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As part of MS Awareness Week we are working with other MS organisations to host an informal session here at the Brightwell. The theme for this year is “MS Conversations” so come along, have a cuppa and talk to us. We are delighted to be hosting this event organised by the MS Society and Overcoming MS. MS Awareness Week is from 28 April until 4 May 2025 We know finding the right words can be hard at times but it doesn’t have to be. We want to bring together those affected by MS, whether you live with it or whether someone close to you does – this place and time is for you. Whether it’s talking to a family member about their diagnosis or asking an employer for support. Through this campaign, we want to show people that talking about MS can be empowering and helps to educate others about the condition. We will make the space family friendly so please do feel free to bring children along. ‘MSConversations This is a free event, please click on the link below to book your tickets – see you there! Book Tickets

image courtesy of Cakesmiths Treats in the Brightwell Café With Easter fast approaching, we’re egg-cited to introduce some special treats at the café, including a limited edition Cakesmiths Mini Egg Cookie Bar! These chewy vanilla-infused cookie dough bars are packed with delicious milk chocolate chunks, topped with pastel mini eggs and drizzled with white chocolate! So, next time you’re at the Centre, stop by ay the Café and see what treats are on offer as well as our fantastic, great value for money menu. Easter Draws There is still time to take part in one of our Easter Egg Prize Draws, enter to be in with a chance of winning a luxury Hotel Chocolat Patisserie Chocolate Ostrich Easter Egg. You can buy your tickets at Reception or via the website: The Brightwell | Luxury Easter Egg Prize Draw  We also have some spaces left for our 100 square draw, where you can enter to win a 1kg Belgian Chocolate Easter Egg, kindly donated to us by the Bradley Stoke Lions. Buy your tickets directly at Reception for your chance to win this chocolatey wonder! Charity Easter Trail We have launched some Easter fun for little ones – our Easter trail maps are now on sale – you can buy these online here: The Brightwell | Easter Egg Trail Map  or from Reception.   It’s a great activity to keep the kids entertained over the school holidays and they can bring their completed trail maps to The Brightwell to claim their prize! Whatever your plans are over the coming weeks, take part in some or all of these  lovely Easter events at the Brightwell!

The Brightwell 100 is a network of businesses and corporate donors, who all have the shared aim of supporting the work carried out at The Brightwell, through fundraising, by donated goods & services, and volunteering. The Brightwell 100 initiative was  launched in February 2022   How does the Brightwell 100 work? There are a number of ways the businesses can be  involved. Make a Donation Please click on the button The Brightwell Wishlist One aspect of joining this unique network is by sponsoring or donating to something specific from our Wishlist. Many of our sponsors really like the fact that they can choose exactly where their money is spent and where it will be used. The items on our Wishlist range from a contribution to one of our major projects, through to paying for Counselling Sessions or purchasing items that will enhance our Service Users experience and therapies. Regular Contributions by Standing Order You can also make a regular donation, as a general donation or for a specific purpose, via a Standing Order. If applicable you can add 25% to your donation via GiftAid. Donate via our JustGiving page Please make a donation via our Brightwell 100 JustGiving page, by clicking on the Logo above.   Here is our latest April 2025 Wishlist What to do next Visit www.thebrightwell.org.uk/brightwell-100 For further information please contact Caz Blake-Symes, Trustee and Brightwell 100 coordinator. email caroline.blake-symes@thebrightwell.org.uk Thank you for your interest in The Brightwell 100.

