Our next meeting will be on Thursday 5th December in Cheltenham town center. The wonderful folks at Hub8 will be hosting us for a quality Salesforce session, including a brilliant presentation from Jon Laughland about Helpshift.
There’ll be drinks, mince pies and a chance to network; then if you want to head off and take advantage of late night shopping - feel free! Or, you can also stick around for free food, free drinks and a charity auction. We’ll be hearing from three local charities; Cheltenham Open Door, National Star and Family Space at 7pm (so you could even shop first and pop in at 7 if you want!)
Christmas is a time for giving, and what better way for us to end our first year of this Community Group than by giving back to the community we live in. You can book your space via Eventbrite here. (tickets are free, we just want to know you’re coming!)
Helpshift UK
UK Sales Director
Cheltenham Open Door supports vulnerable, disadvantaged and lonely people. We are working to relieve poverty, hardship and social or emotional distress.
Our guests are men and women who have been deprived of the comforts and security most of us take for granted and we offer them hospitality, warmth, food and somewhere to relax.
Some lost jobs through injury or sickness and are not fit to work again. Some read and write only with great difficulty. Some are coping with mental health issues. Some are in a programme to try to get off alcohol or drugs. Most come from broken homes, were in care as children or have experienced broken relationships. Some are sleeping rough or are among the hidden homeless in a temporary hostel or sleeping on a friends floor.
Cheltenham Open Door exists to help their guests with whatever their needs may be, without judgement. They are friends and family for those who have none.
At National Star, we’re driven by our vision for a world in which people with disabilities are able to realise their potential as equal and active citizens in control of their lives. This sits at the heart of everything we do, from the personalised and world-class learning we provide via National Star College to training, specialist services and our work in the wider community. All of this is underpinned by both our passion to enrich people’s lives and by our moral and statutory responsibilities.
West Cheltenham is in the top 10% most deprived areas in the UK, and Family Space is there to provide places where parents and children can feel safe, learn skills, rebuild relationships and find a sense of hope.
They run Stay and Play groups with over 120 children attending and around 90 adults, the group helps parents bond and play with their children, learn parenting skills and socialise with others.
They also coordinate Supported Contact for separated families with over 630 children attending sessions which run every Saturday of the year. The centre has 19 years of experience working with parents who are able to spend time with a child they don’t live with due to family separation or unresolved family contact. It is a stepping stone to better family relationships and more relaxed contact arrangements.
