Somerset Community Foundation helps hundreds of groups every year make a lasting difference in communities. In 2017-18, we awarded £651,746 from our regular grants to 258 groups and 36 individuals across the county.
- The typical organisation we support runs on less than £50,000 a year.
- For every £1 we contributed to groups over the past 5 years, £14.42 has been raised
- The majority of our funding is centred around: Children and young people (42%); Older people (30%); People with mental health conditions (8%); Rural isolation (7%); Broad community benefit (13%)
- As a result of receiving a grant from us, 95% of groups said they rated our staff's availability and helpfulness good or very good.
- The work that we funded had a significant impact on local communities. The typical organisation we fund helps around 150 people each year. In total, the lives of thousands of people in Somerset were improved as a result of the amazing local organisations we supported.
Grants made to organisations during 2017/18:
Below you can read case studies of grants we have made and some examples of effective philanthropy through the Foundation.
Our Stories: Work-Wise Our Stories: Galhampton Village Hall Funding helps give men a sense of belonging Burnham-on-Sea & Highbridge Men’s Shed received one of the first grants from the HPC Community Fund towards the costs of expanding its project. Read how the funding has helped here. 15 Years of Inspiring Philanthropy To celebrate 15 years of inspiring philanthropy here at Somerset Community Foundation, we're going to look at some of the people, groups and organisations with whom we have had long standing relationships and changed Somerset for the better over a sustained number of years. Read our 15 years case studies here Helping Outdoor Challenge achieve the next level! Small community charity Outdoor Challenge promotes healthy living in the community by encouraging young people to be outdoors and engaged in activity. Click here to read the full case study Taunton Association for the Homeless: Growing Roots The Association was given the use of arable land in Norton Fitzwarren, so their homeless clients could have an opportunity to grow and cultivate vegetables. Click here to read more about this project Bereaved Children Make Special Connections In October 2016, Bernardo's South West received grant funding to host a support group for local children who had lost a parent within the last year. The children aged between 5-17 were identified for the group because of the severe effect this has had on them and their family. The natural beauty and calm of Huish Woods in Taunton provided a welcoming and nurturing backdrop for the Mandala Bereavement Group, and many friendships were formed during the course of the two day event. Othery Youth Club For three months, the village of Othery was cut off from nearby towns, and young people struggled to get out, see friends, and take part in their normal activities. Click here to read how a grant to the Youth Club changed their lives Bridgwater Arts Centre - Scaling up Impact Bridgwater Arts Centre is a community theatre and arts venue serving the people of Bridgwater, and applied for a grant to inrease their outreach. Read the entire case study here. Heads Up Somerset's Healing Garden Heads Up received a grant to ensure their therapeutic horticultural sessions could continue through the summer months. Click here to read about the positive impact of this grant CCS Village Agents helping people stay warm and well Community Council for Somerset's Village Agents have been helping to keep Somerset's older residents warm this winter thanks to a grant from SCF. Click here to read more about the impact of this grant Funding for Children's World Core Costs Most of Children’s World’s core funding is accrued at Glastonbury Festival, where they run a charity bar and café upon which they heavily rely to get them through each year. However, in 2016, due to extremely wet weather at the festival, the charity experienced an unprecedented reduction in earnings. Somerset Village Agents The scale and duration of the flooding during the winter of 2013/14 was unprecedented and Village Agents were invaluable in helping reach vulnerable people and get them to safety. Read the full case study by clicking here. The John and Dorothy Ball Fund John and Dorothy Ball were long-term residents of West Somerset, and their daughter, Mary wanted to remember them by creating a fund in their memory. Read the entire case study here Back on Track helping young people's confidence increase Back on Track helping schoolchildren gain life skills and confidence through horse riding Click here to read more about the impact of this grant. Active & In Touch Frome Active & In Touch provides a vital stepping stone out of isolation for Frome residents Click here to read more about the impact of this grant SCF grant enables PALS to thrive in West Somerset PALS received £1,500 to train volunteer instructors and lifeguards after an unprecedented increase in demand for their services. Read about how an SCF Foundation grant to train volunteer lifeguards and instructors will strengthen PALS and enable them to deliver their service for some time to come by clicking here. New Directions supporting those with mental ill-health in Sedgemoor New Directions (MIND in Sedgemoor) have set up the project 'Growing Health' which delivers craft and activity sessions with the aim of improving mental and physical health Read about how they used an SCF Red Nose Day Community Cash grant to expand their project by clicking here. Pickford Trust Brings Community Centre in South Barrow Back to Life The community of South Barrow recently completed the re-ordering of their parish church to make it a more versatile space for the community with the help of grant from SCF's W.C.S. Pickford Trust fund. The project has now created a place where a wide variety of community activity – village meetings, keep fit classes, a gardening club - can take place throughout the year. Last week they launched the village film club, pictured here, with a showing of ‘Some Like it Hot’. Read the entire case study here. 
Work-Wise is a job club based in Taunton. The majority of staff are dedicated job seeker mentors, all of whom are volunteers. The project provides vital support for unemployed people including writing and improving CVs, help with online job searches, preparation for job interviews, and referrals to other employment services and agencies such as Mind in Somerset and Citizen’s Advice.
Galhampton is a village of 450 people which describes itself as having ‘a strong and vibrant community.’ At the heart of the community was a crumbling village hall, home to a wealth of activities and services that were of huge benefit to local residents. We were delighted to make a grant to support the community as they raised an astonishing £1 million to build their fantastic new village hall.
