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- The Brightwell | Meet The Brightwell Team
The Brightwell team includes a expert physiotherapists, volunteer Oxygen Chamber operators, through to our support and fundraising teams and our Board of Trustees. Meet The Brightwell Team We have a truly exceptional team of people working, volunteering and supporting us here at The Brightwell. If you think that you might like to join our team please read more information by clicking he links below Volunteer Support Us Administration and Support Team Doro CEO Caroline Finance Officer Dawn Lead Receptionist Paula Cafe Coordinator Helen Centre Administrator Monique Receptionist Fundraising Team Victoria Head of Fundraising (Grants and Trust) Lara Events, Marketing and Communications Officer Physiotherapy Team Amrik Lead Physiotherapist Millie Rehabilitation Therapist Lauren Physio Assistant Aaron Physiotherapist Nathi Physiotherapist Khoula Physiotherapist Oxygen Team Angela Oxygen Coordinator Keith Senior Operator Jane S Volunteer Operator Howard Volunteer Operator Hazel Volunteer Operator Andy Volunteer Operator Mike Volunteer Operator Carol Volunteer Operator Stevyn Volunteer Operator Anju Volunteer Operator Guy Volunteer Operator Sandra Volunteer Operator Roger Volunteer Operator Brian Volunteer Operator Peter Volunteer Operator Ted Volunteer Operator Caroline Volunteer Operator Board of Trustees Geoff Chair of Trustees Paul Trustee Charles Trustee Steve Trustee David B Trustee Caz Trustee Roger Trustee David G Trustee Tina Trustee
- The Brightwell | Our Sustainability Pledge
Our sustainability pledge outlines the steps we have taken and those we need to take to become to become carbon neutral Our Sustainability Pledge Background Bradbury House, the location for The Brightwell , was officially opened in 2012. Therefore, the build and construction were carried out in the 18-month period prior to that, at the time it met all the latest energy efficiency standards and was graded on an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) report as efficiency level C. The management and t rustees of The Brightwell understand the importance of doing their part to address the climate emergency and have committed to carbon neutrality by 2050. In 2019 The Brightwell launched “Project Green” in order to help The Brightwell meet its environmental responsibility goals, as well as to create a more secure and sustainable financial future for the charity. Electricity is used for everything in Bradbury House, except the gas underfloor heating and hot water to the eight sinks used in the various WC and treatment areas. The overall cost of electricity varies throughout the year, depending on how much is generated through the solar panels. Electricity costs and usage have increased since August 2022, as we are now generating our own oxygen. Existing Energy Saving Strategies Solar Panels The charity was very fortunate that Solarsense donated 114 solar panels which were installed on the roof of The Brightwell in December 2019. These have allowed significant savings on costs, with major savings in the summer of 2022 due to the exceptional levels of sunshine. These panels can create up to 28.5kW of electricity per hour on bright days. The estimat e has been made that they can generate up to an impressive 29,000kWh per annum. However, because we do not have storage batteries at this stage and as Total, our current energy provider, does not offer a suitable package for us to return energy to the grid, we are not yet enjoying the full benefits of these panels. Solar panels have proven to provide cost-saving for us, but savings are currently being lost through overproduction. The installation of a large storage battery is planned but the immediate need is to try and make urgent and significant savings on the overall cost of electricity. LED Light Conversion After taking professional advice, it was estimated that the cost saving per light fitting would be a massive 80%, with approximately £2,500 pa of the current electricity costs is due to lighting. With new tariffs and price caps being lowered this could increase by five or six times, to an eye-watering £15,000 pa just on lighting. The charity could not possibly afford the electricity based on using the current fittings, without making significant cuts elsewhere, which may impact our members well-being. The conversion to LED lighting is therefore essential. Replacement Outside Lighting In January 2023 after a significant donation from a corporate sponsor, via the Brightwell 100 , all of the exterior lights were converted to LED. Before this the outdoor lights were disproportionately more expensive than the inside lighting to run. The replacement programme of all the lights on the 13 lamp posts and all exterior wall fittings to LED has been a significant step forward and when this installation took place the cost savings were immediate. Staff Awareness Whenever possible staff and volunteers have received guidelines to ensure that all the lights are switched off whenever practical, and the air conditioning units go onto standby mode, which can be obviously turned on or overridden for the comfort of all users. All Brightwell users and visitors are also encouraged to recycle and use reusable products where possible. New facilities During the spring and