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: Taunton Open Door Our Stories: On Your Bike Iain Garside is the manager at On Your Bike, a project offering training to the socially disadvantaged, ex-service personnel and long-term unemployed. He spoke to us recently about the fantastic work they deliver, and how giving someone a sense of achievement can turn lives around. 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. 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 15 Years of Inspiring Philanthropy In 2018, to celebrate 15 years of inspiring philanthropy here at Somerset Community Foundation, we looked 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 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. 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 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 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 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. 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. 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.
Mark Woodcock, manager at Taunton Open Door, a homeless day shelter, told us Graham’s story: how he became homeless and the many years of support the charity provided to help him move into independent living.
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.
