Somerset Community Foundation

08/06/2026

This Young Carers Week, we’re shining a light on the voices of young carers across Somerset.

Made possible through a £4,000 grant from the Young Carers Fund, this film project is a collaboration between Youth UnLimited CIC, Somerset Schools’ Young Carers’ Leads network and Boomsatsuma’s Create Agency, giving young carers the opportunity to share their lived experiences in their own words.

Some of the young people in the video are as young as 5 years old - a reminder of the challenges they quietly face every day, and the importance of having support, understanding and connection with others who can relate to their experiences.

Discover more about the Somerset Youth Fund: www.somersetcf.org.uk/giving/collective-giving-funds/the-somerset-youth-fund/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Su1IEwV-nbw

This film was made with thanks to our Young Carers in Schools (YCiS) Schools: Huish Episcopi Academy, Northgate Primary School, St Margaret's CEVA Primary Sc...

05/06/2026

Are you starting university soon?

We know the expense of higher education can be daunting.

If you're aged 24 or under and are about to begin the first year of an undergraduate degree in the UK, our university bursaries can help with the cost of accommodation, equipment, books, travel and other expenses related to your degree course (excluding course fees).

The bursaries are open to young people from Taunton, Wellington, Wiveliscombe and surrounding areas who meet the programme criteria.

Find out more and apply: www.somersetcf.org.uk/grants-funding/details/university-bursaries

04/06/2026

Communities across Somerset are strengthened by the time, skills and generosity of volunteers 💚

This Volunteers' Week, we'd like to thank all of our volunteers, grants panel members and trustees who give their time, energy and expertise to help make a difference in communities across Somerset.

We're also excited to be recruiting for 3 new Trustee roles soon. If you're interested in using your experience to help shape our work and support local communities, we'd love to hear from you.

Please contact our Chief Executive Justin Sargent at [email protected] to find out more.

20/05/2026

We're so pleased to have supported the making of this video with a £4,000 grant from the Young Carers Fund 💚

14/05/2026

Did you know that cases of depression in Somerset are higher than the national and South West averages, and that the number of adults living with long-term mental health conditions has increased by 11% since 2018?

To mark Mental Health Awareness Week, we’re shining a light on our Somerset Wellbeing Fund, created to support local people facing physical and mental health challenges across our community.

From counselling and therapeutic gardening projects to bereavement support and debt advice, the organisations we fund are changing lives every day in a thoughtful and tangible way.

Discover more about the Somerset Wellbeing Fund here - www.somersetcf.org.uk/giving/collective-giving-funds/the-somerset-wellbeing-fund/

11/05/2026

This Somerset Day, we’re shining a light on local businesses making a difference on their doorstep.

For businesses rooted in Somerset, giving back can be a powerful way to create lasting change. For Mulberry, whose story began here in 1971, that connection remains at the heart of its approach to philanthropy.

In 2021, Mulberry established the Mulberry Somerset Community Fund with us – a purposeful way to give locally and support the communities closest to them.

We spoke to Rosie Wollacott, Head of Sustainability at Mulberry, about how this Fund is helping direct support to the people and places that matter most.

👉 Read the full story: https://www.somersetcf.org.uk/stories/how-mulberry-is-supporting-communities-in-somerset/

Interested in giving as a business? Explore how you can support your community while achieving your environmental, social and corporate goals.

Find out more: https://www.somersetcf.org.uk/giving/businesses/

04/05/2026

Calling all fundraisers! 👀

We’re recruiting a Senior Fundraising Manager to join our growing team and help Somerset’s communities thrive.

This is a key role that puts donor experience at the heart of everything we do – developing our individual giving programme, leading appeals, and delivering engaging events.

We’re looking for a passionate fundraiser with strong project management skills, experience using CRM systems, and the ability to write compellingly for different audiences.

We’re proud of the culture we’ve built – a flexible, supportive, values-driven organisation with a real focus on personal development.

👉 Apply here: https://www.somersetcf.org.uk/about/careers/job/senior-fundraising-manager/

Please share with your network or tag someone who’d be a great fit.

01/05/2026

What happens when an iconic global brand partners with their local community foundation? 👜

With Mulberry, it’s meant almost £75,000 in grants reaching 44 local causes across Somerset over the past 5 years.

This May, we’re proud to be their chosen charity for in-store donations across the UK – helping grow their Mulberry Somerset Community Fund and give back to the county where it all started in 1971.

If you're a Somerset business looking to give back locally, you can donate to our Somerset Fund or set up your own corporate fund.

Find out more: https://www.somersetcf.org.uk/giving/businesses/

23/04/2026

We’re very pleased to announce the £5.3m Bishop Fox’s Educational Foundation endowment has transferred to our stewardship to secure its long-term future.

Over the past 35 years, BFEF has awarded funding to thousands of young people pursuing their ambitions in education, the arts, sport and employment.

Our Chief Executive, Justin Sargent, said: “As a community foundation, one of our most important roles is to provide a safe, long-term home for Somerset’s philanthropic assets and direct funding to where it can have the greatest impact. By working closely with partners and fundholders, we can help strengthen and join up the local funding system for the benefit of local communities.”

Read the full story: www.somersetcf.org.uk/about/news/historic-5-3m-taunton-education-fund-transferred-to-somerset-community-foundation/

Interested in our charitable trust services? Learn more: www.somersetcf.org.uk/trusts

21/04/2026

We’re looking for a Senior Fundraising Manager to join our Philanthropy and Marketing Team!🌟

This role will be key to our growth, so we’re looking for someone passionate about delivering an outstanding donor experience that will ensure our supporters feel engaged and inspired.

If you’ve got a proven track record in fundraising and events management, strong copywriting skills, experience using CRM systems, and can tailor communications to different audiences, we’d love to hear from you.

We proudly offer flexible working, a values-driven environment and opportunities to grow professionally.

Apply here: https://www.somersetcf.org.uk/about/careers/job/senior-fundraising-manager/

Please share or tag anyone you think would be a good fit for this role.