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Happy New Year! I hope you all enjoyed a restful break over the festive period and managed to avoid the usual coughs and colds. I was fortunate to spend some quality time with my family and catch up with friends, which was a wonderful way to recharge. The Centre reopens on Monday, 5 January , and all of our regular services will be available, including Oxygen, Physiotherapy, the Café, and of course, support from our full team. We are very much looking forward to getting back to “normal” after the busy period of celebrations and time away. Please remember to check that all your sessions are booked. If you are unable to attend, we kindly ask that you notify Reception with as much notice as possible. From day one, the team and I will be reviewing all items within the Business Plan. One of our key priorities is to have the new booking system up and running as soon as possible, alongside exploring opportunities for extended opening hours. As always, we encourage everyone to get involved in the many activities taking place at the Centre. Here are just a few highlights planned for January: A new   Oxygen Operators Open Day Event   for potential volunteers will take place on 26 January . Please spread the word if you know someone who may be interested. Our next Carers Support Group Meeting   will be held on 22 January , available both in person and via Zoom. Join us for a Bingo Night   on 28 January . We will be launching our Valentine’s Day Draw  on 7 January , with a star prize of Dinner, Bed and Breakfast at the beautiful   Berwick Lodge. We have certainly hit the ground running for 2026, and we are excited for what lies ahead. I look forward to seeing you all very soon. Best wishes, Doro

Image source Sky Sports There is significant interest in English footballer Alessia Russo (forward for Arsenal and the Lionesses) and her use of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) as part of her elite recovery routine. While professional athletes often keep specific medical details private, Russo has been open about the intensive recovery protocols she uses to maintain her performance, especially following the major injuries that shaped her early career. Alessia Russo and Hyperbaric Recovery Russo has referenced "the hyperbaric chamber" as one of the "one per cent" (marginal gains) that she uses to stay at the top of her game. This is part of a broader "wellness toolkit" she utilises, which includes: •  Hyperbaric Oxygen Chambers: Used to breathe pure oxygen in a pressurised environment to speed up muscle repair. •  Red-Light Therapy: Used for cellular health and reducing inflammation. •  Nutrition and Sleep focus: Prioritising internal recovery to handle the high intensity of the WSL (Women's Super League) and international tournaments. Why She Uses It: The Injury Context Russo’s focus on advanced recovery stems from a serious hamstring injury she suffered shortly after joining Manchester United in 2020. This injury required surgery and a lengthy rehabilitation period.   •  Recovery Philosophy: She has stated that these injuries were a "learning curve" that taught her never to take her health for granted. •  Tournament Resilience: During back-to-back major tournaments (Euro 2022, World Cup 2023, and Euro 2025), she has relied on these technologies to manage the "congested" schedule of elite football. How Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Works for Footballers For a high-intensity forward like Russo, HBOT provides several physiological advantages: 1.      Accelerated Repair: Floods damaged muscle tissue with oxygen to speed up the healing of micro-tears. 2.      Reduced Inflammation: Helps manage the swelling and soreness that occur after a 90-minute match. 3.      Mitochondrial Boost: Enhances cellular energy production, helping athletes feel "fresher" between games. 4.      Mental Clarity: High oxygen levels are linked to improved focus and faster reaction times on the pitch. Other Notable Footballers Using HBOT Russo is not alone; many top-tier players have installed hyperbaric chambers in their homes or use them at club facilities, including: •  Cristiano Ronaldo: Famous for his strict recovery regime involving oxygen chambers. •  Mohamed Salah: Frequently shares photos of his recovery sessions in a chamber •  Marcus Rashford: Utilises HBOT to manage the physical toll of the Premier League season. How to get Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy at The Brightwell The Brightwell not only offers Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy for those living with chronic or neurological conditions, but we also offer sessions for those dealing with Sports Injuries and/or post-operative recovery. For further details, please visit www.thebrightwell.org.uk/oxygen-therapy

