Search Results

Everyone at The Brightwell is incredibly grateful to Peter Coleman, Chairman of the Howards Motor Group, as well as to his team, for their generous and continued support. Peter and his fellow Directors, Chris Lee, Managing Director and Jonathan Coleman, Executive Director, pictured above, initially donated to The Brightwell via the Big Give in December 2021. That donation was used towards funding the installation of the new accessible electric door leading from the recently extended café seating area to the new terrace and garden, all of which represented part of a significant project in 2022. The photo below shows Caz, one of our members and Trustees, making good use of the easy access onto the patio and gazebo area, having enjoyed the sunshine back in the late summer. Howards then helped again with a significant donation as part of the charity’s “Project Green” strategy. At present the charity is working very hard to reduce their spiralling energy costs and to commit to reducing their carbon footprint by the installation of LED lighting. Peter Coleman commented” We are so pleased to be able to support this excellent charity. We have seen first-hand, from working with Caz over many years, how the debilitating effects of MS can dramatically change someone’s life. Having visited The Brightwell back in the summer, I was impressed by the positive and supportive atmosphere and the very friendly welcome!” The Howard’s second donation has ensured that as of mid-January 2023 all the centre’s outdoor lighting has been changed to LED and where possible to include motion sensors. This will significantly reduce the electricity consumption compared to the previous high usage outdoor light fittings. The photo below shows the newly installed lighting as well as a great view of the terrace, gazebo and gardens. Howards celebrated 50 years in business in 2022, and now represent 11 brands with 23 showrooms in Weston super-Mare, Taunton, Yeovil, and Dorchester. Both within the world of motor manufacturers and in terms of customer service they have an outstanding reputation and from our own members interest every dealership employs a Motability specialist. For further information about the Howards Group, please visit www.howardsgroup.co.uk If you would like to find out more about The Brightwell 100 please contact Caroline Blake-Symes, Trustee and Brightwell 100 Coordinator, mobile:07970 038135, email: caroline.blake-symes@thebrightwell.org.uk Web: thebrightwell.org.uk/brightwell-100 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/the-brightwell

We just wanted to send a Christmas greeting and an update regarding The Brightwell 100. This corporate fundraising initiative was set up in February this year and has been a great success already. Donations have also been made in terms of donated services and we are grateful to Blackfriars Auto Services for helping us out in an emergency. Thanks to generous donations we have been able to support the Oxygen Generation project, which was a massive fundraising challenge led by Victoria Hocquard, Head of Fundraising, with donations being given through Trusts and Grants. We started creating our own oxygen in August and this now guarantees supply and quality as we are now independent from a supplier and even despite the increased usage of electricity, we are still making significant savings. This project was supported by Shiptheory and MBS Land and New Homes. The new outdoor terrace area has been a fantastic addition to the Centre, and has developed way beyond our initial hopes with accessible electric doors leading out onto the new terrace which has been fully landscaped and the addition of a large covered gazebo has been the icing on the cake! In terms of Brightwell 100 supporters this was thanks to Woodstock Homes, Bristol Mortgages Online and Craig West Turf and Landscaping. Other projects have included new LED motion sensor lights for the outside car park area which will be installed this month thanks to the Howards Group who also paid for the electronic doors as part of last Christmas’s Big Give. Woodstock Homes have become very involved in our community at the Centre, via The Brightwell 100. Through very generous donations, they have sponsored much of the new terrace, new physio uniforms marketing and merchandising materials on an ongoing basis plus most recently much needed IT equipment. Our most recent new member is AJH Governance who have paid for the urgently needed repairs to some physio equipment and oxygen masks for new service users. We regularly post updates on the following platforms Website: www.thebrightwell.org.uk/brightwell-100 LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/the-brightwell/ Brightwell blog: www.thebrightwell.org.uk/blog Our next significant project is to raise money to convert all the interior lighting to LED to avoid dramatic increases in electricity costs and to further commit to our sustainability strategy. Details of this alongside our latest Brightwell 100 Wishlist can be found on our webpage. Our new café area is almost complete and will be open in January 2023. Our new meeting rooms are fully operational and as Brightwell 100 supporters, preferential rates will be applied. If you would like to find out more about becoming a Brightwell 100 supporter please contact Caz Blake-Symes on caroline.blake-symes@thebrightwell.org.uk or call 07970 038135.

