2 April 2025

Rooted in vision: How 1 meeting in 2006 created a lasting legacy for Somerset

Blog post

Written by Justin Sargent, CEO at SCF.

As I approach the 20th anniversary of joining Somerset Community Foundation (SCF) and we finalise our new strategy looking ahead to 2035, I find myself reflecting on the milestones that have shaped our journey. This is my second blog in this series, following my last piece on our long-standing partnership with Summerfield Developments.

Today, I want to share the story of the very first Fund that helped establish SCF’s endowment in 2006 – a Fund that, in many ways, also launched my career here. Since its creation, it has awarded over £200,000 in small grants to nearly 100 local community groups and charities.

It all began with an introduction from a mutual acquaintance and a shared vision, which led to a decision to build an endowment fund by the end of our first meeting. Today, it stands as one of our largest.

From the outset, our donor was clear about his wish: he wanted his Fund to support people struggling with their mental health. Over the years, we met regularly to review applications together, and occasionally, we visited projects that had benefited from his support.

Looking back, it’s striking how much our collective awareness of mental health has grown since 2006. Many of us now openly acknowledge that, at some point in our lives, we may struggle with poor mental health – I know I have.

Local charities and community groups play an essential role in supporting people’s wellbeing and recovery. That’s why endowment funds like this are so vital – they provide a dependable, long-term source of funding for these organisations, year after year.

Hundreds of local groups have already benefitted from this type of funding, including Heads Up, a mental health and wellbeing charity based in Wells. They were awarded a grant for their Healing Garden (pictured), which is a green sanctuary for people experiencing mental health challenges.

A couple of years ago, the donor suggested renaming the Fund as the Somerset Wellbeing Fund and inviting others to contribute. It was a typically generous and forward-thinking idea, and we have since merged another Fund into it. His decision reflects what we see so often: our long-term fundholders are not just donors, they are true partners in our work.

This Fund is remarkable in its own right, but its significance goes beyond its direct impact. It paved the way for dozens of others – and many more to come – who are helping to build an enduring asset for Somerset.

Photo caption: Photo of the Heads Up Healing Garden.