Hub Academy

THE HIGH FLYERS

Opening times

Monday – Friday
9.00AM – 5.00PM

Due to current Covid-19 restrictions, we currently have a reduced timetable for our residential clients and we are starting to offer a limited number of groups for the community. We are hopeful to expand this and have more on offer as it is safe to do so. Please get in touch if you have any enquiries.

Here at The Hub Academy our aim is to provide both a supportive learning environment for people recovering from addiction and associated trauma and a comfortable conference and training space for delivery of CPD to professionals.

Our programme of courses helps people build emotional resilience, learn practical skills and explore their creativity. Our learners can also gain accredited qualifications and access a range of volunteering opportunities which increase confidence and helps progression towards future employment.

Opening times

Monday – Friday
9.00AM – 5.00PM
The Hub

Course Booking Form

The Hub

    Please complete the online booking form below, choosing the course title from the dropdown box.

    By completing this form you are making a formal course booking and the terms and conditions (detailed below) will apply:

    Course Details

    Course Title*
    Course start date*
    Course time*
    Approx Group Size:
    Please note, prices are subject to change depending on group size.

    Delegate Information

    Name*
    Organisation*
    Telephone No*
    Email Address*
    Do you have any dietary requirements?
    YesNo
    If YES, please give details
    Do you require any support or adjustments to assist you on the day?
    YesNo
    If YES, please give details

    Invoicing details

    Name*
    Organisation*
    Telephone No*
    Email Address*
    Invoicing Address*

    General

    Where did you find out about this course?*

    Booking Terms & Conditions

    A booking fee may be applicable for any order or booking over £100.

    A cancellation fee may apply for any booking which is cancelled with less than 7 days’ notice.

    Can we contact you?

    Training

    CPD/Professional training

    As an award-winning charity specialising in delivering holistic, trauma-informed services to people with multiple and complex challenges, we now provide a range of CPD accredited one-day training courses for statutory, third sector, health care professionals and commissioners.

    View course information Close course information

    Click on the course descriptions below to find out more.

    Residential treatment workshops

    We provide an empowering learning environment for clients of the Nelson Trust’s Residential Rehab to attend a mixed programme of workshops to complement their therapeutic treatment journey. Classes are provided by SGS College, Adult Education Gloucestershire, WEA as well as our independent team of tutors. Check out our current timetable below which may be subject to change.

    View workshop information Close workshop information

    Our weekly timetable repeats throughout the year. Click on course titles in the timetable below to find out more.

    Community classes

    We offer a combination of educational courses, creative workshops and recovery support to the local community, some of which are delivered from our Gloucester and Cheltenham venues. We welcome interest from people in the local and wider community who would like to use the Academy to set up new workshops. Most of these classes are free to those in receipt of benefit, however on occasion some classes may cost to cover resources.

    Scroll through the timetable below to see our upcoming course details.

    The Hub

    Room Booking Form

    The Hub

      Please complete the online booking form below, choosing the room from the dropdown box. Add a catering package by completing the section below.

      Room Details

      Room required*
      Date required*
      Time required (from/to)*
      Number of attendees*
      Please note, prices will differ depending on group size, we will be in touch with a quote.
      Additional requirements
      Reason for booking*:

      Your details

      Name*
      Organisation*
      Telephone No*
      Email Address*
      Delivery address (if applicable)

      Invoicing details

      (If different from above)
      Name
      Organisation
      Telephone No
      Email Address
      Invoicing Address

      General

      Where did you find out about us?*

      Booking Terms & Conditions

      A booking fee may be applicable for any order or booking over £100.

      A cancellation fee may apply for any booking which is cancelled with less than 7 days’ notice.

      Can we contact you?

      Room hire

      The Academy has a space to suit all training and learning needs. We encourage interest from mutual aid groups, charities and local organisations who would like to hire space either to run meetings, conferences and training events, or to set up community workshops. Click on the rooms below to find out more.

      INKSTER WORKSHOP
      The High Flyers
      Capacity: 16 people
      Pricing

      Facilities

      Easy entry via double roller shutter doors, into a spacious workshop, comprising of four large work benches, with a vice built in and room for four people each.

      Tools include a morticer, pillar drill, disc sander, band saw and planer, with a wide selection of hand tools and materials.

      We are pleased to have recently added a stained glass firing kiln in to this space also!

      IT SUITE
      The High Flyers
      Capacity: 9 on computers
      or 12 seated
      Pricing

      Facilities

      Newly renovated IT suite consisting of nine high spec computers.

      Meeting table also included, which comfortably seats twelve people, in the centre of the room.

