Grants up to £2,500 are now available for smaller charities, community groups, sports clubs and social enterprises based in Somerset. Somerset Community Foundation (SCF) manages The Somerset Fund and is encouraging groups that run on less than £100,000 a year to apply now for funding. The grants from The Somerset Fund can be used to pay for essential running costs, like rent, utilities, insurance, or staff time – sometimes known as core costs. The money can also be used for the costs of delivering a project or service in or for your community. Applications to the fund can be made through SCF's website:  www.somersetcf.org.uk/somersetfund and the deadline to apply is 5pm, Friday, June 3.

The Somerset Fund has supported a wide range of local charities since its launch in 2018, thanks to the generosity of local donors. Laura Blake, Development Director at SCF explains: "The Somerset Fund aims to help make our communities stronger by supporting the places, spaces and activities that bring people together. Examples of things the fund will support includes village halls or community centres, community shops, cafés or foodbanks, sports clubs or playing fields, or community events, groups and activities.

"The Somerset Fund also offers a great way for local people to give to local good causes and change lives across Somerset. Thanks to the local businesses and individuals who have supported The Somerset Fund so far, it has already helped over 150 good causes in the county and awarded more than £200,000 in grants to local grassroots charities."

Bridgwater United Community Sports Trust (BUCST) received a grant for £1,950 from The Somerset Fund to support the delivery of their innovative and accessible community sports programmes. Oli Moore, Community Development Manager at BUCST said: "We strive to support all members of the local community. Our sessions include Mini Robins (ages 1 - 4), Youth Female Specific, Young Adults with Disabilities and Walking Football for the over 50s - amongst other football provisions. There is no key demographic, our activities are for everyone. We offer free-to-attend sessions on the Hamp and Sydenham estates, here in Bridgwater. Thanks to the support we've received from The Somerset Fund, we're now running 16 sessions a week and over 300 people engage in our activities - opportunities that didn't previously exist in our area."

If you would like to find out more about giving through The Somerset Fund visit: www.somersetcf.org.uk/tsf or you can e-mail: [email protected] or call Laura on 01749 344949.

Somerset Community Foundation is a charity that helps passionate people in Somerset change the world on their doorstep by funding local charities and inspiring local giving and philanthropy. They aim to build stronger communities in Somerset where everyone has the opportunity to thrive. They provide rewarding and impactful ways for donors to give through them, to the causes and places they care about most. Together, they fund amazing organisations and the passionate people that change lives every day.

Since SCF were founded in 2002 they've awarded more than £17 million in funding, changing thousands of lives across Somerset.