Last week Robert and Sally from our Marketing team went to the Somerset Community Foundation annual celebration. We have been working with the Somerset Community Foundation (SCF) since 2009, creating a Myakka fund with the specific aim of supporting communities in South Somerset. Despite the pair of them getting lost in deepest, darkest Somerset on the way there, they both had an interesting and informative visit, finding out more about SCF, their supported charities and what they do.
The Somerset Community Foundation works to promote vibrant, inclusive communities in Somerset through developing a culture of local giving and enabling voluntary groups. It was set up in 2002 to provide an independent funding body to tackle poverty and disadvantages throughout Somerset. It acts as a central body that individuals and businesses give to which is then filtered to local communities and effective grassroots charities in the form of grants.
The evening was a celebration of the achievements of the SCF along with the work of the charities and communities it works with. The evening included talks from Keynote speaker Tracey Bleakley, the Chief Executive of the Association of Police & Crime Commissioners, and formerly CEO of PFEG (the Personal Finance Education Group). Who spoke about her successful involvement in the campaign for financial education to be included in the English National Curriculum.
Next on the speakers list was Justin Sargent, CEO of the SCF who spoke about how the foundation and the fantastic rush of volunteers got to work in response to the Somerset flood crisis, how much was donated from people all over the UK and what those donations have been used for. A number of charities were also on hand to talk about the work they do and how the SCF had helped them, including the Balsam Centre who are based in Wincanton, just up the road from us.
To find out more information about the Somerset Community Foundation please click here. To find out more about community foundations and the work they do, please click here.
