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Over the past few weeks there has been a great deal of information on TV, in the papers and online discussing Pension Credit. This has been triggered by the Government now means-testing eligibility for the Winter Fuel Allowance, which is now limited to those in receipt of Pension Credit. However, the very worrying statistic is how many people are eligible for this support, but do not claim it. We hope this article will help anyone who has not checked their eligibility for Pension Credit and may be eligible. Overview Pension Credit gives you extra money to help with your living costs if you’re over State Pension age and on a low income. Pension Credit can also help with housing costs such as ground rent or service charge Pension Credit is separate from your State Pension. You can get Pension Credit even if you have other income, savings or own your own home. If you get Pension Credit you can also get other help, such as: Housing Benefit if you rent the property you live in Winter Fuel Payment Support for Mortgage Interest if you own the property you live in a Council Tax discount a free TV licence if you’re aged 75 or over help with NHS dental treatment, glasses and transport costs for hospital appointments, if you get a certain type of Pension Credit help with your heating costs through the Warm Home Discount Scheme a discount on the Royal Mail redirection service if you’re moving house Eligibility You must live in England, Scotland or Wales and have reached State Pension age to qualify for Pension Credit. If you have a partner, you must include your partner on your application. You’ll be eligible if either: you and your partner have both reached State Pension age one of you is getting Housing Benefit for people over State Pension age A partner is either: your husband, wife or civil partner - if you live with them someone you live with as a couple, without being married or in a civil partnership Your income When you apply for Pension Credit your income is calculated. If you have a partner, your income is calculated together. Pension Credit tops up: your weekly income to £218.15 if you’re single your joint weekly income to £332.95 if you have a partner If your income is higher, you might still be eligible for Pension Credit if you have a disability, you care for someone, you have savings or you have housing costs. What counts as income State Pension other pensions earnings from employment and self-employment most social security benefits, for example Carer’s Allowance What does not count as income Not all benefits are counted as income. For example, the following are not counted: Adult Disability Payment Attendance Allowance Christmas Bonus Child Benefit Disability Living Allowance Personal Independence Payment social fund payments like Winter Fuel Allowance Housing Benefit Council Tax Reduction If you’re entitled to a personal or workplace pension and you have not claimed it yet, the amount you’d expect to get still counts as income. If you’ve deferred your State Pension, the amount of State Pension you would get is counted as income. You cannot build up extra amounts for deferring your State Pension if you or your partner are getting Pension Credit. Your savings and investments If you have £10,000 or less in savings and investments this will not affect your Pension Credit. If you have more than £10,000, every £500 over £10,000 counts as £1 income a week. For example, if you have £11,000 in savings, this counts as £2 income a week. What you'll get Pension Credit tops up: your weekly income to £218.15 if you’re single your joint weekly income to £332.95 if you have a partner You may get extra amounts if you have other responsibilities and costs.   What to do next T o find out more  and apply, please visit www.gov.uk/pension-credit You can also call Pension Credit claim lineTelephone: 0800 99 1234 If you have any Additional queries please call Citizens Advice Bureau on 0808 278 7957 or AgeUK 0800 0556112. Don’t forget we also hold CAB Sessions here at The Brightwell, please call 01454 201686 to book an appointment.

Our Halloween Party took place on Saturday at the Centre and welcomed 28 children who were ready to dance the afternoon away with Barbie and Wednesday Addams. The children had the opportunity to dance with the stars as well as play games and take pictures with them. With sweet cones and bags of popcorn available, they were fuelled and excited for an afternoon of musical fun. A huge thank you to the entertainment company, Magical Moon Entertainment, who put on a great performance. Also to Explore Learning and The Valet Club, who kindly sponsored this event. Without your support this event wouldn't have been possible. We raised an amazing £280! Thank you to our generous donors and amazing community who continue to attend our events, your support helps us raise vital funds to ensure therapy is available to support those affected by neurological conditions.