      Natural light and air conditioning make this an effective learning space.

      TRAINING ROOM
      The High Flyers
      Capacity: 40
      Pricing

      Facilities

      Newly renovated conference and training space with tea/coffee making facilities and seating for 40 delegates or learners.

      Lots of natural light and air conditioning make this a comfortable space for all manner of course delivery and training days.

      IT ready with a 70” Interactive screen and Wifi, which links to any laptop running PowerPoint.

      Room can be laid out in rows, or seating around a central table, depending on need.

      Conservatory
      Capacity: 14 seated at removable table
      or 10 in a circle
      Pricing

      Air conditioned, carpeted conservatory space with good natural light and blinds for privacy. Access to the outside space via double French doors.

      1:1 Room
      Capacity: 3
      Pricing

      Small room for 1:1 informal meetings, counselling and supervision sessions.

      Creative Arts studio
      Capacity: 16
      Pricing

      Complete with a Pottery firing kiln and Potters wheel, our creative arts studio is perfect for learners to explore their creative side and develop their artistic talent, or engage with therapeutic art workshops. Lots of natural light with plenty of storage for paints, paper, clay and all things art!

      This room will comfortably seat sixteen learners, around movable tables, depending on need.

      News

      Check out the latest news for The High Flyers

      See With Fresh Eyes Photography Online Exhibition

      Date: 15 Dec 2020

      This month we are  celebrating the launch of  www.seewithfresheyes.co.uk  online Mindful Photography exhibition featuring the work of some Nelson Trust clients plus participants from Headway Gloucestershire, Maggies Cheltenham and Longfield community hospice.

       

      The project supported 40 people in their mid-life from around Gloucestershire who have experienced challenges to their mental health or wellbeing. Our clients at the Nelson Trust benefitted from Ruth Davey’s approach of blending photography and mindfulness to slow down, reduce stress, relieve anxiety and boost mood. The Hub Academy is situated close to the Canal whilst also having the industrial estate on our doorstep and these contrasting environments can be seen as the inspiration in the stunning photographs on the website.

       

      Our thanks go to  Look Again,  the BUPA Foundation, Create Gloucestershire, Gloucester Cathedral, the University of Gloucestershire and Llanthony Secunda Priory for supporting this project.

       

       

      Creative Courses Open Day

      Date: 28 Feb 2020

      You have been invited to visit our free courses open day!

      Saturday 14th March between 10am – 4pm

      Come and celebrate the launch of our upcoming courses. From textiles to upcycling, to yoga and acupuncture, you’ll be sure to find something that captures your creativity. With copious amounts of cake on offer too, what’s not too love?

      You can try out a taster in any of the following for free, just pop down to join in

      11am – 12pm     Yoga with Lisa

      11am – 12pm     Crafty Activities

      1pm – 2pm        Creative Textiles

      2pm – 3pm       Group Acupuncture and Sound Gong

       

      We will also be displaying our mindful photography exhibition, see a demo in creative glass work, a display of our most recent creations in upcycling and much more!

      You can also sign up to our new and upcoming courses. Check out the details in our community classes calendar above for the following courses –

      Expressive writing course

      Arts and craft course

      Upcycling course

      Getting online a one-off IT course

      Call the Hub Academy on 01453 889731 to book a place, courses are free for eligible learners

      Artshape Workshops for our Nelson Trust clients

      Date: 18 Feb 2020

      The Hub Academy hosted a creative day for Nelson Trust clients to engage with and explore their creative minds. With Artshape hosting a range of creative groups we had over thirty clients engaged in creative writing, 3D sculpture and print making and the results were brilliant!

      We have lots of prints hanging in the art room, creative poems and stories being displayed and huge 3D sculptures made out of willow hanging from the ceiling. It was a fantastic day and was thoroughly enjoyed by everyone!

      To find out more about Artshape go to artshape.co.uk.

      Trauma Informed Training

      Date: 8 Oct 2019

      Kirsty Day, our Learning and Development Lead for The Nelson Trust, has been providing Trauma Informed training for all of our staff and volunteers. She has been delivering these from The Hub Academy along with other training days and workshops.  Everyone who has attended gave shining feedback and have signed up to do some of the other courses.

      These training days are delivered to outside organisations and individuals who would like to benefit from understanding how best to work with trauma informed approaches and practices.  If you would like to find out more, please contact:

      Email:  training@nelsontrust.com

      Or follow us on Eventbrite:

      https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/the-nelson-trust-11159622336

      Community Acupuncture & Gong Baths

      Date: 10 Sep 2019

       We held our very first Gong Bath this Friday for our clients here at The Hub Academy.  Roger Cuddington ‘Sacred Gongs’ facilitated a therapeutic session using sound and meditation to achieve deep relaxation.