summer of 2022, a number of significant building projects have taken place at The Brightwell including the whole development of an area, previously used for storage, which has enabled us to build the new cafe seating space, new offices for the administration and fundraising teams, a new smaller storage area and a state-of-the-art conference/ meeting room. These new facilities have been built with efficiency and cost savings in mind and have extensive use of natural light coming into the new office and LED lighting in the cafe seating area. The new cafe facility should be open in August 2023 and will also be to the most energy efficient standards. Oxygen Generation Included in the renovations and new build projects for the summer of 2022 was the installation of our own oxygen generation system. This was always going to be to give the centre independence away from the supplier and to avoid their rapidly rising costs and to help maintain a high level of supply to our hyperbaric therapy tank with sufficient capacity to build a further tank in the future. However, the costings of running the new oxygen generation units were based on the cost of energy at the time of the design (late 2020) The rising cost of electricity will have an impact as the new compressor uses 37kw of power compared to the previous one working at 15 kw. The overall environmental impacts are still very positive including there are no longer frequent deliveries using large tankers driving through the local housing estate and past the primary school located next door to The Brightwell. New Boiler System This expense was unfortunately was not a planned or budgeted for. The heating system, although only ten years old, was a very costly commercial system when it was installed but had proven to be very expensive and unreliable over the past few years. After a complete failure the system was condemned. Although the expense of £10,000 was not budgeted for, the installation of the new system in February 2023 does mean that the new boiler meets the top specifications in terms of efficiency and green credentials Future Plans - subject to funding Subject to being able to get funding the following projects are next on our list. 1 LED Lighting conversion in the Physiotherapy department. When the space to be used for the physio department was designed the window area was comparatively small compared to the rest of the building. The facility as a whole is a great space for all the equipment and the hoisting system is perfect. However, due to the limited natural light and the fact that the department is used extensively during the week the lights are on for most of the time, Therefore, the Physio department’s lighting being converted to LED is top of the list. The estimated cost for this is £5,000 with an estimated 30-month payback period. 2. Remaining Internal LED lighting This ideally should be done throughout the building, before the darker nights occur, so realistically before October 2023, The cost will also be about £5,000 with a 30-month payback period. 3. 100Kw Battery Storage We are seeking funding to install a 100Kw storage battery, to save money, and meet our environmental responsibility. As mentioned above The charity was very fortunate to have been given 114 250w solar panels through a partnership with solar company Solarsense. Cost savings, through having this level of battery storage, will come from the ability to generate oxygen for the next day’s sessions overnight using stored electricity, when our electricity unit cost is cheaper. Based on 4 quotes and surveys undertaken, we are also confident that for most of the year power generated solely at weekends when the Centre is closed would allow us to run the oxygen generation system, cost-free for up to two days per week. We estimate that the cost will be £90,000 and we have to look at this in terms of the key issues issues. These are: Rise in energy prices leading to the potential for bills to be at an unsustainable level, affecting service delivery. Wastage of power generated by our solar array Ensuring a financially stable future for the Charity Commitment to Carbon neutrality by 2050 How to find out more If you would like to discuss any of our Environmental policies or aims or would like to help or contribute, please contact Victoria Hocquard email Victoria.Hocquard@thebrightwell.org.uk
- The Brightwell | Treatment Fund Campaign
The Brightwell Help Us Keep Therapy Within Reach for Everyone This is your Services Page. It's a great opportunity to provide information about the services you provide. Double click on the text box to start editing your content and make sure to add all the relevant details you want to share with site visitors. Donate Here Every day, people living with neurological conditions rely on regular, ongoing therapy to maintain their quality of life. Our Treatment Fund exists to make sure that support is never interrupted. When you donate to our Treatment Fund, you help us: Protect uninterrupted access to therapy for members who need it most Ensure that a member’s therapy continues even during times of personal financial difficulty Sustain the long-term, consistent support that people with neurological conditions depend on Even a small donation can make a life-changing difference. Together, we can ensure that no one’s therapy journey is