Somerset Community Foundation (SCF) welcomed His Royal Highness The Earl of Wessex to the Bath and West Showground, near Shepton Mallet, on Monday (May 17) where he also met some of the team at the vaccination centre.

The Earl asked how the voluntary sector dealt with the pandemic in Somerset, and heard about the incredible local community response, and how the charity and voluntary sector in Somerset responded so swiftly and nimbly to the immediate need at a local level, with many organisations adapting their services almost overnight.

Joining His Royal Highness were SCF chair, Jane Barry; chief executive, Justin Sargent; programmes director, Val Bishop; trustees Jan Ross and Lucy Nelson; and Rosemary McDonald, CEO of UK Community Foundations, the umbrella organisation for community foundations across the UK.

Justin said: "We're enormously proud of the remarkable efforts by our sector and the incredible pace at which so many groups and charities responded to the coronavirus outbreak last year.

"We were honoured to meet His Royal Highness The Earl of Wessex and delighted to have the opportunity to talk about our work and introduce him to just some of the local charities and voluntary groups SCF has supported recently - thanks to the generosity of our supporters and donors - all of whom work so tirelessly to help the most vulnerable people in our communities, every day."

Justin then introduced The Earl to representatives from six groups who were funded by SCF to help them deliver their vital services and support to the community during the crisis, and His Royal Highness spent time with each organisation, asking questions about their work.

The groups were:

• SWEDA (Somerset and Wessex Eating Disorders)
• Novasports
• Taunton Scrubbers
• Taunton East Development Trust
• Dulverton Good Neighbours
• Quantock Food Bank

The Earl and Countess also visited nearby Wells, where they visited members of the Wells Coronavirus Network and other members of the community to thank them for their efforts during the pandemic, the Connect Centre, the cathedral and the Bishop's Palace.

Any community group or charitable organisation wishing to apply for funding can visit the SCF website where they can find guidance on how to make an application: www.somersetcf.org.uk/grantfunding

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 £15 million in funding, changing thousands of lives across Somerset.