2025 has been an incredible and memorable year for The Brightwell!  This year we proudly celebrated our 40th anniversary. It is amazing to think how far we have come since the original Centre opened in Nailsea in 1985, and how much we have grown since moving to Bradbury House in Bradley Stoke in 2012. Alongside all the fun and excitement of our anniversary celebrations, it has also been one of our busiest and most productive years ever. One of our major challenges was our anniversary crowdfunding campaign, “40K for 40 Years.” We set ourselves the ambitious goal of raising an additional £40,000 above all our regular fundraising activities. Thanks to the generosity of our corporate partners, long-standing supporters, members, their families and friends, and so many new donors who gave to us for the first time, we reached our target in early October! And that wasn’t all. We have been truly inspired and humbled by the range of fundraising efforts from individuals and groups; golf days, marathons, a 100km bike ride, dance events, and much, much more. Alongside this, our own events, including our most successful corporate abseil day to date, our popular monthly quiz and bingo evenings, several popular draws and a lively dance show, helped make 2025 a record year for engagement and building community spirit. As a charity, we do not receive statutory funding or financial support from larger national charities. We are truly grateful for the support of our Corporate partnerships, Grants and Trusts, local Groups and Associations, Town and Parish Councils which make an enormous difference, enabling us to sustain and expand the therapies and services we offer. This support directly impacts the lives of people living with MS and other neurological and chronic conditions and underpins all the work that we do. Therapies remain at the heart of everything we do. This year we delivered thousands of oxygen therapy sessions, one-to-one physiotherapy appointments, classes, groups and Specialist Clinics. Our 2025 Impact Report, due in the New Year, will share even more detail about the difference these services make to the individuals we support. We have also enjoyed introducing new activities this year, including a dance class, a new early-morning 8:30am MIIT (Medium Impact Interval Training) online class, and the expansion of our Neuro-Pilates programme. Our oxygen therapy hours have been extended on Mondays too, with more updates planned for 2026. Our staff and volunteers have been nothing short of incredible this year! Our in-house shop has had a record-breaking year with takings quadrupling, and the Brightwell Café continues to grow as a welcoming community hub where people catch up over coffee or enjoy lunch together.   We were also delighted to launch our Carers’ Support Group, supported by a dedicated information point next to the Café and regular talks and advice sessions.  One of the highlights of 2025 was seeing Keith Taylor, one of the founders of the West of England MS Therapy Centre and our leading expert in hyperbaric oxygen therapy, awarded a British Empire Medal in the King’s Birthday Honours. Keith has dedicated 40 years to supporting people with MS and other neurological conditions, and this recognition is richly deserved. We could not be prouder! This year we also said a heartfelt farewell to Bhumika, one of our Senior Physiotherapists, and to Alex, our Physio Assistant.  At the same time, we were delighted to welcome Arron, a newly qualified physiotherapist, to the team. All of these events, stories and more can be found on our Blog. Behind the scenes, significant progress has been made too. We upgraded our entire IT system, including a move to Windows 11, thanks to the generosity of corporate supporters. The Oxygen and Physiotherapy departments now benefit from new energy-saving LED lighting, and we have a new 5-Year Business Plan (2025–2030) , available to download via our website footer. Our marketing and communications have continued to grow too, with record levels of engagement on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram, plus the launch of our brand-new YouTube channel. Our monthly newsletter now reaches more people than ever. All our links are available on our website. Please follow us and keep up to date. We are also working on several exciting projects, including a new therapies booking system and  a new CRM system, and exploring extended opening hours alongside new ways to reach newly diagnosed individuals and those living with long-term conditions. We know that 2026 will bring its own challenges, especially in fundraising, but we also know that with our amazing team and our wonderful community, we will maximise any opportunity and continue to rise to the challenge. A huge thank you to every single person in our Brightwell Community for your support, commitment and enthusiasm throughout 2025 . It has truly been one of the busiest and most memorable years in our 40-year history. If you would like to discuss any of the points in this review or explore future partnership opportunities, please do get in touch. Warm regards, Doro Pasantes, CEO

It has been the first full calendar year of our new Brightwell Café being up and running, and it’s been a busy one ! As well as providing members and visitors with a variety of tasty lunches, snacks, drinks, and treats over the year, the Café has also hosted several larger group bookings and catered for several events, including our Members’ Christmas Buffet held on 10 December This year, we also introduced some delicious homemade bakes from local baker Eliza, who runs Eliza’s Cakes and Bakes…including several seasonal treats, including some amazing Mint Chocolate Rocky Road slices as shown below – a perfect treat for the festive season! We’re delighted to support a talented local baker, who also has family that attends the Centre, and we look forward to introducing further bakes from Eliza in 2026. Next year, we will also be looking at how we can extend our menus to offer further healthy options – it can be a challenge with limited facilities, but along with her popular homemade fresh soups, Paula is keen to see how else we can extend what the café can offer. Thank you to everyone who has joined us for food and drink at The Brightwell Café this year – we couldn’t operate without you, and every penny from items sold at the Café goes back to the charity and helps keep the service open. It is also only fitting that we give special thanks to the dedicated team of volunteers who help Paula in keeping the Café running – we have had a few new volunteers join the café team this year, and the whole team do a wonderful job in helping keep our lovely café going. As well as providing refreshments, we know that the Café provides a wonderful social space for our members and visitors – there’s always a warm welcome for those visiting the Centre, and we look forward to welcoming more of you, your friends and family to the Brightwell Café in 2026!