Diwali, the festival of lights, is a time for joy and celebration for millions around the world. It’s a festival that transcends religious boundaries, bring families and communities together in a vibrant tapestry of tradition, rituals, and festivities. The Essence of Diwali: Diwali marks the victory of good over evil, light over darkness, and knowledge over ignorance. It commemorates the return of Lord Rama to Ayodhya after his 14-year exile and the vanquishing of the demon king Ravana.   Diwali: Hinduism and India are both vast and encompass a very diverse mix of languages, traditions, and deities, hence, the celebration of Diwali differs for every family with a few common threads. The preparation for Diwali begins a week in advance with a deep clean of your house to make space for wealth and prosperity. This is followed by ‘Dhanteras’ where families buy new utensils and/or jewellery replacing or adding to their family collections. On the day of Diwali, the festivities begin by wearing new clothes, visiting families and friends with gifts, and decorating your own home. At sunset, families gather to worship Goddess Laxami and then light divas and burst firecrackers in celebration. The lights symbolise the triumph of light over darkness and the dispelling of ignorance and negativity.   How I celebrate Diwali by Surabhi Miah, Brightwwell Fundraising Team Member “Before making the UK my home, I grew up in New Delhi, the capital of India, and celebrated Diwali alongside my grandparents, parents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. In Bristol, we continue the traditions with friends of Indian and non-Indian heritage. At sunset in India, my family consisting of my husband and twin daughters adorn our festive clothes and join my family in India via facetime as my mother leads the prayers. This allows all of us to be together and is a tradition I have been following since I moved to the UK at the age of 19.”  Beyond the Festivities Diwali is a festival that reminds us of the power of light, the importance of good over evil, and the eternal hope for a brighter future. As the divas illuminate our homes and streets, may they also illuminate our hearts and minds with love, peace, and prosperity.    Everyone at The Brightwell wishes  a very Happy Diwali to all those in our Brightwell, Bradley Stoke and our wider communities, who are celebrating this week.

We are excited to take part once again in Bradley Stoke Town Council’s Charity Scarecrow Trail, and this year’s event is particularly meaningful for us. As one of the mayor’s chosen charities for 2024-25, The Brightwell will benefit from the council’s fundraising efforts, which will go a long way towards supporting the centre. There are 17 stops on this exciting trail hosted by local business and creative individuals. This year’s trail theme is “work" and we’ve chosen to celebrate the hard work of some very important people at the Centre. George, this year’s scarecrow, can be found in our beautiful, accessible garden. The garden is nurtured through the dedication of wonderful volunteers with the help of corporate sponsors, making it a peaceful space where we can all enjoy fresh air and the beauty of nature in comfort. Councillor Natalie Field, Mayor of Bradley Stoke said:   ‘I am delighted that so many people and organisations have come forward to make scarecrows as all the money raised will go to the Mayor’s charities which are Diabetes UK, Mamas Bristol and the Brightwell Centre. The trail is fun for everyone but particularly for families. This year the theme for the trail is ‘scarecrows at work’ to celebrate all the important contributions people make and recognises the importance of diversity in the workplace Stoke’. We’re thrilled to be part of this year’s Charity Scarecrow Trail and hope that George’s story inspires others to recognise the importance and value of inclusivity and to embrace their passions and truly enjoy their work. Trail Maps cost £2 and can be purchased from the Town Council Office, The Brightwell Centre, Willow Brook Centre Management Offices, Aztec West Hotel and Mama's Bristol.

