Search Results

On behalf of our Chairman, Geoff Mayell and the Board of Trustees, you are invited to attend our 2024 Annual General Meeting. This year’s AGM, open to all Charity Members, Volunteers, Members of Staff (not on duty) and all supporters * will be held at the Brightwell on Thursday 25 April, from 14:00 – 15:30 at the Centre or via Zoom *N.B only current member have voting rights For those who cannot attend in person, the  meeting will also be available on a live feed via Zoom, please ask at reception for the Zoom link details. Please let us know if you are able to attend either in person or via Zoom. Pastries and refreshments will be available after the AGM for all those attending the meeting at the Centre. Agenda A presentation from Sascha Leigh, Counsellor at the Brightwell The acceptance of the Minutes of the last AGM The Chairman’s Update The CEO’s 2023 Centre Review A review of the Centre’s Finances for 2023 The election of Trustees AOB A vote of thanks If you have any queries, please call 01454 201686 or email hello@thebrightwell.org.uk

The Brightwell is delighted to announce that we have been selected by Wain Homes Severn Valley as their Charity of the Year. We are honoured to have been chosen to work in partnership with such a forward-thinking and community-minded company. Representatives from Wain Homes recently visited the Centre to see for themselves the extensive facilities and learn about the vital gap in provision that the Brightwell fills for people living with neurological conditions. It was also an opportunity for the Wain Homes team to seek volunteering opportunities for their staff, as part of their ‘helping hands’ initiative. Teams from Wain homes have been working hard over the last few years to make a real impact in their local communities by rolling their sleeves up and getting stuck in! They have helped many local charities and community groups and continue their mission to provide a year full of good deeds in 2024. Pictured - Nickie Cochrane, Maisie Boyd, Jess Thorne, Wain Homes, Victoria Hocquard, Lara Carnell, The Brightwell, and Claire Hayward and Claire Quilliam from Wain Homes The Brightwell is beyond excited for this partnership and very much look forward to events and activities throughout the year. Wain homes will be supporting The Brightwell in their upcoming corporate abseil, and hope to pitch in at other fundraising events throughout the year. The flagship event will be the annual Golf Tournament at Kendleshire Golf Club.  Teams will be competing for the coveted champions crown on 19 July. Wain Homes will also be joining our Brightwell 100 Corporate Network Thank you once again to all at Wain Homes Severn Valley from everyone at The Brightwell; we look forward to seeing you for coffee and cake again very soon!

The team fundraising for The Brightwell at The London Landmark Half Marathon on Sunday 7 April did a fantastic job. We originally had a team of 5, but Jemima had to withdraw due to a back injury. Our Brightwell team had a great run and all made excellent times around the two hour mark! The weather was very kind and stayed dry albeit a bit breezy. Apparently, if you are a competitive runner, this event is one of the most enjoyable ones to take part in. The crowds were very supportive with lots of entertainment en route. Our Lead Physio Amrik reported back “I was really flagging  but there was an amazing group of drummers encouraging all the runners, plus a gospel choir. My last name was on my vest and people were calling out “Come on Sidhu!”, it really gave me the motivation to put a spring in my step, I even had a quick dance in front of the drummers! It really was a great experience.” “Team Millie” was made up of Millie’s Dad Stu and neighbour Sarah. As many of you know Millie is a key member of our physio team and always gets behind any fundraising events. Millie and her family made a weekend of it and stayed in London to cheer them on and enjoy the day. Simon who is the Centre Manager at the Willow Brook Shopping Centre in Bradley Stoke has been making every opportunity to train, including running around the Centre when it was closed – much to the amusement of the security staff! Thank you all so much, your fundraising is very much appreciated by us all at The Brightwell. There is still time to sponsor them by clicking on the links below. Simon Whiting, Manager at the Willow Brook Centre,  and fantastic supporters of The Brightwell Simon Whiting is fundraising for MS Therapy Centre at Bristol (justgiving.com) Stu Rutherford Stu is Millie’s Dad, Millie is part of our physio team Stu Rutherford is fundraising for MS Therapy Centre at Bristol (justgiving.com) Sarah McAllister Sarah is a supporter of our work and Millie's neighbour Sarah McAllister is fundraising for MS Therapy Centre at Bristol (justgiving.com) Amrik  Sidhu, The Brightwell’s Lead Physiotherapist Amrik Singh Sidhu is fundraising for MS Therapy Centre at Bristol (justgiving.com)

Eyes down for a fun-filled evening of light-hearted bingo and socialising When and where 22 May 2024, 18:30 – 22:30 Bradley Stoke, Bradbury House, Wheatfield Dr, Bradley Stoke, Bristol BS32 9DB, UK About Doors open at 6.30pm; eyes down at 7pm 6 bingo prize games, 2 cash games and one 'silly bingo' games BYO drinks and nibbles to make a night of it Whether you come alone to make friends, as a couple, family group or with a large group of friends, everyone is most welcome! Buy your tickets here!