disrupted. The Challenge We're Facing Demand for our services is growing, and so are our costs. To meet this demand, we are extending our opening hours, which means: Increased staffing and recruitment costs Higher operational and running expenses At the same time, we remain committed to maintaining our subsidised therapies and protecting access for every member during this period of growth. Without additional support, sustaining this becomes increasingly difficult. Our Goal 🎯 Raise £3,000 this quarter to protect and sustain uninterrupted therapy access for everyone who needs it. Donate Here How We'll Make It Happen To bring this campaign to life, we’ll be: Sharing weekly case studies from our members, highlighting the real impact of our work. Hosting pop-up fundraising events at the centre and in the local community. Posting weekly videos showcasing life at the centre and the therapies we provide Running a weekly Brightwell shop rotation, featuring different products and themes Members Stories Roger, Member "The Brightwell is a lifeline for me as it is a place where I can be sociable, as I live alone. It is handy for me to get to in my electric wheelchair. Staff and volunteers are so helpful."
- The Brightwell | Contact
The Brightwell is a charity supporting people to live well with their neurological condition. We receive no government, or NHS, funding and rely upon volunteers and fundraisers so that we can continue to offer our help and support. Contact We are always delighted to hear from you, whether you would like to find out more about the therapies we offer, becoming a member, joining our team as a volunteer or helping with fundraising. Please email us hello@thebrightwell.org.uk or call on 01454 201 686 Please come to see us or call in for a coffee at The Brightwell Cafe. The Brightwell Bradbury House Wheatfield Drive Bradley Stoke Bristol, BS32 9DB power.safe.apron Opening hours Monday 8.30 am - 18.15 pm Tuesday 8.30 am - 17.30 pm Wednesday 8.30 am - 17.30 pm Thursday 8.30 am - 17.00 pm Friday 8.30 am - 16.30 pm How to find us Subscribe to our newsletter • Don’t miss out! First name Last name Email Join Thanks for subscribing!
- The Brightwell | FES Clinic
The Brightwell offers expert Functional Electrical Stimultion (FES) assessments and advice for foot drop and gait issues at our Clinic in Bradley Stoke, Bristol. Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) 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. Histor y FES was first developed in the United States in the 1960s, where it was initially tested in stroke patients. Although early results were promising, it wasn't used regularly in clinical practice until much later, as it was very much seen as an experimental treatment. Research on its use in stroke for both foot drop and to assist finger movements, was first published in the late 1970s. In the mid-1980s, a group based in Salisbury in the UK started to look at using FES. Originally their work was in people with spinal cord injuries; from this initial work they went on to develop devices for people with MS in the early 1990s and it continues to be used today. FES is currently being investigated to see if the technique can help with swallowing, hand and arm function, and even breathing problems for pulmonary disease patients and for stroke patients. It has several potential future uses in MS. 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. What side effects could I get with FES? The electrical stimulation causes a tingling 'pins and needles' or buzzing sensation on the skin, much like a TENS machine. Ensuring that wires and pads are in the correct position can help minimise some of these sensations. For most people this is not a problem. FES may take a little bit of getting used to. Your physiotherapist may need to help you relearn a comfortable gait, as old habits that helped you manage your foot drop are no longer needed. You may have some soreness in your legs, hips or torso as you learn to use different muscles to walk. Very occasionally people find that the stimulation or the electrodes causes irritation of their skin. Using hypoallergenic electrode patches or asking your Brightwell physiotherapist about changing the type of stimulation that is used can often solve these problems. You will be provided with your personal set of pads and electrodes at your first consultation. 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. If you are not an existing service user, please call 01454 201686 or email hello@thebrightwell.org.uk to be booked in. The assessments work as follows: Initial assessment with a fully trained FES physiotherapist Approximately one hour, cost £60 plus a one-off fee of £18 for personal pads and electrodes. Follow up sessions. You will usually only require one or two follow up sessions. Cost £60 each. Annual reassessment We recommend an annual review to look at continued correct use, gait, posture, and any physical changes. Equipment Please note that we will refer you to a reliable and approved supplier, The Brightwell does not offer any warranty for the equipment or recommend any funding options. The supplier will discuss costs with you. We will gladly supply a letter of clinical support if required. We would like to thank Woodstock Homes for their ongoing support and for funding to set up The Brightwell FES Clinic.
