Brighterway secure NHS charities together funding

In 2021, NHS Charities Together launched a grant fund enabling NHS organisations to support the long-term health and recovery of NHS staff, patients, community, and volunteers impacted by COVID- 19.
Following consultation across the Trust, our Charity Brighterway submitted a grant to fund three areas of work, which included:

To develop and deliver a Trust ‘Incredible Edible Community’.
To develop and produce following staff engagement a Healthy Eating Recipe book.
To develop existing and new walks, trails, and conservation areas across some Trust sites.

We are pleased to announce our submission was successful and Brighterway has secured £143k to deliver this work over a two-year period.

Chris Dixon, Charity Manager commented: “This is an amazing opportunity to impact many areas and people of the Trust and to bring people together to support their health and wellbeing.” Over the coming weeks we will give you more information about the projects and how you can get involved.

Eat the Brighterway

Following our early announcement in relation to successfully securing funding, we can share our Brighterway Healthy Eating Book Recipe Project. A project to secure a legacy from this funding.

Over the coming weeks and months, we will be asking the southern health community for health recipes that you may use. They may be your own or family traditions. We will then select a range of recipes that will be incorporated in to a Brighterway Recipe Book. We are asking predominantly for healthy recipes, but there will not be anything to stop the odd, sweet treat.

The book will then be given to all staff as a way of us supporting your health and wellbeing.

Chris Dixon, Charity Manager commented “this is a brilliant opportunity for staff to get involved in a project that will have a true impact on the eating habits of the southern health community. Creating a long-lasting legacy for the trust, but also sharing those family recipes that have become tradition”

For more information get in touch with us on our social media accounts or at charity@southernhealth.nhs.uk

Walk the Brighterway 23

Teams from across Southern Health Foundation Trust are stepping their way to spring whilst boosting their Health and Wellbeing and raising money for our NHS Heroes Appeal

At the half way stage we have 15 teams who have completed over 20 million steps and travelled a total of over 10,000 miles.

Chris Dixon, Charity Manager commented

What started as a challenge to beat the post Christmas blues has become very competitive. Not only do we have people spending time on themselves, but we are raising awareness of the charity and a few pennies at the same time.

If you would like to donate then please click the link of a team opposite. They would love your support.

Team Foxtrotters

Team Smile-a-mile-collective

Team Fareham Fabulous

Team Quality Governance

Team Potteries Plodders

Team Deeleap Dashers 1

Team Deerleap Dashers 2

Team The GOATS

Team TED

Team Sauntering Sleuths

Team Patient Safety

Team Jolly Jabbers

Team The Super Fit Highland Dawdlers

Team Walkaholics

Team Engaging Explorers

Local NHS charity brings festive cheer to patients

Local NHS Charity, Brighterway, brings festive cheer this Christmas by gifting patients across Southern Health Foundation NHS Trust, gift boxes and Christmas trees to help their health and wellbeing.

The charity donated 70 boxes that has helped approximately 647 patients across Southern Health’s inpatient wards. The boxes included a wide variety of items including: travel cups, socks, word searchers, crosswords, puzzles, health and wellbeing items as well as the odd festive treat.

Costing nearly £25,000 in total, the boxes have been a big hit with their recipients.

Cedar Ward at Petersfield Hospital were thrilled with their Brighterway boxes:

“We received our boxes yesterday which was a great surprise because we had completely forgotten about them! It will be so lovely to be able to give our patients some extra presents this year.” Jill Park – Ward Manager

Brighterway aims to improve and enhance service user and staff experience and provides support for projects that goes above and beyond NHS funding.

Chris Dixon, Brighterway Charity Manager commented;

“Being new to the role, I am thrilled that I have been able to continue this vital piece of charity work, ensuring that our patients get a festive treat. Life is tough for everyone now and being in hospital at this time of year can be lonely, so showing people that we care in any way we can is paramount. I would like to thank everyone engaged in this project, without the generosity of time and pennies, we would not have been able to achieve this small piece of magic. Thank You “

If you are interested in donating this Christmas to Brighterway, please visit the charities website. https://www.brighterway.org.uk/

Pool Table for Antelope House

brighterway recently funded the purchase of a new pool table for the service users at Antelope House!

Antelope House is a small hospital in the centre of Southampton dedicated to the treatment of adult mental health. Antelope House currently has three wards. Saxon Ward for men, Trinity Ward for women and Hamtun Ward, which is a Psychiatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) for men. A fourth ward, Abbey Ward has just finished being built and this will be a female PICU.