I wanted to thank you all for taking the time to engage with and respond to our Consultation Survey for current stakeholders of the Charity and to the survey for lapsed members. We had a fantastic response with over 127 complete entries to both surveys. Please click below to view the full Members’ Consultation Survey Report as a PDF I thought it would be beneficial to present some of the learning we have made from the responses and any interesting findings the surveys have highlighted. Over 75% of all respondents were over the age of 50 and over two thirds were women, which fits in with our demographic, as well as the demographic for people who are living with a neurological condition like MS, nationally.  Almost 50% of all respondents were retired.  The Brightwell’s services were rated Excellent by 67% of the people that use them, followed by 28% Good, 4% Satisfactory and >1% Poor.  The majority of “Excellent” responses were for the Café, followed by “Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy” and the “Neuro-physiotherapy”. The poor ratings were few and were concentrated on the clinics and therapies that took place infrequently during the year. The main areas highlighted for improvement are around better communication so that members know what is on offer and when, appointment bookings and reminders, around transport and improvements to our facilities, mainly around the café space. Many of these themes were repeated under question 16 including: improved communication, another Chamber, extended hours and transport, which came up again very strongly. 77% of members are extremely satisfied with our service delivery and 21% are satisfied. Under 2% are dissatisfied. And over 92% rate the quality of the activities offered at the Centre like the Bingo and Quizzes as "Excellent" or "Good". We had varied responses for additional services the Brightwell should offer. These included; out of hours therapy sessions, carer support, skill based sessions, another Oxygen Chamber, more daytime social events, developing coping strategies for living with long term conditions and specialised information for newly diagnosed people, amongst others. When asked about changes to the demand for therapy over the next 5 years, the majority of respondents thought that this would significantly increase as more people are diagnosed and have to become more proactive in finding symptom management tools that works for them. Long Covid and CFS were highlighted time and time again as a growing area for concern, with the feeling that the demand on Hyperbaric Oxygen will also increase within that timeframe. The Brightwell’s greatest strengths are its people and its community!  The words that stood out from this question were “Friendly” “Welcoming” “Professional” “Support” “Affordable” “Accessible”. The staff and Volunteers were mentioned positively almost in every single response. The main challenges faced by current stakeholders were around therapy resources including staff and oxygen appointment availability. Some facility issues including parking and training requirements from volunteers also featured as well as the struggle for affordable and accessible transport to and from the Centre. This was echoed in the consultation responses from lapsed members, where distance from the centre, transport and costs were highlighted as the main reasons for current non-attendance. 95% rated our services as “Affordable” or “Very Affordable” and 5% as “Expensive”.  I would like to underline here that we ask for a contribution towards our therapies. The rate we set is highly subsidised by all the fundraising activity that takes place and other sustainable income sources. We do not means-test for service contributions or turn anyone away if they are unable to contribute at the requested level. 87 respondents believe that the Brightwell’s services are accessible to those that need them. The barriers to accessibility that the remaining 12 respondents highlight fall into two main categories; transport and cost.  80% of our lapsed members also think that the Brightwell is accessible to those people that need the services. They identified current opening hours and no weekend services, as well as lack of transport to and from the Centre and the relaxing of the strict covid infection control rules as the main reasons behind the barriers to attending. 98% of members are either “very satisfied” or “somewhat satisfied” with the Centre’s facilities and only 2% “somewhat” or “very dissatisfied”, mainly around the hand drying facilities in the W.C.s. Communication is an area that we will definitely be looking at with 7% of respondents feeding back that our communication is poor or inconsistent.  Email came top of the communications methods preferred by respondents followed by text messages. In respect of reaching communities those that responded wanted to see greater connections with Health Centres and medical professionals. As well as better promotion of our Oxygen facilities and outreach to the local business community for support. Under half of the lapsed members that responded to the survey, have let us know that they are able to access similar services closer to home. These are neuro-physiotherapy, exercise classes, counselling, and some complementary therapies like acupuncture andmassage.  The majority of lapsed respondents do not access similar therapies anywhere else.   When asked what would bring lapsed members back to the Centre the responses that stood out were “Therapies and classes that you can bring kids along to”, “a reliable transport service to and from the centre for wheelchair users”, “Appointment times that fit in around my work schedule”. Our stakeholders have produced a number or innovative ideas for the Brightwell going forward which include outreach for people who are newly diagnosed and building stronger bonds with the NHS and neuro services. Also, extending social activities for Members into the evening as well as outreach and healthy lifestyle activities inside and outside of the Centre. Finally, 99% of all respondents are likely to recommend our services to others and this was backed up by so many wonderful comments like “Incredible supportive community”, “friendly, efficient, affordable”, “Professional and caring for users”, “It changed my day to day life”, “Excellent care”, ”I find it a lifeline”, “It is the only thorough physio service I have encountered in 25 years of being diagnosed…” “excellent facility whose value should be more widely known” “I thing there is no place like it, it is an important resource and yet so undervalued….” “My experience of the Brightwell has always been positive”, “It is the only place that provides continuing therapy for neuro conditions”, “It’s always good to pass on great news and that is what the Brightwell is!” All your comments, suggestions and ideas will be discussed and considered.  They will guide our new 5-year strategy and business plan, which will be shared with you once completed.    Your input has been invaluable, and we look forward to evolving our services and delivering excellence in care at the Brightwell . If you did not get chance to complete the online survey or attend the consultation meeting, please call Reception and ask to be put through to me personally, I will gladly welcome any additional thoughts or feedback. Doro Pasantes CEO, The Brightwell