      This followed our Community Acupuncture group which is open to all every Friday from 11.30am-12.30am.  Both these wellbeing groups are reported to have a number of varied benefits – physically, mentally and emotionally.  One client who had attended to the whole day and has been a regular member in the acupuncture group has said that she ‘sleeps better, feels more calm during the day and seems to have more clarity in her work’.

      Ear acupuncture is a type of acupuncture that involves inserting small needles into specific points on the ear. Stimulating these points is thought to promote healing in other areas of the body. It is mostly pain free.  If you have never felt the benefits from having a complementary therapy like auricular acupuncture, come along one Friday.

      In alternative medicine, ear acupuncture is typically used for these and other health conditions:

      We will be keeping your posted on any future wellbeing services we are providing here at The Hub Academy, in Stroud.  Hopefully we will be able to put on a Community Gong Bath once a month in the future too! Meanwhile, keep up to date by following us on social media.

      For more information about Gong Baths which Rodger facilitates – his social media tags are:

      Twitter:  @sacredgongs

      Facebook:   Sacredgongs777

      Mindful Photography Course exhibits work

      Date: 10 Jul 2019

      The Hub Academy hosted the ‘Look Again’ Mindful photography course this spring.  This 6 week course was put on to help people to build confidence and self-esteem and improve their mental health.  Using photography and the community aspect of doing a course, we had a number of students mark positive outcomes from taking part. 

      This all ended with an exhibition of their work at Stroud’s Big Festival of Nature which took place in Strafford Park last weekend.  (Sunday 7th July)  We hope to be exhibiting them in the Academy soon, so please look out for them!

      This course was kept deliberately simple – with students encouraged to use different platforms which suit them best.  They could use their phone if that suited them better.  The emphasis was on creativity and capturing images which meant something to them.  All this while exploring the area – which comes to life in the spring time!

      We hope to be putting on this course again, so if you are interested in this or any further, similar courses, please contact us on:

      Telephone: 01453 889 731
      Email:
      info.highflyers@nelsontrust.com  

      FREE 6-week photography courses for wellbeing in the Stroud District

      In partnership with Stroud Nature and funded by an Adult Social Care Thriving Communities grant from Gloucestershire County Council.

      Volunteer Week 2019

      Date: 3 Jul 2019

      This year’s volunteers week at the Nelson Trust saw us celebrate our 80 plus volunteers across the organisation. During the week 1st-7th June we held three events between Stroud and Gloucester to say a big thank you to our volunteers and peer mentors for all their hard work, enthusiasm and dedication to their work at the Nelson Trust.

      We were lucky enough to start the week off with an interview with BBC Radio Gloucestershire where two of our peer mentors talked about the great work they do in supporting other clients in their recovery and in running peer support groups across the trust on Dom Cotter’s Lunchtime show.

      Tuesday saw the British Red Cross deliver an insightful and practical session in everyday first aid at the Hub Academy. This free training enables our volunteers to gain basic skills that are incredibly useful in their roles and in everyday life.

      Throughout the week we posted volunteer spotlights to celebrate a number of volunteers who really go above and beyond in their service. These were posted on our social media and presented to the individuals at our two thank you events. We also received some wonderful comments from the public at our appreciation stations around the Hubs.

      Over the rest of the week we ran two thank you events one at the Hub Academy in Stroud where our Chair of Trustees, Dame Janet Trotter attended to present our volunteers with appreciation certificates and to celebrate their hard work and effort over a delicious shared lunch from the Hub Bistro. It was a fantastic supportive environment and we had a couple of volunteers share their journey from client to volunteer and one now in employment!

      Our second thank you event was at the Hub Bistro in Gloucester to say a huge thanks to all the volunteers at the Bistro in Gloucester and the Sober Parrot in Cheltenham. We had a thank you ceremony here with more delicious food catered by the Bistro.

      The support, dedication and enthusiasm that our volunteers bring to the organisation is incredible and we really couldn’t continue to offer all the services we do without all our fantastic volunteers.

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      New Volunteer Co-ordinator

      Date: 10 May 2019

      I am very excited to get stuck into the role of Volunteer Coordinator. As it is a new role for the organisation, I believe there is a lot of scope to be creative, finding new ways to support and value volunteers and creating different pathways into volunteering. I am also excited to support the residential clients into volunteering opportunities, harnessing past skills and finding new passions and skillsets for people to get involved with.

