The difference we’re making in Somerset:
- Thanks to the generosity of our fundholders and supporters we were able to fund 288 good causes in 2018-19, reaching over 40,000 people from Wincanton to Watchet
- 61 individuals have benefited from direct funding across the year
- We’ve funded a huge range of causes, from youth projects to support for older people with dementia, and from mental health groups to projects making art from rubbish
- Almost half of those are too small to be registered charities and often struggle to get funding for their vital grassroots work
- Around half of those who applied for grants with us also received advice about other sources of funding or links to other groups doing similar work
- A recent survey of our grant applicants scored our grants team 4.5 out of 5 for their availability and helpfulness
- Since the Hinkley Point C (HPC) Community Fund was launched in November 2017, over £2 million grant funding has been awarded
Grants made to organisations during 2018/19:
Somerset Stories
Below you can hear from some of the groups we have supported and read about the difference our generous donors have made across Somerset, through the Foundation.
Coronavirus Appeal Stories: Second Step They told us how an emergency grant from the Somerset Coronavirus Appeal for £4,100 helped them to provide immediate, practical assistance to some of the most vulnerable individuals who were rough sleeping, in hostels or in temporary or supported accommodation, during the early stages of the coronavirus outbreak. Coronavirus Appeal Stories: EAQ Manor Farm They told us how a grant of £1,500 from the Somerset Coronsvirus Appeal helped them to provide virtual and in-person equine therapy and equine assisted learning to ease the impacts of the lockdown. Coronavirus Appeal Stories: Holly & Hawthorn Forest School They told us how their £2,800 grant from the Somerset Coronavirus Appeal has helped them restart sessions after the coronavirus outbreak and provide free access for children from low-income households. Coronavirus Appeal Stories: Yeovil Community Church They told us how their £5,000 grant from the Somerset Coronavirus Appeal has helped them support isolated and vulnerable members of the community. Coronavirus Appeal Stories: Minehead EYE They told us how an urgent grant for £3,000 from our Somerset Coronavirus Appeal helped them quickly adapt how they delivered their services as a result of the coronavirus outbreak. Coronavirus Appeal Stories: Taunton & District Mencap Society They told us how a grant for £2,000 from our Somerset Coronavirus Appeal is helping the team at Taunton make sure their self-isolating service users have been able to stay in contact with each other since the lockdown began. Coronavirus Appeal Stories: St Margaret's Hospice They told us how a grant for £2,000 from our Somerset Coronavirus Appeal is helping them to provide 24-7 support to those with life-limiting illnesses. Coronavirus Appeal Stories: Fair Frome Coronavirus HPC Fund Stories: Bridgwater Together Coronavirus Appeal Stories: Feed Avalon Coronavirus Appeal Stories: Highbridge Area Foodbank Coronavirus Appeal Stories: Link Centre Coronavirus Appeal Stories: On Your Bike They told us how a £2,750 grant from our Somerset Coronavirus Appeal is helping local NHS staff to get to work. Coronavirus Appeal Stories: Taunton Scrubbers Coronavirus Appeal Stories: Timberscombe Good Neighbours They tell us more about how they are helping the predominantly older local community in this rural Exmoor village. Coronavirus Appeal Stories: Young Somerset Coronavirus Appeal Stories: Citizens Advice Mendip Our Stories: Purple Elephant 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: Taunton Open Door Our Stories: Galhampton Village Hall
Second Step supports those who are experiencing poor mental health, or are homeless or at risk of homelessness, to build brighter futures.
EAQ Manor Farm is an outdoor and equine-assisted learning centre that works with a wide range of people, including children, young people and adults who are overcoming isolation, exclusion and social and emotional difficulties.
Holly & Hawthorn Forest School is a community group based on the outskirts of Shepton Mallet which aims to provide children with opportunities to build confidence, new skills, and independence through positive outdoor activities.
Yeovil Community Church is a hub of support for all parts of the community including families, elderly people, homeless people, those suffering with poor mental health, young people, early years and much more.
Minehead EYE is a youth and community organisation that has been working with and for young people in West Somerset since 2010.
Taunton & District Mencap Society supports people with a learning disability, and their families and carers in Taunton and the surrounding area.
St. Margaret's Hospice provide a range of services and support for people with life-limiting illnesses and their families.
Fair Frome are a local charity who run a food bank, alongside providing hot meals, furniture and support to people in need in Frome. They tell us how a grant from the Somerset Coronavirus Appeal helped them respond to a huge increase in demand.
Bridgwater Together is an annual event celebrating the town’s vibrant cultural diversity through music, food, storytelling, dance, film and information sharing. Michal Puzynski told us how they are finding new and innovative ways to ensure communities are still able to connect - even when they can’t be together.
Feed Avalon runs a range of projects that help give fair access to nutritious and sustainable food, including cooking courses in their community kitchen and garden. They tell us how a Somerset Coronavirus Appeal grant has helped them to adapt their work, providing meals to people in need in the Mendip area of Somerset.
Highbridge Area Foodbank provides food parcels to people affected by food poverty. They tell us more about how, since the outbreak of coronavirus, the group has transformed its approach, and now offers safe home deliveries.
The Link Centre is an active and popular community centre in the heart of the Halcon area of Taunton. We awarded them a £2,500 grant to provide food parcels and support to vulnerable families. They told us more about how the grant helped them change how they now support people in need, since the coronavirus outbreak.
On Your Bike is a social enterprise that delivers training and work placements for disadvantaged young people, giving them the skills and confidence to move into employment through recycling and repairing unwanted bikes and selling them back to the local community.
Taunton Scrubbers are a group of volunteers who are working together to support community health workers in and around Taunton by putting their sewing skills to use. They tell us about their journey and how a £2,500 grant from the Somerset Coronavirus Appeal has helped them support local NHS staff and health care workers.
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Timberscombe Good Neighbours was formed by volunteers in February 2020 and provides a range of community support for people in need including transport for medical appointments, collection of prescriptions, and shopping.
Young Somerset delivers youth work that is led by the young person. They tell us how a grant from the Somerset Coronavirus Appeal helped them quickly adapt to working remotely by providing specialist online to help them continue to support young people.
Citizens Advice Mendip are a local charity providing support for people who need advice on a range of issues, including work, benefits, debt and housing. They tell us how a grant from the Somerset Coronavirus Appeal helped them respond to a huge increase in demand.
Purple Elephant runs summer holiday activities for children in Frome, helping support families in need to access support and make memories. Sue Willis, Founder of the charity, tells us more about their work.
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.
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.
