Shepton Mallet's own funding wizard has helped Croscombe Village Hall land a whopping £12,000 grant - just one of dozens of local groups to benefit from her behind-the-scenes magic.

Laura Miller, Community Development Officer at Shepton Mallet Town Council, has been working tirelessly to help community organisations across the area win the cash they need to keep going.

In Croscombe, her expertise meant the village hall secured vital funding to replace its draughty single-glazed windows and doors with modern, energy-efficient ones.

"She's been fantastic from day one," said the committee chairman. "Without her, we'd have missed the deadline and missed out entirely."

Laura's role goes beyond just writing bids — she helps groups get their policies in order, plan their funding strategy, and links them up with the right support. In the past year alone, she's worked with more than 20 organisations, while also managing local grant pots and long-term finance deals.

"She fully understands how important the hall is to our community," the chairman added. "Her energy and drive have made a real difference."

Local groups looking for help are being urged to get in touch at [email protected].

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