My name is Janet and I have been a volunteer at the Brightwell with the Fundraising team since 2017. I was born and brought up in the London Borough of Ealing and started off my working life at NatWest Bank in Wembley where my main hobbies were socialising with my friends and going to watch West Ham United matches with my Dad.  I met my husband Mike in 1974 in the Mecca Ballroom in Leicester Square in London when he was serving in the Army with the 1st Battalion Welsh Guards and posted to Chelsea Barracks.  We got married in 1975 and then our adventures began! During Mike’s military service we welcomed our daughter, Olivia, in 1976 and Victoria, in 1979. By the time Mike had left the Army in 1994 we had lived in eight different married quarters in Uckfield, Berlin, Pirbright, Hohne (near Hannover), Pirbright (again!) and Nuneaton and finally we moved into our own house in Barry in South Wales in 1991.  As we moved around so much I had many varied jobs over the years including shop worker, Avon rep, childminder, Guards Museum cleaner, microfiche operative, chambermaid, receptionist, kindergarten teacher, and nursery school manager before finally joining the Civil Service in 1989 as a Pay Office Clerk at the Guards Depot in Pirbright, Surrey.  Life as an Army wife had its ups and downs especially when Mike was away for months at a time but it was a great life and I would not have changed it for anything. When we moved to Nuneaton I worked as a Clerk with a Royal Artillery Junior Soldiers Training Battery and then when we moved to Wales I started work with the MOD at RAF St Athan where I was given the opportunity to study to become a Chartered Management Accountant on day release and evening classes at the University of Wales.  It was a great challenge but also very rewarding and I become fully qualified in 2001. Our travels were not finished as my MOD job then took us to live in Bedford for two years, then Westbury, Wiltshire where we thought we were settled until my job relocated to Bristol; so, in 2011 we moved to Bradley Stoke into what is hopefully our forever home!  It was a lucky move for us as our two daughters were already living around Bristol so we actually moved closer to our family. At MOD Abbey Wood in Bristol I worked as a business analyst in the development of MOD finance and HR computer systems.  It sounds really boring but  it I loved that job as it involved meeting lots of interesting people all around the UK and talking to them  find out what they needed from IT systems either to help employees do their jobs more efficiently or to help customers better access the services they required. I retired in 2017 a couple of years earlier than planned when Mike suddenly had to have an operation and treatment and I wanted to be at home more, Once Mike was on the road to recovery I had more time on my hands so I became a volunteer at The Brightwell.  At the time the Fundraising Team needed some admin support which was just what I wanted to do and the rest is history! I really enjoy coming in to volunteer at the Brightwell every week as it is such a friendly place and there is always lots of varied things to keep me busy (I love being busy!) plus it helps me keep my skills from my working life and develop new skills I didn’t know I possessed.  In recent weeks I have written lots of thank you letters, input finance data onto the database, sorted out cupboards, re-stocked the shop, made hamper prizes, sorted out bingo prizes and made the Brightwell scarecrow for the Bradley Stoke Council Scarecrow trail! Besides my time at The Brightwell I am a member of Bradley Stoke WI, belong to a book club, go swimming, love knitting mainly for charities and enjoy travelling. I expect that I will be busy in the next few weeks helping the Fundraising Team get ready for the Christmas Market and then helping out on 30th November.  It will be a great event and a great opportunity to get some Christmas presents so I hope to see you all soon. Best wishes to everyone. Janet

On Wednesday 2nd October we welcomed Wayne Sargent from Refresh Video Productions to the Centre. In recent months many of you have pointed out that the photographs we use on our website and in literature promoting the centre are outdated. We were in desperate need of new materials. We were particularly keen to include Paula and her amazing café volunteers and showcase the treats they provide. We also wanted to show off the new shop and Bradbury Lounge area. However, most importantly we wanted to showcase what The Brightwell offers and celebrate our incredible service users. We had no hesitation in asking Wayne from Refresh to lead the project, after he so kindly provided coverage and interviews at our abseil fundraiser in May. Wayne is a pleasure to work with and his job was made easy by having the best models! We want to thank our fabulous members who allowed themselves to be filmed and photographed. Ably assisted by Caroline Blake Symes the photographs Wayne has produced really do show just how special our community is and how valued you all are. The photographs will be used to raise awareness of the Centre, to promote fundraising campaigns, and to bring to life funding applications. This will all lead to us being able to help more people and continue to provide the services that make the Brightwell the unique place that it is. All that said I’m afraid one member did rather steal the limelight on the day, but honestly who can resist those puppy dog eyes Layla!

We are delighted to let you know about an exciting, informative MS Society event  in Bristol on 30 October. Event highlights: Learn about the latest research and resources in MS care Get tips on living well with MS and connect with others MS Specialist Physiotherapist Emily Wilford, will talk about the benefits of staying active The Brightwell (Neuro Therapy Centre) team will present the therapies they offer and their support services Complimentary lunch and refreshments will be available When: Wednesday 30 October, 10am - 3pm Where: Somerdale Pavilion, Keynsham, Bristol BS31 2FW The event is free , but there are limited places available. To save your place, please make sure to book in advance. Booking is essential. You can also bring along a family member or friend. They'll need to register too. Doro and some of The Brightwell team will be presenting at this event. Places are free but need to be booked. Please visit www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/living-well-with-ms-bristol-area-tickets-1033530977977 If you have any queries or would like to support us by joining the team from The Brightwell, please call Doro on 01454 201686