At The Brightwell, we are proud to offer specialist Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy in our on-site chamber. To learn more about this service, please visit: www.thebrightwell.org.uk/oxygen-therapy We support individuals living with long-term neurological conditions, including MS, Parkinson’s, Stroke, ME, and Fibromyalgia, as well as those managing other chronic conditions such as cancer and long COVID. Our facilities are also available to those experiencing short-term issues, including sports injuries and post-operative recovery. Our Hyperbaric Oxygen Department is staffed by a dedicated team of fully trained Oxygen Operators who help ensure a safe, welcoming, and friendly environment for all. Volunteering as an Oxygen Operator is a highly rewarding role and offers a wonderful opportunity to make a meaningful difference. Read Peter Spring’s story. Peter is one of our valued Volunteer Oxygen Operators. We will be holding an Open Event on Monday, 26 January, from 2–3 pm , for anyone interested in learning more about our work and volunteer opportunities. Location:  The Brightwell, Wheatfield Drive, BS32 9DB. If you have any queries, please get in touch with Angela Palmer on 01454 201686. Join us for a cup of tea, a friendly chat, and the chance to discover whether becoming part of The Brightwell community is the new challenge you’re looking for in 2026. If you are interested in finding out more, but can’t attend this event, please call Angela on the number above, and she will be delighted to have a chat with you. We look forward to welcoming you!

On Wednesday 10 December, we held our annual Members’ Christmas Buffet Lunch from 12–2pm, and what a fantastic celebration it was! With all 25 tickets sold out, the room was full of festive cheer from the moment everyone arrived. Guests were treated to live festive tunes performed by Liz, Caroline and Barry, adding the perfect soundtrack to the afternoon. Doro hosted a lively Christmas Dingbats round that brought plenty of laughs, before the whole room joined together for a joyful rendition of “The 12 Days of Christmas.” The buffet was a real highlight, featuring a delicious spread of sandwiches, scones, quiche, crisps, snacks, and sweet treats, something for everyone! Members enjoyed squash and Bucks Fizz, along with festive crackers packed with jokes that kept spirits high. All round, it was a wonderfully festive afternoon, full of community, laughter, and Christmas spirit. We’re already looking forward to next year’s celebration! 🎄✨

Please see the information below that we have been sent by the team at Birmingham Community Healthcare. Please help if you can. Do you use, or have you used, CBD products? We would love your help with an online survey! Pippa Mundy is a Trainee Clinical Psychologist, and together with the MS Team at the West Midlands Rehabilitation Centre, she is running a survey to help us understand more about CBD products, why people with MS use them, and the impact they have. As you may already know, CBD products have become really popular and are readily available on the High Street or online. Patients with MS have told us that these products have helped with their symptoms. However, there are currently no scientific studies to support this. In fact, the MS research so far has only looked at Sativex (a medically prescribed drug which contains THC and CBD). Therefore, in this research, we will be looking at over-the-counter CBD (which doesn’t contain THC). If the survey shows that CBD products could be helpful, it could help us design a research trial of CBD in the future. How can I help? If you have a diagnosis of MS, live in the UK, are over 18, and have used CBD products, please complete the survey at the link below (accessible via your computer, smartphone or tablet). It will take you about 10 minutes, and includes multiple choice questions so that you can tell us about why you use CBD, and any effects you have noticed on your MS symptoms, or your physical or emotional wellbeing. If you complete the survey, your response will be completely anonymous, so we won’t be able to trace your answers back to you. Your medical team will not know that you have completed the survey. Can I contact you? Yes! You are welcome to contact Pippa Mundy on email if you have any questions or concerns: philippa.massingberd-mundy@nhs.net . Take me to the survey! https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/ZCIJP3/ You will see an information page and a consent form – follow the instructions on the screen and you’ll be taken to the survey. Thank you to MS National Therapy Centres for their support in sharing this research, and thank you for taking part!

