NEGLECTED outdoor spaces and gardens in the Bridgwater and Sedgemoor area are being given a fresh lease of life thanks to new social enterprise Social Circles CIC.

Following a pilot project in the spring of this year, the team at Social Circles has worked closely with other organisations to support those unable to maintain their outdoor space, with referrals from social services, NHS teams, housing associations and local community groups including Community Council for Somerset’s Village and Community Agents.

Social Circles was awarded an HPC Community Fund grant from the Small Grants Programme in August 2022 to support older communities, those who are vulnerable, and people with disabilities to tidy and maintain their gardens.

Val Bishop, Programmes Director at Somerset Community Foundation, explained: “Access to green spaces is recognised as a way of reducing the risk of mental health challenges and improving emotional wellbeing by Public Health England.

“We received this application for funding to the HPC Community Fund to replace the tired old power tools that Social Circles had been using for their earlier pilot project."

Somerset Community Foundation has awarded grants worth over £35,000 from the HPC Community Fund Small Grants Programme to groups since July of this year:

  • 1st Bridgwater Rangers, Bridgwater: £1,828 - Funding for materials and equipment for a Bridgwater based Rangers unit
  • Bay Centre, Burnham-on-Sea: £850 - Funding towards the cost of repainting a community building in Burnham-on-Sea
  • Blue Anchor Toilets CIC, Blue Anchor, nr Minehead: £742 - Funding towards the cost of installing economic taps for a public toilet near a West Somerset seaside attraction
  • The Bluebirds Theatre Company, Sedgemoor: £5,000 - Funding towards a travelling community theatre project in Sedgemoor and West Somerset
  • Bridgwater and Taunton Deaf Club: £10,000 - Funding for a group providing advocacy support for deaf people in Sedgemoor
  • Friends of North Petherton Library: £3,000 - Funding for replacement mobile bookshelves in a community library
  • Seed of Hope CIC, Bridgwater: £5,000 - Funding to support Bridgwater-based horticulture mental health support group
  • Social Circles CIC, Bridgwater: £4,024 - Funding towards the cost of new gardening equipment for a community gardening support group
  • Young Musical Theatre Company, Bridgwater: £5,000 - Funding towards the costs of scaffold and set equipment for a community theatre group

The HPC Community Fund’s Small Grants Programme awards grants of up to £5,000 - or up to £10,000 over three years - for charities, voluntary groups and social enterprises that normally operate on less than £100,000 per year.

The Open Grants Programme is for larger applications, typically over £10,000. Visit www.hpcfunds.co.uk for more details.