Everyone at The Brightwell would like to wish a massive “Good Luck” to those taking part in the London Landmark Half Marathon on Sunday. As always, we are overwhelmed by the effort that so many supporters put into raising funds for our great charity. Below is a list of runners and links to their donation pages. Please support them if you can. Simon Whiting, Manager at the Willow Brook Centre,  and fantastic supporters of The Brightwell Simon Whiting is fundraising for MS Therapy Centre at Bristol (justgiving.com) Jemima Coulter, Jemima is the partner of Max, one of our physio team members, Jemima Coulter is fundraising for MS Therapy Centre at Bristol (justgiving.com) Stu Rutherford Stu is Millie’s Dad, Millie is part of our physio team  Stu Rutherford is fundraising for MS Therapy Centre at Bristol (justgiving.com) Sarah McAllister Sarah is a supporter of our work Sarah McAllister is fundraising for MS Therapy Centre at Bristol (justgiving.com) Amrik  Sidhu, The Brightwell’s Lead Physiotherapist Amrik Singh Sidhu is fundraising for MS Therapy Centre at Bristol (justgiving.com) Our Physio team  are making a great effort lead by Amrik who is taking part  supported by  family members of the team as well. Thank you everyone, we look forward to seeing some great photos!

Please check out our March newsletter, full of all the latest news, events and information...

Volunteers are the lifeblood of our success here at The Brightwell. Our existing team of volunteers have a wide variety of roles and skills that add great value to the work we do. We are always looking for helpers to support us run our charity. So, if you are looking for a new interest or challenge, becoming a volunteer at The Brightwell might give you the opportunity you are looking for. Any help you can offer, will be greatly appreciated, even for an hour or so a week. You will be made very welcome and your input with make a positive and meaningful difference to our service users, staff and other volunteers. Some of our volunteers prefer to work a set number of hours per week on certain days and this works well when working closely with staff members of The Brightwell team. Such roles might include administration and reception cover duties, assisting the fundraising team or maybe working with us with maintenance and gardening tasks. If you wanted to train to become an Oxygen Chamber Operator, this is an important role and you will receive full training, supported by the Neuro Therapy Network. Here is Peter’s story, one of our Oxygen  Operators “I was drawn into volunteering some years ago after losing my wife. After caring for her in her later years, I found that I had lost contact with so many friends and felt that I needed to do something about it. We always enjoyed walking, so I looked round and found a rambling group who met near me, Severnside Ramblers.  It was a great decision as I have met so many people, including my friend Sue, an ex-nurse who is also into volunteering.  At the time she was volunteering in Southmead Hospital and thought that it would be good for me to apply there.  As my wife was looked after there until she passed away it was an easy decision for me. I really enjoyed my time there, which unfortunately came to an end with the first Covid lockdown, as it was deemed too risky for volunteers of a certain age to be exposed to the threat of the virus.  I could have returned in the months since but changes to the operating systems there meant that it is not the same as before. This meant that I was searching for another opportunity to volunteer. I came across The Brightwell Centre and as I had a work colleague who had MS and subsequently passed away, it meant that it was meaningful to me. I have met so many wonderful people, both volunteers and members that it has become a highlight of the week to attend and help to run the Oxygen Therapy treatments. It’s something that I would recommend to all who are looking to help a very worthwhile charity and become part of the community.” If you are looking to use your experience in a more strategic role, perhaps come and talk to us about becoming a Trustee. We welcome board members to join us with clinical, legal, financial, HR and business development experience. However, we also have a very dedicated group of volunteers who help out on an ad hoc basis subject to what events are taking place. We have a very sociable and active calendar of events, some in the evenings and again that fits in with certain volunteers’ other commitments. Whichever option suits you; we would love to hear from you. At the moment we have an urgent need for the following roles Volunteers to help run The Brightwell Café we would ideally like to have additional Cafe Volunteers to cover afternoons. A Volunteer or Trustee with current Health & Safety Knowledge. A Trustee with a Clinical/Medical experience. Helpers for outdoor events. To find out more please visit www.thebrightwell.org.uk/volunteer We would very much like to hear from you if you are interested and will gladly arrange for a tour of  our Centre and an initial chat. Please call 01454 201686 or email us hello@thebrightwell.org.uk ​

