Ark at Egwood CIC
ARK at Egwood CIC is an inter-generational, land-based day provision based on 12 acres within the beautiful South Somerset countryside, just north of Crewkerne.
We work in partnership with Somerset Council to deliver a range of workshops and courses, designed to make you feel better and to try new things in a relaxed outdoor environment. Our courses are predominantly based upon rural crafts and include felting, wood whittling, willow-craft, cookery, planting, as well as mindfulness and drumming. We offer one day workshops and longer courses i.e. our 6 week Health and Wellbeing course, enabling you to become more confident, meet new friends and generally feel better about life and how to live it!
Carymoor Environmental Trust
The Trust carries out pioneering land restoration and habitat creation work on 100 acres of capped landfill just outside Castle Cary in Somerset. This has created a nature reserve with an extensive range of habitats that is used to provide high quality first hand experiences of the natural world. The reserve is used for education groups and to run rural craft courses including pottery, willow weaving, scything, hedge-laying and family events. Through education programmes and demonstrations of renewable energy and sustainable buildings, the centre has developed a reputation that exemplifies environmental good practice.
Chard Watch CIC
Watch is a charitable incorporated organisation (CIO) with big ambitions to end isolation for people experiencing mental health difficulties. We know how connecting people with shared experiences of mental health challenges can empower each of us, which is why peer support is at the heart of everything we do. People thrive when they can maintain their own wellbeing, build self-resilience and develop skills. Supporting that journey is what Watch is all about.
It all started when our CEO, with a small peer group in 2007, came together to support one another in navigating challenging times with their mental health. The benefits of being amongst people who understood without explaining were so profound that this small group went on to form a community project now officially known as Chard Watch.
Watch is now delivering a wide range of peer development courses across the whole of Somerset for a variety of organisations. Watch also runs courses which enable members and other individuals to develop their confidence and learn valuable skills.
For enquiries contact Leonie Girling on 01460 712119 or 07388 502 831.
Connect Community Church
The Connect Centre is all about participating in community life.
“We all have something we can give, and all have something we need”
They are all about the discovery of hope, meaning and strength through the connecting of our lives. The Connect Centre offer entry level activities, drop in’s and training for all in the community especially the most vulnerable and hard to reach. They also provide support for rough sleepers.
For more information please contact Suzanne Addicott 07906638335 suzanne@connect-centre.org.uk
Edventure
Edventure: Frome is a School for Community Enterprise. They run courses, events and programmes where people come together to start things up; to gain transferable skills & experience; to build connections; to get support to realise their ideas; and to gain the sense and confidence that it is possible to create a kinder, fairer, greener world.
What they care about is contributing to a strong community, growing meaningful livelihoods and building ventures as part of a sustainable, zero-carbon economy that works for all.
For enquiries Johannes Moeller on 07548 014 066 or email johannes@edventure.org.
Heads Up
Heads Up have started the Thrive Project : a programme of learning activities which aims to help people manage their mental health and wellbeing by helping them build skills and develop greater confidence and self-awareness. They are offering different learning opportunities at Heads Up and in the local community that are designed to support and connect individuals.
They want people to find enjoyment in learning; to make friendships and feel less isolated; and to improve their mental health and wellbeing. Courses include:
- Gardening
- Pottery
- Creative activities
- Woodwork
- Memories (a course for individuals with Dementia)
For enquiries contact Sally Dempsey at sallydempsey@headsupsomerset.org.uk or 01749 670667.
MC Inspired Together
Migrant Communities Inspired Together is a new not-for-profit organisation based in Bridgwater, Somerset. The last few years have been very challenging for everyone, and all people in need should be supported. Based on our tutors’ (who are migrants as well) experience in Community Support, Immigration limited to EUSS Settlement Scheme, Interpreting for Statutory bodies and the NHS, we’ve come to witness first-hand the most urgent needs of local migrant communities.
We are focusing on organising ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) courses, Wellbeing Hypnotherapy and Yoga workshops, and events for children. Our ‘Youth Club’ for ages 10 – 16 years, launched at the beginning of 2022, has expanded from initially 5 to 14 children, and from one session per month to start with, to currently children meeting weekly. All our activities aim to promote equality, education, fun, sense of belonging and support.
Partnership with SS&L helps us to widen our outreach and promote British values, diversity, equality and the skills necessary for all people in need. As a new organisation we truly appreciate the chance to grow and provide our services not only in Bridgwater, but hopefully soon in Highbridge too, with plans for expansion to more towns across Somerset.
Mind in Somerset
Mind in Somerset make sure anyone with a mental health problem has somewhere to turn for advice and support. Their core purpose is to provide services and support to anyone affected by mental illness, improving their quality of life and wellbeing
Through their 24 hour Mindline service, Peer support groups, Garden, Art therapy and much more there is a way in for everyone and a service for everyone. They have an open door and treat everyone as individual, ensuring the right support, at the right time in the right way. They do this by providing 47 services across 23 location and supporting over 7000 people a year. Mind are delivering Mental health first aid qualification courses as well as health and wellbeing workshops.
The Oak Partnership Trust Family Learning Project
The Oak Partnership has a group vision of inspiring children to be life-long learners. Our schools create a rich and varied curriculum that excites and inspires. Our project includes many elements and opportunities for wider family learning, to encourage as many adult learners to take part as possible. We aim to encourage families to participate in their children’s school life in a non-threatening and fun way.
We use arts, crafts, forest school, cookery sessions, phonics workshops as a vehicle to address attitudes to learning, confidence, learn new skills, and to support all in a love for learning. These sessions are also be a point of contact for adults who are interested in continuing their own learning through SS&L and other community providers, with the potential to use their learning for access to paid employment or engaging in volunteering opportunities. This in turn will present a dual benefit by extending adult knowledge and a passion for learning, whilst gifting adults the opportunity to support their child(ren) through their school life.
We aim to build on our programme to offer learning opportunities in health and wellbeing as well as academic subjects. We aim to be part of the movement to help improve prospects for all in our community.
Contact: Mrs Lucy Lawrence (Class Teacher & Family Learning Coordinator) email: family.learning@wm.oak.education
The Old Stores Studio CIC
The Old Stores Studio is a nonprofit community interest art studio, workshop and events space, based in the heart of Evercreech, Somerset – just ten minutes from Bruton & Castle Cary. People visit us from far and wide and we are under an hour from Bristol & Bath. Positioned in a conservation area, with a beautiful old Victorian shop front and large studio space, we are lucky to benefit from a half acre plot, which allows us to be able to offer inside and outside workshop and event spaces year-round.
We run a host of diverse activities throughout the year, including weekly art, craft & creative groups, seasonal events and one-off artist and maker led workshops. We run tutor led sessions and collaborate with different artists, makers and creative practitioners to deliver a wide ranging programme throughout the year.
Based around a core belief in the value of learning & participation, we offer an extensive range of facilities including printmaking, textiles, drawing, painting, pottery, enamel and glass kilns as well as versatile spaces, with potential for all creative practices. In addition to our funded and subsidised programme we offer tailor made creative days, weekends and activities to suit all occasions. We can also visit other venues to run offsite creative workshops in our vintage VW camper van, Betty Blue.
We are proud to have set up as a nonprofit social enterprise. Our Community Interest Company status allows us to be able to deliver an inclusive community programme of creative activities and events throughout the year and everyone is welcome. The Old Stores Studio CIC is a registered learning centre, offering Ofsted rated courses through our funded workshops and courses. Our varied programme is designed for all ages & abilities. All our sessions are led by artists, makers and expert creative practitioners and everything we do is for, with, and goes back into, our local community.
