What they do
Provide practical advice, emergency support and community services.

Location
Malmesbury and surrounding villages.

Categories
Community support • Food support • Families • Wellbeing

Overview
HEALS assists individuals and families experiencing hardship, crisis or vulnerability in Malmesbury and the surrounding area. Working closely with local services and referral partners, they provide emergency food support, financial assistance and practical help. They also run a range of community initiatives designed to reduce waste, support wellbeing and bring people together throughout the year.

Activities

- Emergency food and hardship support
- Community Fridge and Community Wardrobe
- Advice and support for vulnerable individuals and families
- Holiday and seasonal community programmes
- Community meals and events

What they do
Preserve local policing history while creating opportunities for learning, volunteering and community engagement.

Location
Tetbury

Categories
Heritage • Volunteering • Learning • Community support

Overview
Tetbury Police Museum is a community-focused museum that provides opportunities for people to learn, socialise and get involved through volunteering. The museum is keen to build local partnerships and community networks, using heritage as a way to bring people together and increase community participation.

Activities

- Volunteer opportunities
- Heritage and local history learning
- Community engagement projects
- Partnership working with local organisations
- Social and educational activities

What they do
Provide comfort, companionship and emotional support through visits from specially assessed dogs and cats.

Location
Across the UK, including hospitals, care homes, schools, prisons and day care centres.

Categories
Wellbeing • Community support • Animals • Health

Overview
Pets As Therapy has been dedicated to improving wellbeing since 1983 through visits from specially assessed therapy dogs and cats. Their volunteers visit individuals and groups in a wide range of settings, offering companionship, conversation and emotional support. These visits help reduce loneliness, ease anxiety and bring comfort to people facing challenging circumstances.

Activities

- Therapy dog and cat visits
- Support in hospitals and care homes
- Visits to schools and educational settings
- Prison and day care centre visits
- One-to-one companionship and emotional support

What they do
Provide practical and emotional support for families with young children across the Cotswolds.

Location
Across the Cotswold District, including Cirencester, Tetbury, Lechlade and Fairford.

Categories
Families • Wellbeing • Community support

Overview
Home-Start Cotswolds is a local charity supporting families through the challenges of early parenthood and family life. Through trained volunteers and community groups, they offer non-judgemental support to help parents build confidence, reduce isolation and cope with difficult circumstances.

Activities
- Weekly home visiting support
- Baby & Me postnatal groups
- Reconnect wellbeing groups for mums
- Practical and emotional family support

What they do
Provide a friendly, welcoming space for people to come together, get creative and support one another.

Location
Hullavington (Village Hall, Hill Hayes Lane)

Categories
Wellbeing • Creative arts • Community groups

Overview
Hullavington Craft Group is a relaxed, non-profit group offering a supportive space to share crafts, conversation and companionship. Open to all, it brings people together to enjoy creativity while building friendships and supporting wellbeing.

Activities
- Bring-your-own craft sessions
- Social time and peer support
- Refreshments provided
- Low-cost weekly meet-ups

What they do
Create and support social enterprise hubs that reinvest profits into local communities and empower people facing disadvantage.

Location
Cirencester (plus other areas in the UK)

Categories
Community support • Wellbeing • Skills and opportunities

Overview
The Grace Network supports a growing network of Community Interest Companies and local hubs, working to build a fairer, more inclusive economy. It helps communities thrive by reinvesting profits into local people, creating opportunities and strengthening connections.

Activities

- Running community hubs with affordable goods and services
- Reinvesting profits into local support
- Hosting community events and activities
- Supporting fair pay and opportunities

What they do
Support girls and young women to build confidence, learn new skills and form friendships through fun activities and experiences.

Location
Purton

Categories
Young people • Skills and learning • Community groups

Overview
Girlguiding Purton District offers a range of groups for different ages, helping girls grow in confidence, develop life skills and build strong connections in a supportive environment.

Activities

- Regular meetings for Rainbows (ages 4–7), Brownies (7–10), Guides (10–14) and Rangers (14–18)
- Outdoor activities, creative projects and sports
- Learning practical life skills such as first aid and online safety.

What they do
Provide free access to creative courses and studio time for people facing emotional, financial or social barriers, using creativity to improve wellbeing and reduce isolation.

Location
Cirencester

Categories
Wellbeing • Creative arts • Community support

Overview
New Brewery Hearts, a programme from New Brewery Arts, offers free creative courses and studio access to people who need the wellbeing, purpose and friendship that creativity can bring.

Activities

- Free creative courses through bursaries
- Studio access and hands-on learning
- Partnerships with local charities
- Social connection and wellbeing support

What they do
Provide transport and practical support for older or vulnerable people to help them stay connected.

Location
Cotswolds

Categories
Older people support • Community transport • Wellbeing

Overview
Cotswold Friends aims to reduce loneliness and isolation by offering community transport, social activities and practical help. They support people who might struggle to attend appointments, social groups or community events.

Activities

- Community transport for social and medical journeys
- Wheelchair accessible vehicle services
- Social activities and outreach programmes

What they do
Befriend and support older people in Fairford, Lechlade and Tetbury through regular visits and calls.

Location
Fairford, Lechlade & Tetbury

Categories
Befriending • Wellbeing • Community support

Overview
People For You matches volunteers with elderly people for regular visits or phone calls, helping build support networks and improve wellbeing through friendship and consistent contact.

Activities

- One-to-one befriending visits
- Regular phone support
- Community catch-ups

What they do
Support youth and community wellbeing through clubs, mentoring and inclusive activities.

Location
Tetbury

Categories
Youth • Family support • Social connection

Overview
TAYCT provides safe spaces for young people, plus community events like Family Play Days and the Friendship Café, which bring people of all ages together for connection and activities.

Activities

- Youth clubs and mentoring
- Holiday play sessions
- Friendship Café social sessions

What they do
Support people experiencing homelessness with practical help and emotional support.

Location
Cirencester

Categories
Homelessness support • Wellbeing • Practical help

Overview
Cirencester Signpost helps people experiencing homelessness access essentials such as food, clothing and services, while offering emotional support and pathways to greater stability and belonging.

Activities

- Practical support (food, clothing, services)
- Emotional wellbeing support
-Referral and advocacy services

What they do
Reduce isolation and improve wellbeing for people of all ages through community services.

Location
Cirencester

Categories
Family support • Community wellbeing • Ageing well

Overview
Since 2001 The Churn Project has offered programmes that support families, promote wellbeing across generations, and assist older people to stay connected and engaged in community life.

Activities

- Family support programmes
- Wellbeing groups
- Ageing well initiatives

What they do
Connect people with services, support and activities to improve rural wellbeing and reduce isolation.

Location
Fairford & Lechlade areas

Categories
Wellbeing • Rural support • Community connection

Overview
Working 4 Wellbeing runs Talking Cafés, warm spaces and inclusive programmes, providing confidential support such as food and fuel vouchers, digital help and respite care, building resilience across rural communities.

Activities

- Talking Cafés and warm spaces
- Support vouchers and referrals
- Inclusive activities and events

What they do
Offer free complementary therapies for people affected by cancer.

Location
Cirencester

Categories
Health support • Wellbeing • Community care

Overview
Part of a wider network across Gloucestershire, Charlie’s provides free therapies twice a month at Bingham Hall, offering physical and emotional support for people living with the impact of cancer.

Activities

- Free complementary therapy sessions
- Supportive environment for clients and carers