2025 marks a significant milestone for The Nelson Trust as it celebrates 40 years of providing holistic, trauma-informed, and gender-specific support to individuals across the South West of England and Wales.
Founded in 1985 by Roy and Mary Brash, the charity has grown from a small residential rehabilitation centre in Stroud to a network of services that support over 4,000 people every year.
The Trust’s journey began with the purchase of The Nelson Inn, which was converted into a residential treatment centre to help those struggling with drug and alcohol use. Today, The Nelson Trust operates four single-gender residential treatment centres, as well as three move-on recovery houses for those transitioning from treatment back into society. The charity’s impact extends even further with five community projects under its Hub enterprises, including the Hub Academy in Stroud and The Sober Parrot café in Cheltenham. These projects offer work experience and training, enabling individuals in recovery to build valuable skills for their futures.
One of the Trust’s most notable achievements has been the opening of its Women’s Centres. In 2010, The Nelson Trust launched its first Women’s Centre in Gloucester, providing support for women leaving prison and those on probation as an alternative to custody. Since then, the network has expanded to nine centres across England and Wales, including in Swindon, Somerset, Bristol, and HMP Eastwood Park, with more recent centres in Newport, Swansea, Cardiff, and Dyfed Powys as part of One Wales, which began in 2024.
These centres offer a safe, supportive environment for women who face complex challenges such as homelessness, domestic abuse, substance misuse, and involvement with the justice system. Services include therapeutic interventions like Art Therapy and EMDR, as well as group work and collaboration with partner agencies to provide the most comprehensive support possible.
As part of its 40th anniversary celebrations, The Nelson Trust has a number of exciting events lined up throughout 2025. These include the Women in Leadership event in June, which honours women in business across Gloucestershire, and Coronation Meadow, a special gathering at Hyde Mill to celebrate the milestone. The Trust’s annual Clay Shoot and Dinner in May and Golf Day in September will also raise funds through donations, ticket sales, and auctions, directly supporting their recovery community.
The celebrations began early with 40 Stories for 40 Years, an online initiative where clients, past clients, and staff share their recovery journeys throughout the year.
To find out more about the services they offer, upcoming events, or how to donate, visit www.nelsontrust.com.
