Parkinson’s UK Bromley and District Branch

10/09/2024

Our quarterly calendar of events and newsletter and now available.

To get a copy of to be added to our mailing list, please email [email protected].

03/09/2024

URGENT ACTION REQ Pensions Minister wants to meet people with Parkinson's

Hello all

I hope you're all well and can forgive this out of the blue email.

We've been contacted by the Pensions Minister's office, as she would like to meet people of state pension age and over, who are living with Parkinson's or caring for someone with Parkinson's.

Is this something you think your group members might be interested in?

If so, please could you share this invite with your group members ASAP:

The new Pensions Minister wants to meet you!

The new Pensions Minister, Emma Reynolds MP, would like to meet people with Parkinson’s and care partners, who are getting their state pension, to talk about how to maximise their income.

Emma will be at our new London offices, 50 Broadway, London SW1H between 1pm and 3pm on Thursday the 5th of September.

If you would like to meet the minister, get in touch with Sue Christoforou, Policy Manager at Parkinson's UK via 07833 237 117 or [email protected].

We will cover all reasonable travel costs for you and your care partners.

Thank you all!
Best,

Sue
--

Sue Christoforou
Policy Manager (Financial health)
Parkinson's UK

21/08/2024

A small study shows that adaptive deep brain stimulation is better than the standard version at controlling movement symptoms day and night for people with Parkinson’s.

A small study shows that adaptive deep brain stimulation is better than the standard version at controlling movement symptoms day and night for people with Parkinson’s.

Researchers at the University of California San Francisco explored whether adaptive deep brain stimulation (DBS) could improve movement symptoms for 4 people living with Parkinson’s when compared to standard DBS. Results show that adaptive DBS can respond to falling dopamine levels in the brain to better control symptoms around the clock.

"Current DBS can be life changing and has the promise to be even more effective if it could be responsive to the needs of the individual. This research represents a major step towards this."

Read the full story 👉🏼 https://prksn.uk/3Ma1dlQ

09/08/2024

Look forward to seeing you all tomorrow at our annual garden party. 2pm-4pm @ Foresters, Barnet Wood Road, BR2 8HJ

Woodland walk 🌲
Garden games 🏡
Homemade cakes 🧁
Children welcome 🧑‍🧒‍🧒

Entry: £10 - cash only (children free)
Includes tea/coffee/soft drinks and cake, raffle tickets on sale too!

06/08/2024

The weather is looking promising for this Saturday's annual fundraising garden party.
2pm-4pm
Foresters, Barnet Wood Road, BR2 8HJ

Woodland walk 🌲
Garden games 🏡
Homemade cakes 🧁
Children welcome 🧑‍🧒‍🧒

Entry: £10 - cash only (children free)

Includes tea/coffee/soft drinks and cake. Raffle tickets on sale too, look at the great prizes. See you on Saturday!

02/08/2024

Please join me along with my colleagues at Parkinson’s UK Bromley and District Branch on Saturday 10 August 2pm-4pm. Guaranteed sunny weather! 🌞🌞

09/07/2024

Did you know if you join our private Facebook group you will be kept up-to-date with our newsletters, awareness days, Parkinson's podcasts and be part of a community of people across Bromley and District living with Parkinson's?

Just answer a few simple joining questions.

09/07/2024

🩰We are delighted to share this wonderful short film 'Morning Rhapsody' by the English National Ballet starring dancers from ENB's partner hubs across the UK.

This joyous celebration of dance, music and community exemplifies the ways in which creative expression fosters connection and wellbeing.

What do you do in your daily life to foster connection and wellbeing? What can the Bromley branch do to help with this? 🩰

'Morning Rhapsody' is an original dance film starring from every one of our partner hubs (Liverpool, Oxford, Cardiff, Ipswich, West Londo...

14/05/2024

Many thanks to Bromley Lions Club - CIO for raising £1,200 for the Parkinson's UK Bromley and District Branch at their recent quiz night!

What a fantastic amount to raise, thank you everyone who organised the quiz and those who took part, we hope everyone had a great time. 🎉

Are you a member of a club or society who wants to raise money for the branch? If so, please get in contact with a committee member.

09/05/2024

👀 View the latest Branch calendar of events May - August 2024.

