Portishead Stroke Drop-in Centre reopens this week following its temporary absence due to the pandemic.

The monthly drop-in centre provides a central point for stroke survivors and their carers to access information and meet others in similar situations, who have experienced and survived a stroke.

Stroke survivor Lorraine Rowsell, who was instrumental in setting up the Portishead stroke project in 2012, said: “Sometimes, stroke survivors just need a friendly face, someone who knows what they are going through, while others need practical help and advice.

"We hope that by sharing a cup of tea or coffee and having a few laughs we can all help each other.”

A stroke is a brain attack that can happen when the blood supply to part of the brain is cut off, killing brain cells. Damage to the brain can affect how the body works; it can also change how you think and feel.

The National Stroke Association advises people to make healthy lifestyle choices, like adopting a healthy diet, increasing activity levels and avoiding smoking and drinking to help reduce the risk of having a stroke. However, there can be other underlying causes, and regular check-ups with a GP for the over-40s can help pick up on problems.

The five warning signs of stroke are sudden onset of weakness or numbness on one side of the body, speech difficulty or confusion, difficulty seeing in one or both eyes, onset of dizziness, trouble walking or loss of balance and severe headache with no known cause.

The Portishead Stroke Drop-in Centre is run by stroke survivors for stroke survivors and their carers. Drop-in sessions take place on the first Friday of every month, starting this Friday, at Clarence House in Portishead High Street from 10.30am-12.30pm.

For more details, call Lori on 01275 818492 or 0750 3083531 or email lorrainerowsell@btinternet.com