- The Brightwell | LLHM
The Brightwell London Landmarks Half Marathon 2024 Sunday 7th April 2024 About the Event The event is not your average half marathon! From cultural landmarks and heritage to the city's quirky and hidden secrets, runner get to explore the capital on a route like no other! We were thrilled to share our brand-new route for LLHM 2023. Each year we run a cheer station so you can rest assured we will be there to give you that all important encouragement (and jelly babies) at the 11th mile! The event started on the iconic Pall Mall, before runners took in the sights and sounds of London’s awe-inspiring landmarks, event ually finishing outside Downing Street. If you'd like to know more click here: About The London Landmark Half Marathon | LLHM The Route Run the iconic London Landmarks route acro ss central Lon don . Fundraising When fundraising for The Brightwell we are with you every step of the way. We will send you a fundraising pack and your very own Brightwell vest ready for those all important training pictures for your socials! As a local, independent charity we are so grateful to those who fundraise for us and are always available to give you the support you need to help you reach & exceed your target! Sign up fee £30 Fundraising target: £500 Our team of 5 runners last year raised over £3,500 to ensure our doors are kept firmly open to provide subsidised therapy for life for anyone affected by a neurological condition. Limited spaces available We have managed to secure 5 charity places for this incredible event. If you're up for the challenge click the button below and pop us an email to register your interest in running this event for us, we will then respond with the next steps. We can't wait to hear from you. Sign up NOW! Check out LLHM 2023 Photos
- The Brightwell | TF Campaign Donate Form
The Brightwell Thank you for choosing to donate to The Brightwell's Treatment Fund Campaign Donate Now Please use the form below to donate using a debit/credit card, Google Pay or PayPal Last name Email Donate in the name of First name Enter the amount £ Gift Aid my donation Address Town / City Postal / Zip code Donate Thank you for your donation! Thank you so much for donating to The Brightwell. We very much appreciate your generosity. If your donation is specifically to be used as a contribution towards a named member’s therapy, please let us know by emailing hello@thebrightwell.org.uk
- The Brightwell | Our Sustainability Pledge
The Brightwell Our Sustainability Pledge The Brightwell is wholly committed to its Sustainability Pledge to be net Zero by 2050 and to have emmissions reduced by 50% by 50% by 2030. We try to adopt a “green “approach in whatever we do. We have been very fortunate that through focused fundraising campaigns, and incredibly generous support from a number of Brightwell 100 members we have achieved so much. Solar Energy has been a major focus with 114 x 250kw panels being fitted in 2019, upgraded by a further 40 x 400 kw panels in 2023, with the addition of 3 x 14kw storage batteries being installed at the same time. Despite considerable increases in energy costs for commercial properties, the benefit of generating this amount of solar energy has made a significant difference to keeping our fuel bills to a manageable level. We have also been working on a gradual LED lighting replacement programme. All the outdoor lighting was upgraded to LED in 2022. The internal lighting is an ongoing project. The new offices, meeting room and lounge area are all LED. As of February 2025 the Oxygen Suite has been completed with plans for the Physio department, the Reception and Cafe areas to be completed as soon as funds are available. In 2022 we started generating our own Oxygen for our Hyperbaric Oxygen Chamber, Although this means we are using more power to generate the oxygen, environmentally there is no other impact as we no longer have large tankers making frequent deliveries and there is no waste. Other improvements have been the upgrade to a more efficient heating boiler and we are always mindful of any equipment purchased or disposed of. Our green credentials are very important to us here at The Brightwell. To find out more about the individual projects, how you can help us to fund more, the respective sponsors and the impact, please scroll through to our Blog
