200-year-old Summerfield Developments charitable support

They will both receive three years' flexible funding through Summerfield’s Force for Good Fund, managed by Somerset Community Foundation.

James Holyday, Summerfield Developments managing director, said: "As a company with its roots firmly in Somerset since 1823, Summerfield is proud to invest back into the communities where our staff and customers both live and work.

"Our Force for Good Fund, in partnership with SCF, ensures the incredible work of our chosen charities in Taunton will continue providing invaluable help to so many individuals and families."

Fiona Foster, SCF philanthropy manager, said: “We’re really proud to be working with Summerfield Developments.

"They have been a long-term supporter of SCF and were one of the first businesses to set up a corporate charitable fund with us.

“We’re delighted that in this, their 200th year, they wanted to commemorate their incredible landmark by working with us to create a new strategy that aligns their charitable giving with their company’s values and the needs of the local community in the present day.”

Alongside continuing to award small grants to Taunton-based groups, two £5,000 grants have been awarded in year one of the three-year partnership.

For more than 40 years The Albemarle has supported vulnerable people in the community, including those experiencing learning disabilities, mental and physical health problems, homelessness, older people and isolation. It provides supported living through its residential one-bed self-contained properties and within the centre itself.

General manager David Joslin said: “With excellent and innovative design, recent improvements to The Albemarle means we provide a first-class community resource - alongside promoting collaboration.

"This benefits self-help/self-support groups, counselling services, learning and skills and return to work partners, health interventions, and interest groups, to name just a few.

“And with a footfall of over 2,500 a week, we’re also a community garden, a Warm Space, a Meeting Place Community Café and have the only fully functional Changing Places toilet locally.”

The £5,000 Force for Good Fund grant is helping fund the charity’s core costs, continuing and strengthening this essential work.

North Taunton Partnership runs Priorswood Community Centre, which has supported vulnerable people in the community since 1998. It holds daily advice surgeries, social, fitness and educational groups, coffee mornings and youth activities.

The £5,000 grant will be used to continue a project to support local people experiencing mental health problems, loneliness and isolation. It will also help continue its Menopause Support Group and wellbeing activities such as walking and healthy eating sessions, designed to help reduce isolation and improve mental health.

Centre manager Lesley Councill said: “At the centre, we’re here for all residents of north Taunton, young and old alike – we’re totally inclusive.

“We have all sorts of social and educational groups, and activities.

"Many people who visit the centre are elderly and live alone and this can then lead to mental health issues, which can be detrimental to their overall health and wellbeing.

"People come to our centre to see a friendly face.”

Summerfield’s Force for Good Fund was launched in 2008. Since then Somerset Community Foundation have made 19 grants from the fund worth over £30,000 to small local charities in and around Taunton.

Any community group or charitable organisation wishing to apply for funding should visit www.somersetcf.org.uk/apply.

Somerset Community Foundation is a grant-making charity that helps passionate people in Somerset change the world on their doorstep by funding local charities and inspiring local giving and philanthropy.

It aims to build stronger communities where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.

Since being founded in 2002 it has awarded over £25million funding.