disease called shingles. Shingles can be very painful and tends to affect people more commonly as they get older. This can be because your immune system is weakened by increasing age, by stress or by a range of medical conditions and treatments. For some, the pain caused by shingles can last for many years. Shingles can really affect your life, stopping you from doing all the things you usually enjoy. About shingles Cause and symptoms of shingles Shingles (also known as herpes zoster) is caused by the dormant chickenpox virus spreading to an area of skin served by one of the nerves. It results in clusters of extremely painful and itchy, fluid-filled blisters. These blisters can burst and turn into sores that eventually crust over and heal. These blisters usually affect an area on one side of the body, most commonly the chest, but sometimes also the head, face and eye. How long shingles lasts and how serious it can be? The first signs of shingles can be feeling generally unwell with a tingling or burning feeling in an area of skin on one side of the body. A painful rash with fluid-filled blisters usually appears a few days after the initial symptoms. Shingles on the body can cause severe pain. If shingles develops in the eye and eyelid, it can lead to decreased vision or even permanent blindness in that eye. Incidence of shingles About 1 in 5 people who have had chickenpox will develop shingles. This means that every year in England and Wales, tens of thousands of people will have shingles. Although shingles can occur at any age, the risk, severity and the complications of shingles all increase with age. Post-herpetic neuralgia Each year, about 14,000 people go on to develop post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN) after shingles and over 1,400 are admitted to hospital because of PHN. Most people recover fully after a few weeks, but for some, the pain goes on for several months or even years. PHN is a particularly unpleasant condition with severe burning, throbbing or stabbing nerve pain. The older you are, the more likely you are to have long-lasting pain. The shingles vaccine reduces the risk of getting shingles and PHN. How shingles spreads Shingles does not spread as easily as chickenpox, but the fluid in the blisters does contain the chickenpox virus. So, someone who is not immune to chickenpox can catch the infection if they are in contact with this fluid. If you have a shingles rash you should cover the rash with loose clothing to reduce the risk of spreading chickenpox. Pregnant women who have not had chickenpox, people with a weakened immune system and newborn babies should avoid direct contact with the rash. Who will get the shingles vaccine? From 1 September 2023, the vaccine programme is being offered to the following: Healthy people aged 70 to 79 years who have not yet been vaccinated. People aged 50 years and over with a severely weakened immune system. Healthy people aged 60 to 70 years will become eligible for the vaccine over the next 5 years, when they turn 65 or 70 years. You will remain eligible for the shingles vaccine until your 80th birthday, unless you have a weakened immune system; people with a severely weakened immune system remain eligible for vaccine. The sooner you have the vaccine, the earlier you will be protected. Younger people and the vaccine Younger people will be offered the vaccine when they reach the eligible age. Shingles can occur at any age, but the risk, severity and complications increase with age. Those with severely weakened immune systems are at higher risk and that is why the vaccine is recommended at an earlier age. If you have a shingles vaccine, you will be given a record card with your name and the date of the next appointment if you need a second dose. Please keep it in a safe place. Side effects Side effects from both Zostavax and Shingrix vaccines are usually quite mild and don’t last very long. The most common side effects (occurring in at least one in every ten people) are: pain and redness at the injection site ·general muscle aches ·headache You may feel tired and have a fever after Shingrix vaccine. You can rest and take the normal dose of paracetamol (follow the advice in the packaging) to help make you feel better. Do not use machines or drive if you are feeling unwell. You should feel better after a few days but if your symptoms persist for longer, you should discuss these with your GP or practice nurse. Zostavax can rarely cause serious side effects in people with very weakened immunity – these people should have the Shingrix vaccine instead. Vaccine safety Like all licensed vaccines, the shingles vaccines have been thoroughly tested and meet strict UK safety and licensing requirements. Both vaccines have been used extensively in Europe and North America for the last few years. How and when the vaccine is given Like most vaccinations, the vaccine will be given as an injection in your upper arm. As there are two different vaccines available, you will be offered the vaccine that is right for you. Shingrix is a non-live vaccine, and you will need two doses to give you the best longer-lasting protection. For most people the second dose of Shingrix will be offered from about six months after the first dose. If you have a severely weakened immune system your second dose of Shingrix should be given earlier, but at least eight weeks after dose one. Your GP practice will let you know when to book for the second dose. Zostavax is a live vaccine and only a single dose is required to give you good protection. Choosing which shingles vaccine to have Your GP or practice nurse will offer you the vaccine that is recommended for you. You become eligible for shingles vaccine on the NHS programme depending on your age and your current medical history. Further information If you would like more information before or after you have the vaccination, speak to your GP or practice nurse or visit https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/shingles-vaccination-for-adults-aged-70-or-79-years-of-age-a5-leaflet/vaccination-against-shingles-guide-from-september-2023