The service users from all wards enjoy playing pool either on a 1:1, a small group or in a pool tournament. Playing pool helps people to relax and because everyone is having fun it can break down barriers which then fosters dialogue and building therapeutic relationships.

The patients and staff have been requesting a new pool table be sourced as the current one was so old it was beyond repairing.

“We decided to apply to Brighterway for funding. The staff at Brighterway were so helpful, the application form was very easy and straightforward to complete, and we were delighted to get a response within days. We cannot thank you enough for your generosity which will put smiles on people’s faces for years to come.”

New Forest Show 2022

We would like to say a massive thank you to everyone who helped us make our time at the New Forest Show a success! Together we raised a total of £838.36 which is amazing 🤩

It was lovely to see so many people and have a chance to speak to everyone about what brighterway is doing to help improve the health and wellbeing of our staff and patients 🌈 Congratulations to everyone who won prizes in our raffle and to the winner of our CPR competition!

Have a look at our infographic to see what else we achieved during our time at the show! We are already looking forward to next year!🐴

Design Your Own Stamp Competition winners!

We are pleased to crown the winners of our Jubilee Stamp Design competition! 👑

Thank you to everyone who got involved, we had so many fantastic designs it was hard to choose 🤩

Congratulations to all our winners:

1st Place- Amber Jones 🥇

2nd Place- Lily Nichols 🥈

3rd Place- Poppy Ward (Tracy Adams) 🥉

If your Jubilee celebrations have got you in the mood for a tea party, why not head over to our NHS Big Tea page to look at hosting your own event for the NHS’ birthday in July 🍰

Charity Single ‘Every Journey starts with One Small Step’

We are happy to announce that our Charity Single ‘Every journey starts with One Small Step’ is available to download from 9th May! 🎸

Richard ‘Ricky’ Palmer has composed a song to mark Mental Health Awareness Week (09/05/22 – 15/05/22). The track, ‘Every journey starts with One Small Step’ was written specifically by the Portsmouth based singer-songwriter to raise awareness of mental health issues.

The song is helping to support two mental health charities: The Mental Health Foundation www.mentalhealth.org & Southern Health NHS Trust’s charity www.brighterway.org

The track features Richard ‘Ricky’ Palmer and several musicians who have added their instruments to the track: Jane Hoolahan (Harp); Michael Reidy (Irish Whistle); Justin Strain (Bouzouki); Amanda Golding (Violin).

‘This song is an expression of the never-ending journey that I have been sharing with my mental health’ said Richard ’Ricky’ Palmer. He went on to say ‘I wanted to express in song a positive message about mental health. One small step is all it takes, and you are not alone on your journey, all you need to do us reach out and someone will be there for you.’

The single is available on all major digital platforms including:

Spotify http://open.spotify.com/track/70Xu6ybQYZCJehOtLEvGlY

Deezer www.deezer.com/album/313379247

AppleMusic https://music.apple.com/us/album/every-journey-starts-with-one-small-step-feat-the/1620848107?ls=1

iTunes https://music.apple.com/us/album/every-journey-starts-with-one-small-step-feat-the/1620848107?ls=1&app=itunes

The track, Every journey starts with One Small Step, has been released as a single by Shine4U Records & distributed worldwide by Horus Music. The track was recorded in Portsmouth, UK at Mayfield Studios.

Please watch our Charity Single here: Official Youtube video: Every journey starts with one small step 🌈

Easter Treats for Antelope House

Over the Easter period we helped fund Easter treats including Easter eggs and fruit baskets for staff and patients at Antelope House. These gifts were safely delivered by their very own Easter bunny who was given a warm welcome 🐰

The aim of this project was to bring joy to patients who are detained and an inpatient within a mental health unit, whilst also providing hard working staff with an opportunity for a treat. We hope all the staff and patients enjoyed their Easter treats 😋

At brighterway, we’re here to help support projects that improve the health and wellbeing for our staff and patients. If you think you have an idea that could help, please get in touch! Head over to the ‘Your Bright Ideas’ section on the website and fill in an application form. We are always on the lookout for fundraising opportunities and volunteers too! So, if you’d like to help us fundraise by getting involved in an event or hosting your own, please email us at charity@southernhealth.nhs.uk 😁🌈