How Jess Wright is changing Somerset

Open Doors Somerset

Communities are shaped by people with ideas and a deep understanding of the places they call home. Jess Wright is one of them. 

Jess first got to know Crewkerne as a student. Years later, after moving back to Somerset from Bristol, she returned as a fundraiser for what’s now Open Doors Somerset. 

Crewkerne has historically received relatively little funding attention. That’s changing. Since 2023, we’ve awarded £69,766 through 23 grants across the town, and Jess has played a central role in that shift. 

When she joined Open Doors Somerset, the organisation had no permanent home. Jess has since helped secure 6 grants for the charity, while helping spark wider community investment. 

A hub for the whole community 

In January, Open Doors Somerset opened a permanent hub in the heart of Crewkerne. 

“Without SCF’s support, the hub simply wouldn’t exist. We couldn’t have turned the lights on, heated the space or offered free meals without funding,” Jess says. 

“The number of people the hub supports each month has more than doubled, from around 150 to over 400.” 

Alongside a community fridge, chat café, healthy eating sessions and a repair hub, the space has become somewhere people can drop in with almost any question – from local travel advice to immigration support or help navigating healthcare. 

Sparking a movement 

For Jess, the hub is one example of what happens when people come together around a shared vision for their town. 

She points to Flagship Crewkerne, a new project delivered with Creative Crewkerne, where people choose a building or site and create a flag reflecting its past, present or future. 

“It’s an example of what’s possible when a community believes in its own future,” Jess says. “Over 40 schools, businesses, community groups and artists have taken part – it’s been great to see that shared passion for our town’s heritage. 

“My hope is for residents to feel real pride in where they live – and every project we run is helping us get there.” 

 Stories like Jess’s are a reminder that funding doesn’t just pay for services. It supports the people with the ideas, energy and belief to make change happen. 

If you’d like to support causes that matter to you in Somerset, explore your options here.