      Peer mentor programme gaining ground

      Date: 2 May 2018

      Since Sept 2018 we have trained a further 45 peer mentors many of whom support newer clients within the Nelson Trust.  Our mentors work on a 1:1 basis and gain experience helping to facilitate groups. Some now work for other organisations off the back of their accredited qualification. We are so happy with the way this is developing and we will be training a new cohort of mentors in August.

      The Hub

      Volunteer Application

      The Hub

        Thank you for supporting the work that The Hub does by applying to become a volunteer. We will get in contact with you as soon as we can.

        Personal Details

        Title*
        Surname*
        Forename(s)*
        Address*
        Postcode*
        Contact number*
        Email address*
        Do you hold a full driving licence?*
        YesNo
        Have you ever been convicted of a criminal offence or do you have any pending criminal charges?*
        YesNo

        Volunteer Role

        Preferred role*

        Availability

        Indicate your preferred voluntary hours. Please select all that apply:

        Totally Flexible
        Monday
        ampm
        Tuesday
        ampm
        Wednesday
        ampm
        Thursday
        ampm
        Friday
        ampm

        About you

        Include how your skills and training make you particularly relevent for the role.

        Why do you wish to be considered as a volunteer?
        Can we contact you?

        Get Involved

        We hope you will get involved whether as a volunteer, donor or as a supporter at our future events. If you are not personally affected by addiction you will probably know someone who is. Many of our volunteers are not in recovery from addiction but give their time because they value the work that we do. We have various volunteering opportunities across all our enterprises designed to give workplace experience.

        VOLUNTEER APPLICATION FORM

        Peer Mentor

        To provide mentoring support to individuals in residential treatment and/or members of the recovery community.
        Full description

        Role Responsibilities

        • Provide support, guidance and encouragement to the mentee for a period of up to  6 months.
        • Support mentee to identify and work towards SMART goals and objectives.
        • Understand and uphold confidentiality within the mentoring relationship.
        • Maintain accurate records of mentoring sessions.
        • Adhere to the mentoring team policies and procedures and report safeguarding  information to the mentoring supervisor.

        Volunteers are expected to participate fully in training courses provided.

        All Hub personnel are to be responsible for own safety and others affected by their activities and to ensure adherence to the Nelson Trust policies and procedures regarding Health & Safety.

        Volunteers are expected to participate fully in training courses provided.

        All Hub personnel are to be responsible for their own safety and others affected by their activities and to ensure adherence to The Nelson Trust policies and procedures regarding Health & Safety.

        Full description
        VOLUNTEER APPLICATION FORM

        Admin Assistant

        To provide administrative support to the Academy Team through a range of backroom activities. To uphold and promote the principles of abstinent recovery from addiction.
        Full description

        Responsibility for supporting the administration of Hub projects including, but not limited to:

        • Filing
        • Organising timetables and room bookings
        • Checking supplies and organising resources
        • Responding to queries
        • Manning reception and signing in visitors
        • Promoting and advertising training opportunities

        Maintain a proactive relationship with volunteers, trainees, suppliers and members of the recovery community to promote The Academy as a welcoming and supportive environment.

        Volunteers are expected to participate fully in training courses provided.

        All Hub personnel are to be responsible for own safety and others affected by their activities and to ensure adherence to the Nelson Trust policies and procedures regarding Health & Safety.

        Full description
        VOLUNTEER APPLICATION FORM

        Creative Arts Assistant

        To support the creative arts activities held within the Hub Academy and showcase the work of people in recovery. To uphold and promote the principles of abstinent recovery from addiction.
        Full description

        Responsibility for supporting the arts and crafts activities:

        • Organising resources
        • Supporting learners in workshops
        • Displaying work produced
        • Promoting and advertising Arts opportunities

        Maintain a proactive relationship with volunteers, trainees and members of the recovery community to promote The Academy as a welcoming and supportive environment.

        Volunteers are expected to participate fully in training courses provided.

        All Hub personnel are to be responsible for own safety and others affected by their activities and to ensure adherence to the Nelson Trust policies and procedures regarding Health & Safety.

        Full description
        VOLUNTEER APPLICATION FORM

        Outdoor Spaces Assistant

        To carry out gardening and maintenance of our outdoor spaces. To uphold and promote the principles of abstinent recovery from addiction.
        Full description
        • To help develop and maintain welcoming and clean outdoor garden and sitting areas.
        • To establish seasonal pots and food growing areas where possible.
        • To promote organic principles in line with the organisational ethos of abstinence and healthy living.
        • To maintain outdoor furniture in good working order.
        • To organise safe recycling / collection of garden plant material and outside rubbish with the Hub Maintains team.
        • To identify and report any garden concerns or equipment issues to the Hub Maintains team  and keep them informed of your progress.
        • To share your knowledge and enthusiasm about gardening to members of the recovery community, staff and visitors.
        • To ensure you use appropriate PPE at all times.

