A bold, neon-lit creative space in Consett is gaining national recognition after being named a finalist in the StartUp For Good Award at the 2026 UK StartUp Awards.
ImaginAble Me CIC, the community organisation behind The GloHouse, a vibrant, high-energy creative hub often described as “where beige goes to die”, has been shortlisted in the North East, Yorkshire and The Humber region, standing out among more than 2,100 entries from across the UK.
The StartUp For Good Award recognises businesses that are making a real difference in people’s lives — and ImaginAble Me CIC is doing exactly that.
Founded in 2025 by Karen “Kaz” Jervis and Tracey “Tee” Keers, the organisation was created in response to a growing need for safe, inclusive spaces for young people who don’t feel they fit into traditional settings. This includes young people who are neurodivergent, LGBTQ+, experiencing mental health challenges, or facing isolation.
From its base in Consett, The GloHouse has quickly become a lifeline for many — a place where creativity replaces pressure, connection replaces isolation, and young people are encouraged to show up exactly as they are.
Through a mix of creative workshops, alternative education support, youth sessions, and immersive experiences blending art, music and sensory play, the organisation is redefining what youth provision can look like.
In just a short time, ImaginAble Me CIC has already engaged over 70 families and 160 young people, with demand for its after-school and community sessions continuing to grow.
Karen Jervis, Co-Director, said:
“We built this because we could see that so many young people were slipping through the cracks — not because they didn’t have potential, but because they didn’t fit the system.
Being named a finalist for StartUp For Good means so much because it recognises that doing things differently matters. This isn’t just our achievement — it belongs to every young person and family who has been part of our journey.”
Tracey “Tee” Keers, Co-Director, added:
“One of the most powerful things for me is watching that shift in confidence. You see young people walk in unsure, sometimes anxious, and then little by little they open up. By the end, they’re laughing, creating, expressing themselves — just being who they are without fear. That transformation is everything.”
The regional finals will take place in June 2026, bringing together some of the most exciting and impactful startups in the UK. Winners will go on to compete at the national finals during Ideas Fest, often described as the “Glastonbury for Business.”
For ImaginAble Me CIC, this recognition marks just the beginning. With plans to expand their reach, develop new creative programmes, and support even more young people, the team behind The GloHouse is proving that when you build something bold, inclusive, and unapologetically different — people notice.