- The Brightwell | Cafe
The Brightwell Café is open to all members, carers, staff volunteers and members of our wider Brightwell community. We are open from 10am with prepared food served until 2.30pm . As well as good quality tea, coffee and soft drinks, there are lots of items are to tempt you and tickle your taste buds, The Brightwell Cafe After much anticipation, we are delighted to announce that The Brightwell Café is now fully open and offering some delicious tasty items on the menu! The Café is open to all members, carers, staff volunteers and members of our wider Brightwell community. We are open from 10am with prepared food served until 2.30pm. As well as good quality tea, coffee and soft drinks, the following items are here to tempt you and tickle your taste buds: a selection of freshly made sandwiches (with gluten-free options available) jacket potatoes with a choice of delicious fillings an assortment of cakes (with gluten-free options available) A range of other snacks Everything we offer represents great value for money, using fresh ingredients and local suppliers. We will be developing the menu further over the coming weeks to serve hot food, healthy options and daily specials. Here is just a small sample of some of the tasty treats on offer..... We’re delighted to announce that The Brightwell Café has achieved a 5-star Food Hygiene rating from South Gloucestershire Council, following our first inspection on Monday 4 March 2024! A food hygiene rating tells consumers about the hygiene standards of a food premises to help them choose where to eat or shop for food. During an inspection, the food safety officer checks how well businesses are meeting the law by looking at: The handling of food How food is stored How food is prepared Cleanliness of facilities How food safety is managed The scheme gives food premises a rating from 0 to 5, where 5 shows hygiene standards are very good and 0 shows urgent improvements are required. We’re so pleased that The Brightwell Café has been awarded the maximum 5-star rating and that all the care and attention to preparing food taken by the café team has been officially recognised! Brightwell Buffets Are you thinking of having a work meeting, a family gathering for a special lunch or a friends get together and want a super buffet? We can help! The Brightwell Café is delighted to offer sandwich platter buffets with the option of a selection of cakes, fruit, canned drinks, bottled water etc. at a very competitive price. We can cater for special dietary requirements such as providing Gluten free bread, with Vegetarian and Vegan options available too – just contact us with your requirements and we’ll be happy to help. Buffet orders will need to be pre-ordered at least 48 hours in advance and are available for collection on weekdays between 10am and 3pm. For further information or to book a buffet please call 01454 201686 and ask for Paula or Helen to discuss your requirements or email us at hello@thebrightwell.org.uk . Alternatively, just pop into the café at The Brightwell to discuss your needs and we’d be happy to help! Coffee Lounge and Outdoor Terrace The whole Centre is fully accessible and there is free parking too. There is a choice of seating available and on warmer days, café users are welcome to enjoy our outdoor Terrace and Garden areas.