        Volunteers are expected to participate fully in training courses provided.

        All Hub personnel are to be responsible for own safety and others affected by their activities and to ensure adherence to the Nelson Trust policies and procedures regarding Health & Safety.

        Full description
        VOLUNTEER APPLICATION FORM

        Meet the team

        Rose Mahon
        Head of Excellence and Development

        Rose has worked for the Nelson Trust for over 17 years and has been involved in developing trauma informed, gender responsive residential and community based services for women since 2004. She originally led on the development of services to support and divert women away from the criminal justice system and our Sex Worker Outreach Projects. Rose is now developing our external training services and social enterprises to broaden our service provision and widen our social impact. She was the proud recipient of the Howard League Criminal Justice Champion award in 2017.

        Ian Day
        Recovery Coordinator for the Hub enterprises

        Ian has worked for the Nelson Trust for 7 years and joined the HUB enterprises because of his passion for supporting those completing residential treatment or living out in the community. He works across all HUB venues, engaging people in group support, volunteering opportunities and educational courses, to remove or minimize their barriers to long term recovery and employment. He has a special interest in providing programmes for Men, and is trained to deliver gender responsive Trauma informed interventions and workshops.

        Ian sits on our Trauma guide team and is the Safeguarding lead for the HUB enterprises. His role also involves delivery of our suite of level 1 and level 2 accredited qualifications, including our Peer Mentoring programme.

        Beanie Cooke
        Training Coordinator for the Hub enterprises

        Beanie started life at the Nelson Trust as a Horticultural Therapist where she established an innovative service for residential treatment clients, a community allotment and a women’s horticultural project. She moved to work within the Education and Training department before becoming the Hub Enterprises Training Coordinator in 2017. She is now responsible for the development and smooth delivery of all courses run from the Academy and for ensuring that each individual has a positive learning experience.

        Beanie takes the lead on the development of new accredited training and oversees the Internal Quality Assurance of all course provision. She also co-facilitates the Peer Mentoring training programme.

        Beanie is passionate about utilising the potential of the Academy to deliver a creative, responsive range of learning opportunities in partnership with local learning providers.

        Kirsty has worked in The Nelson Trust for the last 5 years with a special interest in developing services and interventions for sex working women. She is a Griffins fellow, having undertaken a piece of research on ‘The barriers and facilitators of disclosure for sex working women in residential treatment’. Kirsty has developed three interventions which focus on creating a healing pathway for women to recover from trauma associated with adverse childhood experiences and sex working. She currently chairs our ‘Becoming Trauma Informed’ Guide Team and delivers internal and external training on a variety of focus areas.

        Elisha
        Volunteer Co-ordinator

        Elisha started with the Nelson Trust in March 2019 as the new Volunteer Coordinator. Elisha has worked in a number of different charities from the British Red Cross to supporting female ex-offenders with practical skills. Having volunteered for the Nelson Trusts’ SWOP project, she is now excited to be part of the Nelson Trust team and support other volunteers within the organisation.

        Our Partners

        Contact Us

        Hub Academy

        THE HIGH FLYERS

        Opening times

        Monday – Friday
        9.00AM – 5.00PM

        Where we are

        Units 1-3 Hope Mills Business Centre
        Hope Mills Lane
        Brimscombe
        Stroud
        Gloucestershire, GL5 2SE

        Call or email us

        Telephone: 01453 889 731
        Email: info.highflyers@nelsontrust.com
        Find us on Google maps
        Units 1-3 Hope Mills Business Centre
        Hope Mills Lane
        Brimscombe
        Stroud
        Gloucestershire, GL5 2SE
        The Hub

        About The Hub Enterprises

        We are group of community enterprises developed by The Nelson Trust. We work with those in their recovery and the wider community to teach and develop skills to help individuals back into long term employment.

        Many of our team are in long term recovery and we believe that with the right help and support change is possible, we also aim to reduce the stigma attached to past lives and we want to make positive recovery visible in our communities.

        Every year hundreds of addicts in Gloucestershire look for help and support to begin their recovery journey, but many more find services completely inaccessible and have given up trying. We hold the hope and prove that change and lifelong recovery can be achieved, and is being achieved every day.