News in Shepton Mallet

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.

Musicians at Millfield Prep School in Edgarley have performed and sent a virtual concert to ten care homes in the area, including in Shepton Mallet and Oakhill.

Musicians at Millfield Prep recorded a concert especially for residents in care who have been missing family and friends due to the current restrictions.

New national business grants are being made available to support those in Shepton Mallet affected by the recent lockdown period.

They are the Local Restrictions Support Grant (LRSG) and the Additional Restrictions Grant (ARG).

"Don't suffer behind closed doors" – that is the message for victims of domestic abuse in Shepton Mallet from Somerset County Council, who are working closely with partners to make sure services continue during the new lockdown.

The council's domestic abuse campaign, #NoClosedDoors2020, is spreading the message that restrictions imposed because of the pandemic may heighten tension and increase domestic abuse – for some people home is not always the safe place it should be.

In an effort to help our readers who have lost their jobs due to the coronavirus crisis, we have compiled a list of jobs currently available in Shepton Mallet to give you a helping hand in your job hunt.

Social Worker - Shepton Mallet