12/04/2024

Yesterday's World Parkinson's Day was a huge success, gaining lots of traction in the national and local press.

The committee had plenty of visitors at The Pavilion by Mytime Active in Bromley including Phil Ambler, a representative from Parkinson's UK.

"I had the privilege of attending the local Bromley and District Branch's awareness raising morning at the Bromley Pavilion today. Lovely to meet their vice-Chair Carol and her husband Brendan as well as other committee members Di, Sarah, Elaine, Liz and Celia. A great morning. What really struck me was the varied experiences of those living with Parkinson's. As our latest set of videos show below, there isn't one journey, there isn't one "day in the life", said Phil.

If you have any suggestions of other places we can have a stand and bring awareness of Parkinson's to a wider audience please contact a member of the committee or send us a message.

11/04/2024

This World Parkinson’s Day the Bromley and District branch of Parkinson's UK is celebrating the many faces of Parkinson’s as Parkinson’s is different for everyone. The branch wants more people living with Parkinson's to know Parkinson’s UK is here for them.

Hear from two branch members with art in common. Rosie Shrimpton who uses painting to relax and Kev Hopgood, illustrator and comic artist.

“I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s 10 years ago and started an art course soon afterwards. Like a lot of people with the condition, I wake up early in the morning and I often paint until the family are awake. Some of my pictures end up in the shredder but I have had a few commissions - particularly of pet portraits - which I have donated to the ‘Cure Parkinsons’ charity. Doing something you enjoy helps increase dopamine levels - painting is very absorbing and relaxing. People who think they can’t draw are often surprised by what they can do!” said Rosie Shrimpton.

Kev Hopgood says “Out of necessity I have had to slow down a bit… be more philosophical about things, that’s my major take from my Parkinson’s journey.”

Would you like to join the private Facebook group and chat with others in your local area? It is a safe space to chat with links to useful podcasts, articles and more.
Just a few quick joining questions to be answered ✔️

https://www.facebook.com/groups/pukbromleycommunity

09/04/2024

On World Parkinson's Day, this Thursday 11th of April, Branch committee members will have a stand at The Pavilion by Mytime Active in Bromley.

This is a fantastic opportunity for raising awareness of Parkinson's UK in Bromley and, also, for existing Branch members to pop by and say hello.

They will be there from 10:30am - 1:30 so please do say hello.

05/04/2024

Love the Movers and Shakers podcast?

Here’s how you can take action with them to get the government caring about Parkinson’s.

A message from The Movers and Shakers

We know many of you listen to the Award-winning Movers & Shakers podcast featuring Rory Cellan-Jones, Gillian Lacey-Solymar, Mark Mardell, Paul Mayhew-Archer, Nick Mostyn and Jeremy Paxman.

Although we manage to joke about the condition, Parkinson’s is not an easy illness to tolerate and we, the Movers and Shakers, have been both moved and shaken by what our listeners have told us. As a result we have come up with a Parky Charter - a list of things all Parkies should have a right to expect from a functioning health service and a caring care system. We now have the chance to take the Charter to 10 Downing Street on World Parkinson’s Day (April 11th).

Parkinson’s UK, Cure Parkinson’s and Spotlight Young Onset PD, support the principles of the Charter and are promoting it wherever they can. We also know how effective and persuasive petitions can be so if you agree with the Charter’s principles please sign the attached petition and please, please urge family and friends, healthcare professionals, everyone who cares about Parkinson’s, to sign it as well. The more people who can sign it before World Parkinson’s Day the more impact it will have.

Sign the Parky Charter here before the 11th of April: https://www.parkinsons.org.uk/get.../sign-parky-charter

04/04/2024

Just one week until on Thursday 11th of April.

One of our group members, Illustrator and Comic Artist Kev Hopgood, has created this video on the 2024 Parkinson's UK topic of 'There isn't one face of Parkinson's'.

Feel free to share this video and add your comments below.

13/02/2024

Introducing Parkinson’s Together, an online support group for people throughout the UK affected by Parkinson’s, run by volunteers. As a signposting site, it offers easy to use links to information about Parkinson’s from many sources.

More useful links to come, do share your favourites.

https://parkinsons-together.vercel.app/