The Somerset Coronavirus Appeal, launched by the Somerset Community Foundation (SCF), is offering fast-tracked funding for all Shepton Mallet charities, community organisations and volunteer groups helping those in most urgent need during the coronavirus outbreak.

Grants up to £10,000 are available and the SCF, which is based at the Bath and West Showground near Shepton Mallet, pledges to award funding within three working days.

Grants worth £136,000 have already been awarded to 60 local good causes across the county, including those supporting food projects, older people and mental health, with more funding going out every day to local charities and organisations reaching the most vulnerable people in our communities.

Justin Sargent, chief executive at SCF, said: "We've already made a large number of grants to groups we know, or have funded previously, to help those responding directly to the needs of their communities.

"We know many new groups are being created to respond to urgent needs, and others we may not have funded before will be doing vital work to keep people safe and well.

"We want to encourage those groups to apply to us so we can get funding where it's needed most."

Any groups wishing to apply can visit the SCF website, where they can complete a short, simple application form for grants up to £10,000.

The funding has been made available thanks to generous contributions made to the Somerset Coronavirus Appeal by local individuals, charitable trusts and businesses, as well as funding from the national appeal, run by the National Emergencies Trust (NET).

The Somerset Coronavirus Appeal, which was launched on Thursday March 19, now stands at £385,000.

SCF is passionate about doing as much as possible to support our communities, and is encouraging local people, businesses, charitable trusts and organisations who feel able to donate to the Somerset Coronavirus Appeal by visiting the SCF page here.

Community Foundations are local champions, connecting people and organisations that want to improve their communities.

They invest in local people and organisations tackling some of the biggest issues facing communities today and supporting some of society's most disadvantaged people.

They provide help and advice to those who want to give at the heart of their communities, both now and in the long-term, by matching donors to important local causes.