Helping support the vulnerable and lonely within our community

CHELTENHAM Open Door exists to support vulnerable, disadvantaged and lonely people.

We aim to relieve poverty, hardship and social or emotional distress.

Our work is all done with a small staff team and lots of wonderful volunteers.

Our guests are men and women who do not have access to the comforts that most of us take for granted: housing, a reliable income, family, friends, health.

They may be homeless, vulnerably housed or in supported accommodation. They may have drug or alcohol addictions. They may have mental health difficulties.

They may be isolated from their friends and family. They may have been in and out of children’s homes. They may have been in prison, often released homeless.

We can ease difficult times with warmth, companionship and a place to belong.

We don’t ask questions of our guests, and everything we offer is free.

During the pandemic we’ve offered midweek hot nutritious meals like stir frys, currys and cottage pies.

Covid restrictions permitting, we’ll be open on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day from 9am to 6pm at Unit 3 St Georges Business Park, Off Alstone Lane; and there will be three meals a day with snacks and drinks in between.

There will also be decorations, gifts, hairdressing sessions, hot showers, television, board games and entertainment.

A range of clothing will be available from our clothes store.

Shortly we will be moving to new larger premises to welcome guests back inside to use the facilities and have companionship.

Finally a massive thank you to everyone who has supported us over the years, with physical donations, fundraising, donations and their time. We are constantly floored by people’s generosity.

We’d like to dedicate this article to Sara Reader who recently retired after 26 years at Open Door. She is one in a million!