The MS Register is a ground-breaking study designed to increase the understanding of living with MS in the UK. The UK MS Register Needs You! The UK MS Register is a unique research project that allows people with MS to add their own experiences and medical information to research. The aim of the project is to increase our understanding of living with MS in the UK. How do I get involved? Anyone over 18 in the UK with a confirmed MS diagnosis can register  at https://ukmsregister.org/Account/Register Once registered you can opt to track your condition over time. You will be contacted and asked to log in every six months to answer regular questionnaires about you and your life with MS. The MS Register team work with selected NHS hospitals around the UK. If you are under the care of one of these, you can also contribute by consenting to have your medical records securely linked to the Register. They encourage people to do this wherever possible to because it provides the richest data about what it’s like to live with MS. What happens to all this data? Data is held securely by Swansea University (where they are based). The team of researchers study many different aspects of MS, for example the impact of diet, differences in the age of onset, effects of smoking on MS, and more. They also collaborate with MS researchers across the world. Research is anonymous, so participants are never identifiable by their data. Read more about MS Register’s research by visiting their news pages on their website https://blog.msregister.org/ Join more than 20,000 people with MS who have already signed up. Whether you are newly diagnosed, or have been living with MS for many years, they would be delighted to hear from you.

Many of you will already know me as I have been involved with The Brightwell since 2007. I originally started as a volunteer in Nailsea. It was the first Charity I had ever had any experience of, and I was impressed by the splendid work the Centre was doing and the amazing people who I met there. When the opportunity arose, I applied, and was successfully chosen for the role of   Centre Manager at the end of 2009. I was born and raised in Central London to Spanish parents and grew up in a very multicultural, council housing estate, I loved every minute of my childhood there, and look back on that time with much nostalgia. I am exceptionally proud of my Spanish heritage and enjoy speaking to people in Spanish at every opportunity I get. I am also conversant in French, Italian and Portuguese, and have been trying to learn Welsh over the last year, which is a much tougher language to learn. Dw i’n mwynhau siarad cymraeg! I went to Portsmouth University, where I studied a BA in Spanish and Latin American Studies. My first two jobs made use of my language skills working on translations for a Spanish Lawyer and then as a PA to the Secretary General at The Spanish Chamber of Commerce, where I got to organise trade fairs and run their Young European Entrepreneur Programme. I moved to Nailsea when I married my husband Paul in 2003. We are the proud parents of two amazing, grown-up children Natalia and Santiago. We currently live in the beautiful coastal town of Portishead, where I am part of the gig rowing club and will be attending and participating in my fourth Gig Rowing World Championship in May this year! Paul and Natalia are both active members of the Portishead Lifeboat Crew and Santiago toured the UK and went to Dubai with Mary Poppins and Les Misérables when he was just 11! I am immensely proud of my family and their achievements. Over the years, I have had the wonderful opportunity of being involved with so many members, volunteers and committed staff through the work done by our fantastic charity, and it has been a real privilege to do so! The past few years since Covid,  have seen the scope of the work carried out at The Brightwell  broaden significantly, in terms of conditions treated and therapies offered. I am exceptionally proud to be the CEO of this great charity and community.  I am always blown away by the passion and commitment that members, volunteers and supporters have for the work we do. Thank you all for your ongoing care and support. Doro Pasantes.