We are delighted to welcome Adele Haysom MBE, Governance Consultant of AJH Governance, to The Brightwell 100. Adele works in the specialist field of advising schools, academies, educational trusts and even Councils on the governance of schools. Adele is the Chair of Trustees of The Lighthouse Schools Partnership, which is made up of 3 large secondary schools, 24 primaries and at any one time has over 10,000 pupils on roll plus nearly 2,000 staff. This work is carried out on a voluntary basis and she has been volunteering in schools at this strategic level since 2004. In 2018, Adele gained recognition as a National Leader in Governance and set up her own consultancy business using her extensive knowledge and experience to support other schools and colleges. Since that time, she has worked all over the country supporting governing bodies, as well as offering outstanding training programmes. In 2021 Adele’s commitment was recognised by being awarded an MBE for services to education, and she actually received her medal on the weekend of the late Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations. One of Adele’s close friends lives with Secondary Progressive MS and benefits from the services and support that The Brightwell offers, so Adele is a keen supporter. Adele’s donation will be used for the replacement of battery charging unit for the very important Electronic Lifting Cushion, some new straps for one of the frequently used tilting tables and some masks for new users of the Oxygen Chamber. Thank you Adele and welcome to our community, there will always be an open invitation for you to come and see us here at the centre! To find out about becoming a Brightwell 100 member please visit www.thebrightwell.org.uk/brightwell-100

The Brightwell, based in Bradley Stoke, North Bristol is ideally suited as a location for anyone looking to hire rooms on an hourly, half-day or daily basis. The Brightwell is based minutes from the M5, M4 and the M32, Aztec West and Cribbs Causeway. We have a choice of room options, namely: the newly built, air-conditioned Versatile/Conference Room, our refurbished meeting room as well as a choice of treatment and therapy rooms. From January 2023 full café facilities will also be available to hirers. The prices below are indicative and subject to availability. Discounts are available for regular bookings and for practices that benefit our members. £20 per hour, £70 for a half day (up to 4 hours), £120 for a full day (up to 8 hours). The Brightwell is a Therapy Centre which is fully accessible. There is free on-site disabled parking and standard parking for visitors. Each room comes with access to WIFI, air-conditioning and access to the café and seating areas. Versatile/Conference Room This room features: A choice of layouts; formal or relaxed meeting styles, ideal for presentations or round table discussions. Use of projector Room is 7.5 m x 5 m Large Meeting Room This room features: ·A choice of layouts: suitable for a multi desk office or meeting room Use of projector available Room is 7.5 m x 4.35 m Smaller Meeting Room Ideal for one to one or interview meetings Comfortable seating Treatment Room 1 This room features: Lockable cabinets Washbasin with hands free mixer tap Large plinth bed Desk with chairs Medical grade lighting Ceiling hoist Automatic hand towel dispenser For more information please contact: Steve Fitt – Premises Manager 01454 201 686 steve.fitt@thebrightwell.org.uk

We are so delighted that Woodstock Homes have generously sponsored the new uniforms for our amazing Physio Team. The Brightwell’s expert physio department has a fantastic reputation for supporting those living with chronic neurological conditions. The department is staffed by a team specifically trained in dealing with neurological conditions as well as physios for sports injuries and rehabilitation. The department is very well provided for with a full range of specialist equipment and hoists. The introduction of these new uniforms has been welcomed by the whole team and centre users alike. Woodstock Homes are great supporters of the Brightwell and have also donated to the development of our new outdoor terrace area and with ongoing support with funding for merchandising for our fundraising events. Everyone is most grateful for their support and encouragement. If you would like to find out how you or your business can become a corporate supporter and member of The Brightwell 100, please contact Caz Blake-Symes caroline.blake-symes@thebrightwell.org.uk or call 07970 038135.

