As part of the Myakka Grass Root Fund with the Somerset Community Foundation, we have chosen to help Hamdon Youth Group who are local to our HQ here in Wincanton Somerset. This is a perfect example of a local group making a real difference to their community and exactly the kind of group that we love to be able to help.
Simon, one of our founding Directors, was on hand to present the grant of £1,500 to the Hamdon Youth Group from Somerset Community Foundation’s Myakka Grass Roots Fund. On a sunny evening in April, Simon along with SCF Deputy Chief Executive Mary Hancock presented the cheque to the youth worker Lou Chant and a group of young people who will benefit. The group provides fun and safe weekly meetings for young people aged 11-18 in both Stoke-sub-Hamdon and Norton-sub-Hamdon and the grant will go towards the cost of renting premises for the meetings in both villages. The funding was made possible by the Myakka Grass Roots Fund, set up and managed for the Wincanton-based fair trade furniture company by Somerset Community Foundation.
Simon said “It’s great to see first-hand the direct impact such important projects like the Hamdon Youth group have on our young people here in Somerset. Myakka are proud to be able to support such organisations annually with grants made from our Myakka Grass Roots Fund”
Youth Worker Lou said “The Hamdon Youth Group is funded solely through grant applications, and we are delighted to receive funding from Somerset Community Foundation. There are no evening transport services to and from the Hamdon villages, so the Youth Group provides a vital way of engaging local young people, and has already been credited with a drop in anti-social behaviour in the villages.”
SCF Deputy Chief Executive Mary Hancock said “We are proud to manage funds for popular Somerset businesses such as Myakka, and to help them support local groups who are making such a huge difference to young people in Somerset”.
It is such a pleasure to be able to see the benefits of the Myakka Grass Root Fund and it is lovely to see the positive things that can be achieved to the local community around Myakka HQ. Myakka is based in a rural community so facilities like local youth groups can make big difference to lots of people. If you would like more information on the Somerset Community Foundation please take a look at their website here. Or if you would like to know more about the work that community foundations please take a look here.