What better way to raise awareness & vital funds for The Brightwell than a bright, colourful fun run, walk or wheel that the whole family can enjoy? Under 3K family-friendly route! Early Bird offer - tickets only £12.00 per adult, £6 per child and Under 5's are free until Monday 18 March! Click here to buy your tickets When and where 09 Jun 2024, 12:00 – 16:00 Jubilee Green (Town Council Offices), Jubilee Green, Savages Wood Rd, Bradley Stoke, Patchway, Bristol BS32, UK About The Brightwell Colour Run is back for 2024! Don't worry this run is all about having FUN! It isn't the competitive type in the slightest in fact, you're unlikely to run that much at all, unless you're a pro at running & laughing at the same time!!! The route is twice round the Jubilee Green which is under 3K so a super family-friendly & accessible route! The Bradley Stoke Town Council are kindly letting us host the Colour Run on the Jubilee Green again, so a HUGE thank you to them for making this possible. This event was a sell out last year and we can't wait to bring the community together once again for this one of kind family-fun event. What to expect? Fun warm up session Under 3K family-friendly route. 5 colour stations to blast through! Music around the course Fun photo opportunity Medal for adult & sticker for every child on completion! You won't want to miss this... it going to be a BLAST! There will also be a variety of refreshments available to purchase on the day. Shout out to the amazing local businesses sponsoring the Colour Run, without them it wouldn't be possible, so a huge thank you to; West Country Water Park Willow Brook Shopping Centre Woodstock Homes Heats There will be 2 heats on the day as follows: Heat 1: ARRIVE AT 2PM for registration / WARM UP 2:15PM / START RUN 2:30PM Heat 2: ARRIVE AT 2:30PM for registration / WARM UP 2:45PM / START RUN 3PM What's included in your ticket price? Fresh white Colour Run T-Shirt ready to get colourful! (ages 5 plus only) Your own powder paint sachet to add some more fun to your warm up session Up to 2 laps around the colour course Take photos at The Brightwell photo back drop at the finish Medal for every participant who finishes (over 5's only!) About The Brightwell So, lets go! Let's run, have fun and raise funds for your local neurological support centre. By buying a ticket to this event every penny you pay will be going towards ensuring that The Brightwell can continue to offer subsidised therapy to those affected by MS, ME, Fibromyalgia, Stroke survivors, and other neurological conditions. Through the therapies we can offer such as Neuro-Physiotherapy, & Oxygen Therapy our members are able to manage their symptoms and improve their overall wellbeing. We believe that it's important to raise awareness of these conditions and to celebrate the amazing people who achieve so much despite living with chronic illness. It is an opportunity to let anyone affected know that they are valued, and important and that we care. Accessibility At the Brightwell, it is a high priority to make sure that our events are inclusive to all. The colour run course is on grass and is mostly flat with only a very small incline at one point in along the route. This should be suitable for most pushchairs and wheelchairs and there will be marshals throughout the course to help should it be required. In the case of very bad weather closer to the date, or for further clarification please do not hesitate to get in touch. Parking The Jubilee car park will be closed for this event so on-street parking will be available and Willow Brook Shopping Centre has kindly said that attendees of this event can use the parking there, which is just a short walk away from the Jubilee Green. Safety Your safety is our priority, we are heavily marashaling this event to ensure everyone is safe and there shall be barriers and first aid provision on the day. We strongly advise wearing some form of eye protection, either sunglasses, glasses or goggles. These will be available on the day to purchase for an additional cost but feel free to bring your own. Although allergies to corn (and therefore cornstarch) are very rare we would strongly recommend that you do not participate in the Colour Run if you know you are allergic. Cornstach contains no other allergens. Full safety information can be found on our suppliers website data sheet here: Colour Powder - MSDS v2 - 26/04/2023 (shopify.com) Environmental The powder paint is a mixture of cornstarch and food colouring and therefore will wash away very easily and cause no harm to the environment or wildlife. Find out more

When and where 27 Mar 2024, 19:00 – 21:30 Bradley Stoke, Bradbury House, Wheatfield Dr, Bradley Stoke, Bristol BS32 9DB, About Doors open at 6.30pm. Eyes down at 7pm A fun evening with 6 prize bingo games, 2 cash bingo games and 2 'silly bingo games Feel free to come on your own to make new friends, as a couple or with a larger friends/family group. Suitable for all ages from 10+ Come and join us for a fun & relaxed evening of bingo, prizes and socializing!elcome to bring your own drinks (alcoholic or soft drinks) and nibbles to the event. Click Here to buy your tickets.

As many of you may be aware, the Physiotherapy Department will be closed for therapy sessions and classes on Monday 18and Tuesday 19 March. The reason for this closure it that Amrik, Bhumika, Millie and Max will be attending the MS Trust Conference. The Management Team and the Board of Trustees believe in furthering knowledge and supporting staff members’ Continuous Professional Development, and this is an opportunity not to be missed. This 3-day conference, starting on the Sunday, is being held in the East Midlands and is nationally recognised for its excellent choice of speakers, seminars, workshops and is a great opportunity to network and meet with other MS healthcare professionals. Over the 3-day period our team  will be able to learn about all the latest methodology, thoughts and research, as well s being able to look at some of the latest equipment and use of IT. The funding for this conference and accommodation comes partly through MS Trust Bursaries, and through the excellent support we receive in the Physiotherapy Department from the National Lottery. The programme is packed and promises to give the team a great insight into the wider perspective and innovations regarding MS in 2024 and to bring back new ideas to The Brightwell. We hope our delegates will get a great deal out of this valuable opportunity. Every effort will be made to try and fit members in on alternative dates to replace any missed sessions.