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Gloucestershire businesses get behind local care charity

by News

Dozens of small business owners in Gloucestershire have thrown their support behind a local charity providing care and support for disabled children and young adults as part of a 12-month fundraising partnership.

Resident business owners at Space Business Centres in Gloucester and Cheltenham have chosen the Spring Centre, a Quedgeley based charity which provides care, advice and activities for 90 local children and young adults with additional needs and disabilities and their families, as their charity partner for this year.

The organisation, based at Gardner House in Olympus Business Park, is just a few minutes’ walk from Space Gloucester, with facilities including a playground, specialised sensory play equipment and a young adults centre to support their programme of activities.

Space Cheltenham and Gloucester are owned by property developers AC Lloyd. More than 100 small businesses operate across the two sites, and all will have the opportunity to help fundraise for the Spring Centre throughout the year thanks to the new link.

The first fundraising event, a coffee and cake morning, will take place on Wednesday, April 5 with all proceeds set to be donated to the Spring Centre.

The Spring Centre was established in 1994 and provides support throughout the Gloucestershire area, with services including after school clubs, sensory play sessions and day trips.

Gail Harrison, Marketing and Administration Assistant at the Spring Centre, said: “We are delighted to have been chosen as the charity partner of Space Business Centres Gloucester and Cheltenham for this year.

“The team have been so supportive in this early stage and I am looking forward to working with them to raise money for our wide range of activities and support that we provide to people across the area.”

During school term-time, the charity operates a preschool family drop-in service where parents can get funding advice and access support services, as well as themed sensory play sessions and after school clubs with hot food provision for children over eight.

The centre also organises day trips and respite activities for children over 8, family focused ‘stay and play’ sessions for children under 8 and a sibling support group during the school holidays.

It also runs a young adult day care service for users aged between 16 and 35, which includes a dedicated lounge area, kitchen and craft zone to support a weekly programme of skill-based learning.

Lucy Iles, site manager at AC Lloyd Space Business Centres, said: “It is wonderful to have a local charity that does great work in our community as our chosen charity for the year.

“We will be supporting the Spring Centre through various events and activities to raise funds, so they can continue to support disabled children and young adults, and their families in our community – and we hope to see lots of new faces at our first event in April.”

Xmas Space

Gloucestershire businesses band together to raise money for charity

by EventsNews

Small business owners from across Gloucestershire have joined forces to host an independent Christmas shopping experience in aid of a local hospice.

A host of street food vendors, bakeries and handmade gift creators will join other Cheltenham and Gloucester businesses to host Christmas at Space – a festive get together to raise money for Sue Ryder Leckhampton Court Hospice – at Space Business Centre Gloucester next month.

The site in Olympus Park, Quedgeley, is home to more than 50 independent businesses, with tenants set to be joined by residents of its sister site Cheltenham Space Business Centre, as well as guest businesses from across the region on Sunday, December 4 from 10am to 2pm.

In addition to a range of festive goodies on offer to the public, from personalised art and unique homeware to mouth-watering BBQ and baked goods and collectible models, Space Business Centres has teamed up with Sue Ryder Leckhampton Court Hospice to a host a charity raffle with a range of prizes available.

Space resident James Brown, of JB event hire, is a long-term supporter of the charity. He said: “It’s brilliant that the Space family and other local traders have come together to raise money for such an important local charity whist showcasing all of the great products and services they have to offer.

“It will be a very special event and one that I hope will continue over the years to come. We are really looking forward to this Christmas event and hope to see you all there.”

Alysia Cameron-Price, Community Fundraising Manager at Sue Ryder Leckhampton Court Hospice, said: “A visit to the Space event is a great way to kick-start the festive season and tick off some Christmas gifts from your list, all while raising vital funds for families needing our care.

“It’s an honour to see so many local businesses join forces to support us and we hope that the community will get behind them.”

Space Business Centres Gloucester and Cheltenham are owned by property development company AC Lloyd and offer flexible, multi-use units ranging from 275 to 775 sq ft. Their 30-day licences are designed to support new businesses that have outgrown the kitchen table.

Lucy Iles, site manager at Space Gloucester and Cheltenham, said: “We are incredibly excited to be hosting our inaugural Christmas at Space.

“It’s a great chance for visitors to find out more about the incredible businesses that make up the Space family, as well as pick up some Christmas gifts and try some fantastic food.

“We hope that we will not only have a brilliant turn out in support of local small businesses, but also raise funds for Sue Ryder through our Christmas raffle, and we’d love to hear from guest businesses interested in joining us on the day.”