Image from Primark Adaptive website As most of us know, living with a Neurological Condition can be very challenging. One not so obvious issue is getting dressed and what to wear. As most of us know, living with a Neurological Condition can be very challenging. One not so obvious issue is getting dressed and what to wear. Due to the stiffness in our limbs, limited mobility, pain and the lack of the ability to stand, getting dressed and undressed can be a tiring and frustrating process! And then you have the added issue of trying to buy clothes that will be easy to use. Lots of us living with a disability choose to by clothes that pull on or pull over so there is a limited need for zips, buttons and laces. This often means that the choice of suitable garments is quite limited and not occasion appropriate. Primark have just launched a new range of Women and Men’s Adaptive Clothing. This range  is not only aimed at wheelchair and walking aid users but also for those who have a stoma or permanent catheter. Several other companies also offer a range of adapted baby and children’s clothes plus ranges that are more suitable for  people who are Neurodivergent, who may have a sensitivity to certain fabrics and fastenings. The mainstream promotion of the Primark “Adaptive” range,  prompted us to look at what else is on the market. We hope you find this useful… Primark www.primark.com/en-gb/a/inspiration/fashion-trends/our-adaptive-range The Able Label www.theablelabel.com/ Adaptive Clothing UK adaptiveclothing.uk/ Tommy Hilfiger - Adaptive Essentials uk.tommy.com/tommy-adaptive Able 2 Wear able2wear.co.uk/   These are just a few examples. Simply search for “Adaptive Clothing” .   If you have any examples of places that you have been where the  changing facilities were accessible or you found a great easy to wear clothing range,  please get in touch  and we can share this via our blog  or newsletters.   Don’t forget that we always have a range of preloved and as-new clothing, bags, shoes and accessories in our shop at The Brightwell.

Adapted from an MS Trust article. Although this article is focused on MS, Pilates is beneficial for other neurological conditions too. Pilates is a low-impact exercise which focuses on building core stability and muscle strength by performing a range of exercises in a flow of movement. The exercises are based on six fundamental principles: concentration, control, centering, flowing movement, precision and breathing. Pilates can be practised on the floor with a mat or with a range of equipment and apparatus (e.g. weights, resistance bands, an exercise ball or a barre). Pilates is usually taught by a trained instructor in small groups or one-to-one sessions. Many people with MS practise Pilates as a complementary therapy alongside conventional medicine they are taking for their MS. How can Pilates benefit people with MS? Research has proven that exercise in general is beneficial for people with MS. It’s important for maintaining health and wellbeing, and can help to alleviate some MS symptoms. Pilates in particular is becoming more popular among people with MS. There is good general evidence of the benefits of Pilates, and there are now a small number of scientific studies which have investigated the potential benefits specifically for people with MS. The majority of these studies were carried out in small groups but their results were promising. The benefits covered a variety of areas – the main ones seen were improvements in balance and mobility, decreased levels of fatigue and pain, and better cognitive function and quality of life.   Who is Pilates suitable for? Pilates is suitable for people of all levels of ability, including people who use wheelchairs. Exercises can be modified by your Pilates teacher to suit you.   Pilates research One 12-week study compared the effects of Pilates and physiotherapy on walking and balance. 45 people with relapsing remitting MS with EDSS scores between 3.0 and 6.0 completed the trial. Participants were given either a Pilates programme or a physiotherapy programme, both involving one 30-minute session per week. Pilates and physiotherapy were found to be equally effective at improving balance and mobility. Another study of 30 people with MS also examined the effect of Pilates on walking performance. Participants were assigned to either Pilates and massage therapy or massage therapy only. The 6-minute walk test (walking as far as possible in six minutes) was used to monitor whether Pilates was effective or not. Walking distance increased by 52.4 metres in the Pilates group compared to 15 metres in the massage group. The study concluded that Pilates is a viable exercise option to help manage MS. Pilates is also effective and feasible for people with MS who use wheelchairs. One study found that it could improve sitting stability and posture, and decrease back and shoulder pain. The people with MS who took part in the study also described psychological and social benefits.      Pilates at The Brightwell Our excellent Physiotherapists Lauren and Bhumika  offer a combined Neuro  Pilates & Yoga Class on a Friday Morning from 10.30 to 11.30am. These conditions are suitable for those living with any neurological conditions. These sessions include Low impact stretches to help increase strength, endurance and flexibility, done in seating, lying and standing. Finish class with relaxation Additional Class Coming soon! We will soon be announcing a Higher Ability Pilates Class details to follow soon. If you would like to book a place on the Friday morning class please call Reception on 01454 201686. For further information about all the Physio sessions we offer, please visit www.thebrightwell.org.uk/physio

