Charcot Story
Our charity began in 1985, founded by families living with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) who shared a powerful vision, to install a hyperbaric oxygen chamber and create a place of sanctuary where people could access therapies that genuinely made a difference. Gloucestershire MS Information & Therapy Centre was ran and supported by volunteers who understood the realities of living with MS, they built something shaped not by clinical corridors but by warmth, compassion, and a community that truly understood. They believed care should feel supportive and real, and that vision and belief still guides us today.
Over the decades, through our unique access to hyperbaric oxygen therapy, we’ve supported thousands of people. Those living with neurological or chronic conditions, those recovering from sports injuries or surgery, and those simply seeking therapies that help them stay active, independent, and well.
As our community grew, so did the range of conditions and experiences we supported. It became clear that our identity needed to reflect the breadth of people who now call Charcot their home.
Our new name, Charcot Therapy Centre, honours our history while embracing a more inclusive future. It pays tribute to Professor Jean‑Martin Charcot, the pioneering neurologist who first described multiple sclerosis as “sclérose en plaques.” As our Centre began as an MS‑exclusive service, carrying his name is both a nod to our origins and a recognition of the expertise and lived experience that shaped us. Today, that legacy guides a broader, more welcoming identity, a therapy Centre rooted in expertise, shaped by community, and open to all. This evolution isn’t a departure from our past; it’s a natural continuation of the values that have guided us from the beginning.
We are proud of the legacy we’ve inherited, and we’re excited about the path ahead. As we continue to grow, our commitment remains the same to be a place of warmth, expertise, and community for everyone who needs us.
Whether you’ve been with us for years or are discovering us for the first time, you are part of our story, and we’re glad you’re here.
Our Vision
The Charcot Therapy Centre is a community hub for people living with or supporting someone with a neurological or long-term
condition. We embrace collaborative working with both charities and statutory services.
Our Mission
We strive to be an informative, inclusive, and inviting community
hub, delivering unique and alternative therapies in a safe, non-clinical, homely, and friendly environment. Alongside our dedicated team of therapists, we support and encourage individuals in their wellbeing and symptom management to live a good quality of life.
Meet the Charcot Therapy Team
We warmly welcome you to the Charcot and are delighted to introduce our Staff and Board Of Trustees.
Rachael Evans
Fiona Lord
Admin Coordinator
Driven
Empathetic
Passionate
Empathic
Grounded
Steadying
Our Board of Trustees
If you would like to contact the board of trustees please email secretary@thecharcot.org.uk
Vikki Sewell
Secretary
Tenacious
Considerate
Bibliophile
Before having to medically retire, Vikki worked in management across a range of sectors, including retail, finance and hospitality.
Following her diagnoses of Fibromyalgia, HEDS and FND, she developed a strong interest in understanding the lived experiences behind neurological conditions and the challenges people face day to day.
Vikki brings empathy, insight and a genuine desire to support others to everything she does.
Glenys Peat
Determined
Loyal
Caring
Glenys qualified as a social worker as a mature student and went on to specialise in supporting older people with mental health needs, particularly dementia, along with their carers and wider support networks.
She has generously volunteered with Charcot for several years, using her experience to help individuals with their benefit form applications. Glenys brings patience, understanding and a reassuring presence to everyone she supports.
Mike McCulloch
Reasonable
Kind
Resilient
Mike spent his career in construction management before retraining as a therapist specialising in the Alexander Technique. Alongside his therapy work, he volunteers regularly with the Oxygen Operating Team here at the Centre.
A long‑standing local resident, Mike is happily married with two children and three grandchildren, and brings a calm, friendly presence to every session he supports.
Steve Hutchinson
Positive
Respectful
Helpful
Steven moved to Gloucester in the mid‑sixties and spent his working life with UPS until he was diagnosed with MS.
He has been part of the MS Centre, now the Charcot Therapy Centre, for around 12 years and speaks about it with real affection, describing it as “a wonderful place that now supports many health conditions.”
Steven is a familiar, friendly face in the community and brings warmth and positivity to everyone he meets.
Karen West
Kind - Hearted
Cheerful
Calm
Karen spent over 45 years working in her family’s local bus company, which the family proudly ran for 65 years before selling it in 2024.
She is widowed, with two children, five grandchildren and two great‑grandchildren, and loves time with her family especially if it involves sunshine and a holiday.
Karen began volunteering at Charcot in 2025 and quickly became a friendly, familiar face. She loves chatting with clients, staff and fellow volunteers and brings a gentle warmth to every session.
Nick Speed
Listening
Supportive
Patient
Nick retired in 2017 after what he jokingly calls a “life sentence” in commercial insurance broking, finishing his career as a local director for a multinational firm.
With three close friends living with MS, he’s passionate about supporting the Centre and genuinely enjoys helping out wherever he can.
A lifelong Gloucestershire resident, Nick has a long‑term partner and, in his own words, “too many children”, which always raises a smile.
Why Trustees Are Essential to Charcot
The Charcot Therapy Centre’s Trustee Board brings together people with a wide range of skills, expertise, and lived experience.
They serve as the charity’s governing body, providing oversight, guidance, and accountability.
While we refer to them as our Trustee Board, they are formally recognised as both Charity Trustees and Directors.
Our Trustees' Key Responsibilities
Keeping Charcot legally compliant and ethically run
Setting our long‑term direction and monitoring progress
Protecting the safety and wellbeing of staff, volunteers, and members
Overseeing our financial health and use of funds
Identifying and managing risks from safeguarding to finance to reputation