My name is Caz Blake-Symes, I live with Secondary Progressive MS and I’m a fulltime wheelchair user and have impaired vision caused by the MS. I wanted to personally promote the Access to Work programme which is funded by the Government as not all employers are aware of this excellent scheme. Thanks to this scheme I work fulltime on a self-employed basis. I work as a consultant and have benefited from this scheme for many years. At present I receive funding for a Personal Assistant for 12 hours a week, however there are numerous ways in which employers can receive financial support. I feel passionately that far too many people with disabilities are overlooked at the early stages of recruitment, as employers may be concerned about managing any potential limitations. ATW can support with a wide array of options including equipment and work-based adaptations. The grant is awarded via the eligible employee rather than the employer Here are a few facts that may help, this information is taken from www.gov.uk/access-to-work where full details about applications can be found. What Access to Work is Access to Work can help you get or stay in work if you have a physical or mental health condition or disability. The support you get will depend on your needs. Through Access to Work, you can apply for: · a grant to help pay for practical support with your work · support with managing your mental health at work · money to pay for communication support at job interviews Practical support with your work Access to Work could give you a grant to help pay for things like: · BSL interpreters, lip speakers or note takers · adaptations to your vehicle so you can get to work · taxi fares to work or a support worker if you cannot use public transport · a support worker or job coach to help you in your workplace Your workplace can include your home if you work from there some or all of the time. It does not matter how much you earn. If you get an Access to Work grant, it will not affect any other benefits you get and you will not have to pay it back. You or your employer may need to pay some costs up front and claim them back later. Mental health support You can get support to manage your mental health at work, which might include: · a tailored plan to help you get or stay in work · one-to-one sessions with a mental health professional Communication support for job interviews Access to Work can help pay for communication support at a job interview if: · you’re deaf or hard of hearing and need a BSL interpreter or lipspeaker · you have a physical or mental health condition or learning difficulty and need communication support Eligibility You must have a disability, illness or health condition that means you need support to do your job. This can include, for example: · a physical disability, for example if you’re hard of hearing or use a wheelchair · a learning disability or related condition, for example if you have Down’s syndrome · a developmental condition, like autism spectrum disorder · learning difficulties or differences like ADHD or dyslexia · an illness such as diabetes or epilepsy · a temporary condition, like a broken leg · a mental health condition, for example anxiety or depression You do not need to be diagnosed with a condition to apply for mental health support Your work You need to have a paid job (or be about to start or return to one). A paid job can be full or part-time and can include: · employment · self-employment · an apprenticeship · a work trial or work experience · an internship · a work placement You cannot get Access to Work support for voluntary work. The Brightwell is an equal opportunities employer

We thought you might like to see the recent Press Release below which as been well received by many puclication..... "The Brightwell is a charity that supports people living with neurological conditions, their families and carers. The West of England MS Therapy Centre is the main charity under The Brightwell umbrella. It was established over 37 years ago, to provide therapies to people living with Multiple Sclerosis (MS). It was originally in Nailsea and then moved to its new location in Bradley Stoke, in 2012. Although the focus of the Brightwell is to support those living with chronic neurological conditions, over the years, people with other health issues, including cancer and sporting injuries, have come to the centre for support, predominantly for oxygen therapy. The people who use our Centre also have other conditions include Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) and Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME), Motor Neuron Disease (MND), Parkinson’s, Stroke and Fibromyalgia, more recently those suffering from Long Covid have also been benefiting from oxygen therapy and the Charity’s support. The Centre, located in Wheatfield Drive, was officially opened by HRH The Princess Royal and since then has supported thousands of Service Users along with their families and carers. 2022 has seen extensive improvements and developments to the facility. Doro Pasantes, CEO said “One of our most exciting developments is, that after extensive fundraising, we now have our own oxygen generation plant. This ensures that we produce the purest oxygen for optimum therapy results, plus we can now guarantee supply as its production is on-site!” “By the of this year we will be opening our doors to welcome Service Users, friends, and community supporters to enjoy a coffee, lunch or a snack in our newly refurbished cafe which is incredibly exciting.” If you would like to find out more about The Brightwell, please visit www.thebrightwell.org.uk"

