We’re back for round 2 of the GLO5. If you missed it, last November we introduced you to 5 businesses and charities that are all doing amazing work and deserved a shoutout. And luckily Gloucestershire is teeming with incredible organisations, so let’s meet 5 more!
If you missed our first edition, you can find it right here.
And if you’d like to appear in our next issue, drop us an email at content@fasthosts.com. We can't wait to hear all about your organisation!
The Door
In the heart of the Stroud District, a charity is making a big difference to their community – bringing hope to young people and their families. The Door was founded in 1991 by a group of local Christians, starting as a small youth cafe. Over the years, their numbers have grown and they now offer extensive services to young people between the ages of 11 to 18, reaching around 1,000 young people every year. Their work includes youth clubs, school-based support, and meeting young people wherever they are, offering support in whatever capacity they need it.
The main mission of The Door is to bring hope to those who feel they have none. They provide support for any young person, no matter their background or circumstances. Victoria Robson, CEO of The Door, told us, “The most rewarding part is helping people grow, both the young people and the staff that make up the team.” She leads a group of around 20 staff and over 100 volunteers, and gets real satisfaction from seeing them develop confidence and progress in their careers, while also making a difference.
Following the pandemic, funding for charities like The Door has become harder and harder to get, particularly the core funding that keeps things running day-to-day. During COVID, when youth mental health became a major funding priority, support increased rapidly. But when the COVID funding dropped off, the need didn’t go away and charities were left with the significant challenge of finding the resources they needed.
But this hasn’t stopped The Door from continuing their work with resilience and a dedication to the young people they help. They’re looking to expand the work they do in schools, extending their mentoring offer via youth workers. They’ve also recently moved to a new office space, creating a better collaboration space for their staff. And they’re now actively looking for volunteers to support in youth clubs. If this sounds like something you’re interested in, follow any of the links below to get in touch and find out more about the incredible work Victoria and her team are doing.
Website: https://thedoor.org.uk/
LinkedIn: The Door Youth Project
Instagram: @thedoorstroud
Facebook: TheDoorStroud
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheDoorUK
Pickles
Anyone with dietary restrictions knows that going out to eat can be a struggle – whether that’s finding food that you actually like, trusting that the restaurant or cafe will be stringent with their handling of allergens and intolerances, or being restricted by choices that only involve hummus and vegan burgers. This is something Lucy, founder of Pickles, knows all too well.
“I opened Pickles because, being gluten and dairy free, I’ve always found it hard to go out for brunch with friends without feeling a bit left out. I wanted to create a welcoming space where everyone feels included, no matter their dietary needs, and where food is fun, relaxed, and genuinely enjoyable for all.”
Pickles first opened its doors in June 2025, and has only gone from strength to strength since then. Gaining nearly 7,000 followers across their social media channels in just 6 months, and featuring in publications like the Cotswold Food Journal, it’s clear Pickles has found a niche in Cheltenham that the town was sorely missing. In the short time they’ve been open, they’ve also worked with companies like Molton Brown and The Studio, as well as catering for other local brands at their events.
“Pickles became a place where I could share the things I truly love, while making sure no one feels excluded.”
Their recently renovated upstairs space has offered customers a cozy place to enjoy a matcha, or dig into an acai bowl. Over the next few months, Pickles plans to renovate their outside space in time for the summer, creating ‘the perfect sanctuary for those lovely warm days’. A reliable source (Lucy!) also told us they have an exciting new project launching in May, so keep an eye on their socials!
Where to find them: 6 Regent St, Cheltenham, GL50 1HE
Website: https://www.pickles-cafe.co.uk/
Instagram: @pickles.cheltenham
Facebook: Pickles Cafe
TikTok: @pickles.cheltenham
The Nelson Trust
The Nelson Trust was founded in 1985 in Stroud and has grown over 41 years into a leading organisation, delivering holistic, trauma‑informed and gender‑specific support across the South West of England and Wales.
The Trust now supports over 5,000 individuals each year, through residential treatment centres, women’s community centres and its Hub enterprises.
A significant part of the Trust’s evolution has been pioneering gender‑responsive work, including one of the UK’s earliest women‑only treatment houses and a model of care co‑designed with clients that integrates trauma‑informed practice. The network now includes 4 gender‑responsive treatment centres, 3 move‑on recovery houses, and community projects, such as The Hub Academy, offering accredited training and pathways into employment.
The first Women’s Centre opened in Gloucester in 2010, expanding to 10 centres in England and Wales, providing safe and specialist support for women experiencing homelessness, domestic abuse, substance use and justice‑system involvement.