This article has been adapted from an Overcoming MS Blog 1 October 2024 The period between 18 – 20 September 2024, was an exciting one in the world of MS as ECTRIMS (European Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis) was in full flow with some fantastic new research presented on a wide range of topics at their 40th Conference, held in Copenhagan. One of the highlights was the launch of the updated MS Brain Health report, building on the original published in 2015. The initial document marked the start of the ‘time is brain’ movement, pushing for faster diagnosis and earlier access to high-efficacy treatments. It was also the first MS practical policy document to present evidence that healthy lifestyle behaviours can help optimise brain health and MS outcomes. This new, updated version comes from worldwide experts in MS and we wanted to bring you the stand-out headlines for us:  This version of the report covers MS and other related conditions. These include neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) and myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody-associated disease (MOGAD). These are distinct conditions, but there is a lot of crossover in how they are experienced by people and in how they are best managed. Holistic management is now given its own section, including empowering people living with MS and related conditions, prioritising shared decision-making between healthcare professionals and the person living with MS, and a much-expanded section on the evidence for making positive lifestyle choices. The report talks about the importance of providing emotional support for family members and those in a caring role.  There is a focus on making sure people have adequate social support and how this can reduce the burden on healthcare services. The report states that all health services around the globe need to treat every person as an individual, providing thorough care and using collaboration to deliver the best care possible. They talk about ‘flipping the pyramid’ – putting lots of time and effort into early and effective interventions to improve long term outcomes. This early intervention includes combining effective medication and brain-healthy lifestyle choices. The CEO of OMS, Alex Holden, with expert facilitators Dr Rachael Hunter and Dr Phil Startin, went along to the launch. Sharing her thoughts, Alex said: “This report is key in showing the importance of early diagnosis and early intervention. It clearly lays out the importance of lifestyle choices, alongside medication, as part of a holistic management plan for people with MS. This will encourage healthcare professionals to understand the evidence-base and to share this information with their patients, supporting them to make positive changes where possible.” Specific lifestyle guidance in the report We expect you’re keen to know what the guidance says about lifestyle choices! The key aspects of lifestyle management that the report highlights (p31) are across physical and emotional health: managing alcohol intake stopping smoking getting regular physical activity maintaining a healthy weight (which they discuss in reference to healthy eating) getting enough sleep managing any other medical conditions like high blood pressure, or mental health difficulties As a global report, this is an important step in making sure every healthcare professional supporting someone living with MS understands that lifestyle choices play an important role in managing MS, and that they have a responsibility to support their patients making informed choices and accessing necessary support to live as well as possible. You can view or download the full report here. The 2015 report was one of the first policy publications for managing MS to highlight the importance of lifestyle choices. This infograph is taken from the original 2015 MS Brain Health resources for people with MS via msbrainhealth.org The Brightwell is looking forward to  further collaborations with Overcoming MS, as we share many values in our aims to support those living with MS and other neurological conditions.

This is the Prize Draw that everyone has been waiting for! Last year The Brightwell Community went crazy to get their hands on this fantastic prize! Enter for a chance to win this Grand Hotel Chocolat Advent Calendar. Behind each of the 24 large doors, you’ll find generously proportioned chocolate treats and tipples. Think thick, solid chocolate slabs. 50ml servings of Velvetised CreamTM with warming vodka. Chocolate-filled cracker decorations to nestle between the branches of your tree (if they make it that far). And much more. The cost of this from Hotel Chocolat is £80. The draw will take place on Wednesday 27 November , in plenty of time to open the first door. Thanks go again to Blackfriars Auto Services for sponsoring this draw! No matter your age, there’s something inherently exciting about an Advent calendar. This one is definitely for the over 18s, as it contains alcohol. No calendar captures that excitement quite like this Grand Advent Calendar. Grand by name, grand by nature, and updated for 2024 to bring in a whole host of new recipes, this merry monolith is guaranteed to elevate your festive season. Entries are £2 and can be purchased from Reception or our online shop here . For further details about the contents and ingredients please search Hotel Chocolat Grand Advent Calendar 2024. Good luck!

Everyone at The Brightwell would like to wish our wonderful Oxygen Co-Ordinator Angela, huge congratulations on getting married to her long term partner Ryan on 14 September 2024. The Wedding Ceremony took place at the beautiful Grange Hotel in Winterbourne. The weather was perfect and both were surrounded by family and friends to help them share their special day. They then headed off for a romantic honeymoon in North Wales  with Roxy their gorgeous dog. They had a amazing week visiting lots of the outstanding beauty spots, beaches and enjoying the local bars and restaurants. They even went to the iconic Gwrych Castle where they filmed “I’m a Celebrity”, when the programme could not get to Australia! We all wish you a long and happy life together!

This edition is packed full of all the latest news and events from our amazing Centre. Enjoy!