London Marathon spaces are really hard to come by, they are like gold dust! So we were overjoyed to find out that we were selected for a London Marathon space this year. On the hunt to find the perfect candidate to take our space, we came across George Harrold, sports lecturer at a local college. We invited George to visit the Centre for a tour so he could see all of the amazing things that make up The Brightwell Centre. He was extremely impressed with our Physio Gym, intrigued about Oxygen Therapy and how it can help with sports injuries. George was super keen to take on the challenge and fundraise for us in the lead up to running the Marathon. With a fundraising target of £1,000, George is on track to hit the milestone in time for the Marathon, he has so far managed to raise an incredible £890. George is about to embark on his longest training run this weekend coming and is looking forward to updating us on his progress next week. The London Marathon will take place on Sunday 27 April, not long to go! We would like to say on behalf of everyone at The Brightwell, Thank you George. You have taken on a huge challenge in support of our charity, we really cannot thank you enough. Please join us in wishing George the best of luck for the Marathon. If you wish to support George's Challenge, you can do so at https://www.gofundme.com/f/london-marathon-the-brightwell-charity

Join the Fun – The Brightwell Easter Egg Trail! Get ready for an adventure this Easter! From April 4th to 21st , during the Easter Holidays. Take part in our annual Easter Egg Trail  and explore Bradley Stoke and the Willow Brook Centre.   How It Works: Follow the trail maps to hunt for hidden Easter egg posters   Collect the letters and crack the secret word🏆 Complete the trail and win a prize! This year we are running two fantastic trails: 📍 One at the Willow Brook Centre 📍 One around North Bradley Stoke 📜 Trail Maps:  Just £5 each, available from Monday, March 31st. Plus, every participant is automatically entered into our Easter Trail Prize Draw! 🎟️ 🏅 Claim Your Prize! Finish the trail and collect your prize from The Brightwell Centre during opening hours. A huge thank you  to our generous sponsors, Willow Brook Centre  and Taylors Estate Agents , for making this event possible! 🌟 Don’t miss out—grab your map on sale from Monday, follow the trail, and let the Easter fun begin! 🌟

Last Week was Brain Awareness Week. This was promoted through our social media platforms. However, we thought it would be useful to put all these powerful messages in one blog in case you missed any of the posts. This  #BrainAwarenessWeek , the Neuro Therapy Network, of which The Brightwell is a member, are joining with the UK Neurological Alliances of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to call for greater investment into research investigating neurological conditions. #InvestInNeuroResearch The key message was to build awareness and call out for more investment and research. Neurological conditions don’t discriminate. They can affect anyone, at any age and at any time. There are over 600 known neurological conditions - any condition that affects the brain, spinal cord or nervous system. It is likely that you, or someone you know, will be impacted by a neurological condition within your lifetime. Despite this, there is still so much we don’t know about these life altering conditions.  If you would like to discuss your specific conditions or any concerns please contact us ion 01454 201686. Check out our website www.thebrightwell.org.uk

Brrightwell member using the CardioWall The Brightwell has now been working with Rugged Interactive for a number of years. Rugged Interactive, based in Bristol ( www.rugged-interactive.com ) kindly loaned The Brightwell a “CardioWall”,  and over the last 12 months, this has been effectively use by individuals and groups. It was agreed by all parties involved, that it would be extremely interesting and beneficial to undertake a formal study on a group of users over a 12 week period to understand the effects of gamification on health and wellbeing. Please click on the link below to download the full 7 page report. It really makes for a great read and clearly demonstrates the power of activity through interaction. Our heartfelt thanks go to everyone involved in the project,   to our fantastic Physiotherapy team, to Max, former Brightwell Physio, who oversaw the activities and compiled the data and of course a huge thank you to all the Members who took part. The Brightwell team worked closely with the staff from Rugged Interactive and CardioWall during this 12- week research period. Here is some further information: Official title: “Evaluating the effectiveness of gamification using “CardioWall” on mood, participation, and balance in adults with chronic neurological conditions” Gamification refers to making an activity fun and somewhat competitive, akin to a game. Background: This study explores the challenges and benefits of using physical activity interventions with emerging technology for adults with chronic neurological conditions. These conditions often lead to symptoms like balance, fatigue, and mobility problems etc. Exercise, particularly in group settings, can significantly improve fitness, strength, and quality of life. However, motivation and engagement remain critical factors for participation. “CardioWall” is a 9-lightpod reaction wall that challenges reaction speed, mobility, spatial awareness and hand eye coordination, whilst improving balance, flexibility and general mobility levels. In this study, we attempted to evaluate the effect of gamification using “CardioWall” in an exercise class group setting  on mood, participation, and balance in adults with neurological conditions.   Results: 39% increase in general mood and a 43% increase in happiness. 43% increase in the ability to complete both low-level and moderate exercises. 50% reduction in self-reported pain ratings. improvement from 20 -33% in mental alertness, confidence, anxiety, and stress. 20-33% change in the impact of fatigue. 31% improvement on the total Berg Balance score. Please download the report from the link above for full details about the findings, metrics and methodology – it is really fascinating.   Conclusion: Using gamification techniques through “CardioWall”, supported engagement and participation in the exercise class. This study reflects the improvement of various functions and aspects of quality of life for adults with chronic neurological conditions after using the “CardioWall” in group circuit training.   We are very proud to announce that Amrik, Lead Physio will be presenting a poster and the research findings at the MS Trust Conference 2025 in Hinckley, later this month.   If you would like to find out more about the Physiotherapy and classes we offer, please visit www.thebrightwell.org.uk/physio