- The Brightwell | Accessibility Statement
We want everyone to use our site and are commited to doing so. Accessibility Statement Accessibility statement for www.thebrightwell.org.uk The Brightwell website is run by The West of England MS Therapy Centre Ltd. We are committed to ensuring our website is accessible to as many people as possible, regardless of ability or technology. We want everyone who visits our website to have a positive experience. This means you should be able to: change colours, contrast levels and fonts increase the font size zoom in up to 300% without text spilling off the screen navigate most of the website using a keyboard navigate most of the website using speech recognition software listen to most of the website using a screen reader (including the latest versions of JAWS, NVDA and VoiceOver) We have also aimed to make the content on our website as clear and simple as possible to understand. Customising your device My Computer My Wa y provides free online resources that can help you customise your device and make it easier to use. These include: how to adjust your computers visual settings how to navigate a site using a keyboard how to make a device talk to you How accessible this website is This website is built using valid HTML5, CSS and JavaScript and, where possible, follows the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1, levels A and AA. The site is responsive and designed to work across desktop, tablet and mobile devices. It has been tested across a range of modern browsers. Known accessibility issues Feedback and contact information While we aim to meet WCAG 2.1 Level AA standards, we are aware that some parts of the website are not fully accessible. These include: some videos do not yet have captions, subtitles or transcripts some PDFs and downloadable documents are not fully accessible some images do not have appropriate alternative text some parts of the website are not fully accessible using a keyboard some online forms can be difficult to navigate using only a keyboard some colour combinations do not meet WCAG 2.1 Level AA contrast requirements We are actively working to address these issues. If you need information on this website in a different format, please contact us via: email: community@thebrightwell.org.uk call us on: 01454 201 686 We will consider your request and get back to you in five working days Reporting accessibility problems with this website If you find any problems not listed on this page or think we are not meeting accessibility requirements, please let us know. Your feedback helps us improve the website for all users. You can contact us using the details above. Please include as much information as possible about the issue you experienced. Complaints Accessibility regulations are enforced by the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC). If you are not satisfied with how we respond to your accessibility complaint, you can contact the Equality Advisory Support Service (EASS) for independent advice and support. Non-accessible content Video and audio content We aim for all our video/audio content to have at least one of the following: subtitles captioning a transcript Some older video and audio content does not currently meet this standard. We are working to improve this over time. Downloadable documents Some downloadable resources, particularly older PDFs and Word documents, may not be fully accessible. We are working towards improving the accessibility of these documents and are exploring alternatives to PDFs where possible. Colour contrast Most of the website meets WCAG 2.1 Level AA colour contrast requirements. We are reviewing and updating colour combinations that do not yet meet these standards. Third party content Our website includes some third-party content and functionality. While we aim to work with accessible providers, we cannot always guarantee the accessibility of third-party services. What we're doing to improve accessibility We regularly review the accessibility of our website through: manual checks by our content team automated accessibility testing tools Accessibility improvements are prioritised as part of our ongoing website develop ment. Preparation of this accessibility statement This statement was prepared in August 2022. It will be reviewed on a six monthly basis. This statement was reviewed in February 2026 and will be on a six - monthly basis.
- The Brightwell | Physio Consent
Consent form for physiotherpy at the Centre with COVID-19 guidance < Back Consent form This form is for all existing and all potential members who wish to receive physiotherapy at The Brightwell, The West of England MS Therapy Centre or The Bristol Therapy Centre. You need to fill this form in before you physically attend or virtually attend a physiotherapy session. You only need to fill this form in once. First Name Last Name Email Phone If you are at high risk from coronavirus you're advised to follow the shielding advice issued by Public Health England to protect yourself. If this is the case you may not be offered a face to face appointment at the Centre. However, you will still be eligible to access our online, virtual appointments. If you are continuing to shield we also advise you to look at the self-management tools offered by the NHS. THE MAIN SYMPTOMS OF