“Give it a Go” – Wellbeing Day was jam-packed with great ideas and inspiring stories!

Our 2025 Wellbeing Day proved yet another successful occasion for stroke-affected people to discover the activities available locally to improve their physical and emotional wellbeing.

And, from the responses on our evaluation forms, we know many of you found it an extremely helpful and, at times, inspiring day.

As ever, one of the most powerful parts of the agenda was listening to the personal stories… the real, lived experiences… of stroke-affected people themselves. Their individual battles for fitness and health were hugely powerful, vividly illustrating how so many people set themselves ambitious recovery targets – and then exceed them.

Also helpful were the ideas and suggestions from the health and fitness professionals of a wide range of activities that individuals can sample for themselves, depending upon their interests and mobility – from fitness classes and community gardening through to joining an aphasia choir.

A third of strokes locally affect people of working age… and going back to work after a stroke can be a daunting experience: as we discovered in the presentation on preparing for work or volunteering, knowing your rights as an employee as well as your physical limitations is critical. 

Claire Angell, who chairs the Lived Experience Group, detailed the amazing work carried out by their members over the last year, including some of the potentially life-changing research projects they have been involved in. 

And that was followed by a fascinating section on stroke in the black community, led by a senior research fellow at UWE: a new film that her department has helped make highlights how stroke disproportionately affects certain ethnic groups.

How can engaging in art help individuals’ recovery journey? 

A project led by the RWA and involving our group members provided powerful testimony to the way art can help express and manage the thoughts and emotions that can negatively affect us following a stroke. 

And, to end the day, we were royally entertained by the Bath Aphasia Choir, before being encouraged to give voice ourselves - and thoroughly enjoying the experience!
So, what a great day - and a record turnout! It wasn’t without its challenges, not least as we had work going on close at hand. 

All of the constructive comments and suggestions made in the evaluation forms will help us make next year an even better experience for everyone who comes along.

Says Rebecca Sheehy, Bristol After Stroke’s CEO: “This year’s wellbeing day was a really uplifting event… once again, a great opportunity to hold up a mirror to the amazing work, people and organisations that make up our local stroke community. Huge thanks to all involved in supporting this event and our work over the last year.”

Finally: the day would not have been possible without the incredible support of St Monica, who generously hosted the event and supplied the lunch. It’s a quite remarkable venue to host our Wellbeing Day, and we hope to see you all there again in 2026!

If you would like more details of any of the activities available, do get in touch!