Alongside their year‑round services, The Nelson Trust also runs an active calendar of community events and fundraising opportunities, giving people many ways to get involved – from attending local events, to making a donation, or supporting practical initiatives.
One simple way to help is through the recycling of old mobile phones, an effort that Fasthosts is taking part in. These donated devices are reused or responsibly recycled, helping to raise funds that directly support the programmes and activities clients rely on every day. It’s a small action that can make a meaningful difference, and there are always opportunities for individuals and businesses alike to join in.
If you’d like to know how you can support The Nelson Trust, or get involved in their efforts, be sure to follow them on socials, or take a look at their website.
Website: https://www.nelsontrust.com/
Instagram: @thenelsontrust
Facebook: The Nelson Trust
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-nelson-trust/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@nelsontrust6996
Ethical Addictions
Founded 20 years ago, Ethical Addictions has become a close-knit team of hands-on people who are passionate about coffee that makes a difference. Their move to a new location in Staverton in 2022 has brought more eyes to the business, spreading their key message across the county and beyond.
The idea was born when the founders (Ian and Dave) were living in Canada and noticed how much more advanced the coffee scene was than in the UK. At the time, UK coffee drinkers would make a purchase with no real understanding of where their coffee came from. Ian and Dave wanted to change this, showing that coffee should be both sustainably sourced and delicious, benefiting the farmers, consumers and anyone else involved in the process.
Like the name suggests, ethics sits at the heart of everything Ethical Addictions does. They focus on a ‘farm direct’ model, meaning unnecessary logistics are removed from the supply chain. Instead of passing through multiple traders before reaching the UK, EA works with the farmer directly, moving the coffee from origin to roastery in the simplest way possible. This means farmers are paid fairly, and everyone involved benefits.
Their commitment to long-term relationships really shows in their successes, investing in improving quality, and supporting community projects, like water access and tree planting. As part of this, the team visits their producers, with the aim to travel to the origin as often as they can. This has resulted in relationships that span 15-20 years, with genuine friendships and families forming.
And while Ethical Addictions is involved in a whole host of projects, they don’t like to over-market this, treating this work as part of their DNA, rather than a marketing tactic. It’s evident that EA are committed to keeping to their core values, while providing a great product for customers.
If you’d like to see them in action, Ethical Addictions offers tours of their roastery, teaching visitors all about the process from bean to cup.
Where to find them: Ethical Addictions Coffee Roastery, 21A Bamfurlong Ind Park, Staverton, GL51 6SX
Website: https://eacoffee.co.uk/
Instagram: @ethicaladdictions
Facebook: Ethical Addictions Coffee Roasters
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ethical-addictions-coffee/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@eacoffee
Patch
If you live in or around Gloucester, Patch may already be a name that’s familiar to you. Why? Because they’re our new neighbours! But Patch have been around long before their move to The Forum. In fact, their first location opened in Chelmsford in 2021, and they now have 6 locations across the country – their Gloucester office being the largest of the group.
Patch creates design-led neighborhood workspaces, building collaborative, open environments for any business, entrepreneur or organisation to work from. With a combination of open-plan areas, bookable meeting rooms, event spaces and private offices, at Patch there’s something for every team, no matter how they choose to work.
Patch promotes a positive impact within every community it’s in. This is clear in its new space in Gloucester, with so many events happening already, after only being open for a matter of weeks. At 17,000 sq ft, this workspace has brought together so many organisations and groups already. It’s become a vibrant, welcoming destination for its visitors, allowing them to feel a part of something exciting.
As part of their commitment to growing Gloucester, Patch is partnering with CyNam (Cheltenham’s Cyber Security and Technology Hub) to host the Tech Futures Summit on the 18th-19th March. This will bring together leading tech entrepreneurs for 2 days of workshops, inspiration and discussion.
As well as this, Patch has hosted Salsa classes, Breath Art workshops, business networking groups, a pub quiz, and much more. There’s still so much to come and we can’t wait to see what Patch has in store in the future.
If you fancy trying a day at their Gloucester location, you can book a free trial to see what it’s all about!
Where to find them: Patch, 5-7 Cathedral Walk, The Forum, Gloucester, GL1 1DG
Website: http://www.patch.work/
Instagram: @patchplaces
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/patchplaces/
Are you a Gloucestershire business?
That wraps up another edition of the GLO5! Don't forget to check out all of the organisations mentioned on their socials – and why not give them a follow while you're there?
If you're a Gloucestershire business and would like to be featured in our next edition, get in touch! You can email us at content@fasthosts.com – we'd love to hear your story.
