WEST Somerset Advice is celebrating its 45th year in operation this month with many people touched by the service "helping ease poverty" since it began in 1979.

It is important to pay tribute to the contributions of the many volunteers and staff team members who have generously given their time and have supported the charity through difficult as well as exciting times.

Over 80 individuals at West Somerset Advice have been involved in providing advice service to more than 120,000 people who have needed support within Somerset's Countywide community.

Speaking about the organisation, a spokesperson from West Somerset Advice said: "Pre-1979: the need for some level of community advice and support across the 42 parish and town councils which, at the time, formed West Somerset was clear to see.

"But neither the government administration nor Citizens Advice were able to fund a service.

"A number of interested people in the community approached local legal firms to see if they could access some free guidance and support, to help set them in the right direction.

"Two of Minehead’s primary legal firms, Thorne and Thorne (now Thorne Segar) and Risdon Hosegood recognised the growing need for accessible, free advice across a wide range of challenges and it was clear that the numbers of people requesting support could very easily become overwhelming.

"A plan was devised to set aside a few hours each week and share a legal advisor to meet and advise clients for free.

"It will come as no surprise that this was a runaway success, very quickly leading to the need to formalise the arrangement.

"A venue was found in Friday Street, Minehead, at the old tourist information centre, and an office manager and treasurer were appointed.

"This was the beginning of what turned into West Somerset Advice." 

"At one stage the service was delivered from a caravan parked up on Blenheim Road.

"A new venue was identified – The Lane Centre, behind the old Town Hall in Market House Lane, Minehead.

"The space was originally shared with Minehead Youth Club, but it wasn’t long before the Information Bureau grew into the entire space. "

It was at this time that West Somerset Council provided some funding to employ a manager and administrator, a welcome acknowledgement of the usefulness and cost-effectiveness of the service. 

In 1986, demand was continuing to grow and the challenges that the clients presented grew in complexity, leading to a series of grants being sought for very specific specialist requirements such as debt reduction, welfare and benefit assessments, employment, relationship breakdown, and many, many others.

More staff and volunteers were recruited. At this point, another significant opportunity presented itself to the service.

Continuing with more history about the organisation, a spokesperson said: "An exciting opportunity arose to purchase The Lane Centre building.

"The building, owned by Somerset County Council, had been Minehead’s first fire station.

"Various changes had been made to the structure over time allowing it a second life as both a youth club and an advice centre. But the Information Bureau did not have the capital to invest.

"Money was raised and a covenant was placed on the agreement ensuring the future use of the building for community benefit.

As the building needed to be held in trust, it became essential for the charity to become incorporated on Companies House, this was completed in 2008.

"We were no longer called the West Somerset Community Information Bureau, we were now the West Somerset Advice Bureau, a name that has remained in local people’s vocabulary ever since."

After being established as an incorporated charity, the next part of the organisation's journey was joining the national Citizens Advice network.

This was successfully achieved before 2018, when the organisation were one of five Somerset-based Citizens Advice offices, the others being Sedgemoor, Taunton, Mendip and South Somerset.

Fast forward to 2024, Barbara O’Keefe, Chair of Trustees said: “As we work through our 45th year of operation, we can reflect on the challenges we shared with our community working through the COVID-19 lockdowns and having to find innovative ways of providing support and help to people struggling at this time.

"Securing funding for our ongoing existence is still a challenge, but with the support of Somerset Council, parish councils and other funders, our staff and volunteers continue to offer free advice to people who need it within our local community, which now covers the 48 parishes across West Somerset."