We are delighted to share The Brightwell’s strategic plan for the next five years. This document reflects months of dedicated work by our Leadership Team and the Board of Trustees. Our Business Plan outlines the charity’s goals and aspirations through to 2030, and it will be regularly reviewed and updated to reflect progress and emerging opportunities. It details how we will ensure financial stability and growth, while continuing to enhance the therapies and support we provide to our members. The plan also explores ways to extend our reach and broaden our offer, ensuring we can make an even greater impact in the years ahead. This strategy sets out many of the operational aspects of the Centre, and the next step will be to break each action point into smaller, manageable projects. This will allow us to carefully assess operational, staffing, and logistical considerations. Fundraising will play a vital role in supporting the successful delivery of these projects. We hope you find our Business Plan inspiring and informative. For any questions, please contact our CEO, Doro Pasantes.

On Saturday 6th December , our centre transformed into a winter wonderland as we welcomed over 30 excited children to our incredible Frozen-themed event! From the moment the doors opened, the atmosphere was filled with sparkle, laughter and pure Disney magic. The children were thrilled to meet the royal sisters themselves, Anna and Elsa, who brought the magic of Arendelle to life with enchanting performances of favourite songs including “Let It Go,” “Into the Unknown,”  and “For the First Time in Forever.”  Little faces lit up as they sang, danced and joined in the fun. Alongside the performances, we had a whole range of magical activities: ✨ Frozen-themed games ✨ A bubble-filled dance party ✨ Party bags ✨ And so much more snowy fun! Our event was made even sweeter by the delicious Frozen-themed cupcakes lovingly baked by Eliza’s Bakes , and our special Frozen hamper raffle drew plenty of excitement from guests. A huge highlight of the day was the support from our incredible sponsor, Explore Learning , who not only funded the event but also joined us on the day to run brilliant activities including letters to Santa and festive colouring sessions. Thanks to their sponsorship, every penny raised was able to go directly to helping our charity continue supporting people living with neurological conditions. And we are thrilled to announce that we raised an amazing £506.28! 🎉 This day wouldn’t have been possible without our wonderful supporters: 💙 Magical Moon Entertainment – for an unforgettable Frozen performance 💙 Eliza’s Bakes – for the delicious themed treats 💙 Explore Learning – for sponsoring the event and providing fantastic activities 💙 Our staff and volunteers – for their hard work and preparation Thank you to everyone who attended, supported, and helped make this magical Frozen day such a huge success. We can’t wait to bring more enchanting events to our community! ❄️💙

We have an active Carers Group here at The Brightwell. Any carer who looks after any of our members is most welcome. You can be a paid or unpaid carer, a partner, family member or a friend, to take part in our events. Our next talk is called “Practical Hints and Tips for Carers” This will take place either in person at the Centre or via Zoom, whichever suits you better. This talk will cover topics, including accessing health care, benefits, Priority Services Register, aids and adaptations, Emergency Plans, 3 rd Party Mandates, Powers of Attorney and Carers Assessments. There will be an opportunity for an open discussion, allowing members to share experiences as well. This session will be led by Wendy Paterson, our Carers Support Co-Ordinator. Click here or on the image above to book your FREE place. Call 01454 201686 Getting Involved and Feedback We are keen to hear your views and suggestions about how the Centre can best support Carers, so whether or not you can come along to these sessions, we would love to hear from you. You can contact Wendy by leaving a message at Reception, or look out for the short survey form we are planning to make available in the next few months. Carers' Information Point Don’t forget to take a look at the leaflets and information now available on the poster and in the information racks at the Carers Information Point. This can be found in the corridor past the Café.

Last Saturday, 29 November, we held our 2025 Christmas Market and it was a tremendous success! The car park was full, and as visitors approached the Centre, they were greeted by the festive sounds of the Mini-Massive Sax Flex Quartet, along with plenty of chatter and laughter. Inside, our stallholders put on a brilliant display, and The Brightwell ran several of its own stalls, including the 12 Hampers of Christmas  draw, two tombolas, and an extended shop featuring gifts and a clothes rail. The café was bustling too, serving hot and cold drinks alongside a tempting selection of sweet and savoury treats. It was wonderful to welcome so many familiar faces, as well as friends and family from across our wider community. We were especially grateful to the Mayor and Chair of Bradley Stoke Town Council, Natalie Field, for taking time out of her busy schedule to join us, and of course to Santa, who made a very special appearance! The draw for the 12 Hampers of Christmas   will take place on 17 December . If you’d like to buy tickets, please click here . As well as being a fantastic start to the festive season, the event raised an incredible £2,334 . Every penny will go towards supporting people living with chronic neurological conditions. Thank you everyone for your support!