From left to right: BS Town Council Members: Sue Bandcroft, Dayley Lawrence- Deputy-Mayor, Natalie Field- Mayor, and Jon Williams We were delighted to host a special event at the Brightwell last Friday evening organised by Bradley Stoke Town Council. A huge thank you to Sharon Patela - Town Clerk, Libby Jordan, Natalie Field - Mayor and all the council members who attended for their support on the day. The purpose of the evening was to highlight how far women have come in football and the ongoing fight for recognition, equality, and respect in the sport. We had a special screening of Copa 71, a groundbreaking documentary that tells the untold story of the 1971 Women’s World Cup, a tournament that drew crowds of over 100,000 people but was largely forgotten in history. Long before the Lionesses and the rise of women’s football on the global stage, the 1971 Women’s World Cup in Mexico proved that there was a huge appetite for the women’s game, even when the sport’s governing bodies refused to recognise it. Teams from around the world competed in packed stadiums, yet their efforts were dismissed and erased from mainstream football history. This film sheds light on the trailblazing women who defied the odds and paved the way for today's generation of female footballers. There were two key speakers; Natalie Field, Mayor for Bradley Stoke introduced the event and welcomed all those who attended, around 40 people! and Doro, Brightwell CEO talked about her experiences of some of the qualities needed to be successful as a woman in Business, Charity and Sport. As you will see in the photos, we were also fortunate to have the Bradley Stoke Town Council “Red Dress” on display during the event. The Red Dress Project was set up 14 years ago and had hundreds if not thousands of women embroidering panels as an account of their lives, experiences and culture, this is a global project. Many Town Councils have taken part in an initiative to have their very own Red Dress, decorated by and representative of  the local community . The Brightwell is hoping to add a patch to the dress too. It will be great to be part of this celebratory garment for future generations to view. Thank you to everyone involved, it was a really successful evening – a great community collaboration.

By becoming a member of the Centre you will be able to access all the therapies and services we currently offer. How to Join... Step One Call us on 01454 201686 or email us at hello@thebrightwell.org.uk  to arrange a visit, a personal tour of our facilities  and have a chat about your specific needs and aims with one of the team. Step Two Once you have had your visit, please complete the information in our Membership Pack. The annual membership fee is only £35 per annum. Please download your Membership Pack below If you prefer you can collect a hard copy from the Centre or we can post one to you. A member of the team will gladly help you to complete the forms if required. Step Three Once we have all your information, one of our team will contact you to book your Clinical Assessment. Please cdownload your Clinical Assessment Pack below. If you prefer you can collect a pack from the Centre or we can post one to you. Step Four Have your assessment with one of our Physio Team. Discuss and agree on the most suitable and beneficial therapy plan for you. Step Five Start benefiting from the therapies we offer and enjoy being part of The Brightwell Community. Non-Neurological Conditions If you are recovering from an injury, Long Covid, cancer or any other health condition that you feel would benefit from the therapies we offer, you can also self-refer and become a member, this is £50. Please note that any therapies offer great value for money, but are not subsidised by the Charity for non-neurological conditions. Please download the Non-neurological Registration Form below. Sports Injuries If  you would like to benefit from using our Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy to accelerate healing from a Sports Injury please download the Sports Injury Registration Form below. ​​​Our Member Journey Officer ​ If you have any questions please call Dawn Wright, our Member Journey Officer on 01454 201686 or email  hello@thebrightwell.org.uk All forms and information can be viewed and downloaded from our Join Us page We very much look forward to welcoming you to joining us at The Brightwell.