COVID-19 ARE; A new, continuous cough – this means coughing a lot for more than an hour, or 3 or more coughing episodes in 24 hours (if you usually have a cough, it may be worse than usual) A high temperature – you feel hot to touch on your chest and/or back (you do not need to measure your temperature) A loss or change to your sense of taste or smell - this means you’ve noticed you cannot smell or taste anything, or things smell or taste different to normal Most people with COVID-19 have at least one of these symptoms. WHAT TO DO IF YOU HAVE SYMPTOMS If you have ANY of the main symptoms of COVID-19 you must; Stay at home (self-isolate) - do not leave your home or have visitors. Anyone you live with and anyone in your support bubble must also self-isolate Get a test - Get a test to check if you have COVID-19 as soon as possible . Anyone you live with and anyone in your support bubble should also get a test To get a test visit https://www.nhs.uk/ask-for-a-coronavirus-test Continue
- The Brightwell | Gift in Will
Give the gift of therapy, support and friendship by remembering The Brightwell in your Will and positively impact those living with chronic neurological conditions. Leaving a Gift in Your Will for The Brightwell Make a Difference That Lives On Give the gift of therapy, support and friendship by remembering The Brightwell in your Will. Leaving a financial gift to The Brightwell will have a direct and positive impact on those living with chronic neurological conditions. Your gift will enable individuals to be supported by our wonderful Centre. Why Leave a Legacy to The Brightwell? Your gift directly benefits individuals. Donations subsidise the costs associated with providing face-to-face therapies, clinics and social events for people living with these challenging conditions, so that they can afford to have these therapies on a long-term basis. The Brightwell is not part of a larger Charity or group which means that you can be assured that your legacy will be used effectively for The Brightwell. The Brightwell does not receive any direct funding from the Government, the NHS or National MS/Neurological Charities. This means that all costs must be fundraised or covered by Brightwell members’ voluntary contributions. By leaving a legacy you will be part of the future of this precious local resource. We are a small charity, and we keep our overheads as low as possible, so your donation will be used effectively to support The Brightwell, now, and in the future. So, whether you know someone who has benefitted from the therapies and support offered by The Charity, maybe you have benefitted yourself, been a supporter or a volunteer, please remember us in your Will. Here is some important information you and your Solicitor will need to know… The Brightwell is a brand name for two charities. We are regulated by the Charities Commissions Regulations. These are The West of England Multiple Sclerosis Therapy Centre Limited, Registered Charity Number 801155. and The Brightwell Neurological Support Centre Limited, Registered Charity Number 1109459. How to Leave a Legacy: Your intention to make a bequest will need to be stipulated in your Will. This can be for a specific amount, for a specific purpose or as a percentage of your Estate, and can be made to one or the other of the Charities above. There may be beneficial tax implications for your beneficiaries in terms of potential Inheritance Tax savings. We cannot give you any offered or implied guidance about this, but your appointed Solicitor will be able to give you specific and qualified advice. We are very fortunate, that Wards, a firm of local Solicitors offer beneficial rates to The Brightwell Community to draw up a simple Will. Please see the details below: You can make use of this excellent and affordable service by calling The Brightwell on 01454 201686 and one of our Reception Team will be able to provide you with available dates and next steps. In Memory Donations for someone who’s no longer with us If you would like to make The Brightwell the beneficiary at your loved ones’ farewell ceremony, the person organising their send-off can arrange this with us directly. Alternative ly, if you wanted to make a personal donation in the memory of someone who is no longer with us please visit www.thebrightwell.org.uk/donate , or pick up the phone and call us on 01454 201686 we are always happy to talk. Should you wish to consider leaving The Brightwell a legacy and have questions, you can speak to a member of our team. If you would like to see firsthand how your gift will benefit others, we extend an open invitation for you to come and visit the Brightwell. Please call Victoria Hocquard on 01454 201686 or email victoria.hocquard@thebrightwell.org.uk How to find out more Please visit our website www.thebrightwell.org.uk Our blogs are a great place to start to get a real feel for what we have taking place www.thebrightwell.org.uk/blog You can also sign up to receive our Newsletters www.thebrightwell.org.uk/brightwell-newsletters Our Grateful Thanks On behalf of all the members, staff, volunteers and supporters at The Brightwell, we would like to pass on our heartfelt thanks for thinking about The Brightwell and taking the step in making a huge difference for the future of the Centre. Thank you.






