News in Shepton Mallet

Like many charities during the coronavirus pandemic, Somerset's five Citizens Advice services have had to change the way that they help local people.

More and more individuals and families are seeking advice over the telephone and email, on issues related to their finances or employment, through to consumer, relationship or housing problems.

The shortlist has been announced in this year's Somerset Business Awards, with companies, charities and individuals from across the county, including Shepton Mallet, vying for the honours.

Judges faced a tough time whittling down a record-breaking number of entries in this year's awards, which are run annually by the Somerset Chamber of Commerce.

Thanks to more than 450 generous supporters across Somerset, the annual Surviving Winter appeal - which provides funding and support to our older neighbours in Shepton Mallet who are struggling to heat their homes - is getting close to reaching its target of £120,000 this winter.

Surviving Winter, which is run by Bath and West Showground-based Somerset Community Foundation (SCF), encourages people who can afford to, to make a donation from their Winter Fuel Payment.

New year always brings hopes and resolutions, both more important than ever this year.

Like people of goodwill everywhere, members of Mendip Ramblers hope for a better year in 2021 for the whole world.

As of one minute past midnight today (Boxing Day) Shepton Mallet along with the rest of Somerset moved into the Very High Alert area for coronavirus.

This is Tier 3, involves tighter restrictions on travel and meeting up, and applies to all of Somerset, Bristol and Gloucestershire.

Extra funding has been made available to support Somerset's foodbanks which have been playing a vital role throughout the coronavirus pandemic.

In order to provide extra support this winter, grants of between £2,000 and £3,000 have been awarded to a number of foodbanks across the county, including the Salvation Army Foodbank in Shepton Mallet, as part of Somerset's Food Resilience Programme.

It's nearly time for Santa and his nine gorgeous reindeer to begin their tour of the country.

He has a lot of presents for well-behaved children and grown ups in his sleigh!

We have all been there - forgotten some vital ingredient, or gift - and needing to make a last-minute dash down to a supermarket in Shepton Mallet.

Check below for the Christmas and New Year opening times for Aldi, Co-op and Tesco in Shepton Mallet.

Grants worth more than £5,500 have been awarded to three charities and community groups in the Shepton Mallet area in the latest round of the Somerset Fund, managed by Somerset Community Foundation (SCF).

Shepton Mallet Men's Shed, Shepton Mallet Ukulele Group and Wanstrow Allotment Group have all received money in this phase of the fund's payouts.

The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport has now announced that 11 charities in the Wells constituency, including ones in Shepton Mallet and Stratton-on-the-Fosse, have received a combined total of more than £196,000 to help their crucial work continue, despite the challenges of the coronavirus pandemic.

Wells MP James Heappey has said this money will be a "lifeline" for these charities and those that they help.