Everyone at The Brightwell has been completely overwhelmed by the generosity of so many supporters in helping us develop our new outdoor space, not only with financial donations but with their time and materials too. The end result is so much more than we could have hoped for! The finishing touch this week has been the completion of the new gazebo which looks fantastic and will act as much needed shade when the hot weather comes next year. Many of those living with neurological conditions suffer from the ability to self-regulate their body temperature in the heat, so this new shaded area will be a great help. We would like to thank the team from Craig West Turf and Landscaping and the group of apprentices rom Rolls Royce who worked so hard when erecting this new structure. We will be holding an official opening in the Spring and will invite all those who have contributed. Thank you all. If you would like to find out more about getting involved as a corporate sponsor, please visit www.thebrightwell.org.uk/brightwell-100

We are delighted that Craig West and his team have supported us through The Brightwell100. CWTLS are located in Bristol with their main head office based in Avonmouth. Starting 25 years ago offering specialist turfing to both domestic and commercial premises. The business has developed to include a full range of services including site clearance, landscaping, and fencing. CWTLS were introduced to The Brightwell by Woodstock Homes who are existing Brightwell 100 members and keen supporters of the charity. After visiting the centre to have a look at the new outdoor terrace space, Craig generously offered to landscape around this recently created area and take a look at improving other parts of the garden. The impact has been incredible and will give hours of pleasure and enjoyment to all the centre users and visitors. Everyone at The Brightwell would like to thank Craig and his team for all the materials and labour provided free of charge. For further details about CWTLS please visit www.cwtls.co.uk

A huge "Thank You" to everyone who took part in the Dragon Boat Festival 2022. organised by Bristol Breakfast Rotary Club. The Brightwell is so honoured to have been chosen as the headline charity for this event and in total an impressive £13,000 has been raiised for us. The Brightwell, will use these funds to continue supporting our members through the delivery of our life-changing therapies. From everyone at the Centre, we would whileheartedly like to thank all the teams that raced on the day, each and everyone participant is amazing. We are so grateful not only for for all the fundraising, but also for building awareness of the important service we provide for those living with chronic neurological conditions. We hope that everyone will keep in touch with us. #dragonboatfestival #bristolbreakfastrotary #rotaryclub #bristolcharity #charityevent #fundraiser #MStherapy #multiplesclerosis

Many of our Brightwell followers have asked for details about the new, recently installed Oxygen Generation equipment. This new system is working extremely well. The reason for this investment was to give us independence from BOC and their rising prices. This also ensures that we have full independence in terms of supply. This system feeds our existing Hyperbaric Oxygen Chamber and will have sufficient capacity to feed a second chamber which is planned for the future. We would like to take this opportunity to thank everybody who supported us, enabling us to make this significant investment. We will be giving updated numbers in the near future about the number of Service Users enjoying the benefits of Oxygen Therapy. The smooth running of the department is very much dependent on our team of knowledgeable and dedicated volunteers, for which we are exceptionally grateful. Below is a selection of photos showing the new equipment in the plant room.

As many of you will be aware, our focus on Oxygen Generation has been significant both from a fundraising point of view plus manpower and expertise in ensuring the project runs in a timely and cost-effective manner. We would like to thank everyone who has worked so hard raising money towards the £90,000 cost. We are still looking for £28,000 to complete the project. By generating our own oxygen, we will be reducing our costs and carbon footprint. Supply issues will be eliminated as will any risk that comes with the storing of pressurised oxygen as the system will provide plenty on demand, even when we add a second chamber. From Thursday 21st July the Oxygen Department will be closed as we are having our new Oxygen generation equipment installed and will reopen on Monday 1st August. If you're interested in the science behind generating oxygen you can click the link below to watch a short YouTube video about the process. (762) How Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA) technique works | Oxygen separation | Oxygen concentrator - YouTube If you would like to become a corporate sponsor or a member of The Brightwell 100 please contact Caroline Blake-Symes on 07970 038135 or email caroline.blake-symes@thebrightwell.org.uk