Age UK Somerset

05/06/2026

Did you know that today was the 159th Anniversary of opening? Our Volunteers do! We just enjoyed a very interesting talk from Peter Lander, Archivist, of Birnbeck Regeneration Trust with coffee & delicious cake at The Stable .

Thank you Peter!

The Birnbeck Regeneration Trust

05/06/2026

A big thank you to Charlotte and all at the Holnicote Estate who kindly gave our Volunteers a tour of the beaver enclosure this morning. What a beautiful location to spend a few hours.
Also to Allerford Tea Rooms for the lovely coffee after.

Holnicote Estate Beaver Trust National Trust

05/06/2026

An incredible £5,378,608 in additional benefits was raised during 2025/26 by our Advice Teams and Information and Advice Volunteers - money going directly into the local economy and, more importantly, into the pockets of older people in our community.

https://www.ageuk.org.uk/somerset/our-services/information-and-advice/

04/06/2026

It's Day 4! Today a group of our Taunton Volunteers got a fascinating look around Gray's Almshouses on East Street thanks to Natalie and Laura from Taunton Heritage Trust We really appreciate you giving up your time to give us a tour.

We'd all passed the building so many times without thinking and it was a real treat to view the chapel and enjoy the lovely garden and orchard. It's amazing how quiet the garden is despite it's town centre location!

Afterwards we got together to enjoy coffee and cake at Taunton Baptist Church .

Volunteers Week is all about celebrating the contribution of Volunteers and we use it as an opportunity to say THANK YOU to ours. It's also a great chance to bring staff and volunteers together to meet and catch up at one of the events we hold throughout the week across Somerset and North Somerset.

If you have an hour to spare in a week and you'd like to spend it in an interesting and worthwhile way we heartily encourage to learn more about volunteering with us :-)
https://www.ageuk.org.uk/somerset/get-involved/volunteer

03/06/2026

𝗗𝗶𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗸 𝗶𝘀 𝗩𝗼𝗹𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗪𝗲𝗲𝗸?
Volunteers’ Week is an annual UK-wide campaign held from the first Monday in June to celebrate and recognise the contributions of volunteers.

This week (from 1st-7th June) we have organised events, every day, across the whole of Somerset and North Somerset to bring our Volunteers together so we can thank them in person for all the terrific support they give to older people in our area. These are also wonderful informal opportunities for volunteers to meet each other and also for members of our staff team to meet and chat with them. (What they are not wonderful opportunities to do is to lose weight...cake is often involved! This year, chocolate too!)

We have had 5 fantastic events so far and are halfway through!

Today's event was a dual visit to both beautiful Tintinhull Garden and Lytes Cary and our group received a lovely welcome from staff and were so lucky with the weather!

So a big THANK YOU to our Volunteers and also thank you very much Lytes Cary Manor & Tintinhull Garden NT for enabling this outing to happen.

If you would like to consider joining our team of amazing Volunteers please visit: https://www.ageuk.org.uk/somerset/get-involved/volunteer/
We'd love to hear from you!

03/06/2026

We have for Chat and Map Community Support Workers - both full and part time positions.

Are you an experienced Community Support Worker, Benefits Advisor, Caseworker, or Outreach Worker looking for a rewarding community-based role?
You will be providing welfare benefits advice, community outreach, and home visiting support to older people across Somerset and North Somerset. These are varied and rewarding roles delivering high-quality advice services, supporting older people to access DWP benefits and welfare entitlements. Through home visits and community outreach, you will provide tailored support, helping individuals maintain independent living, improve wellbeing, and access the services they need.

No two days will be the same but every day you will be making a difference.

CLOSING DATE: TUESDAY 9TH JUNE.

https://www.ageuk.org.uk/somerset/get-involved/work-for-us/

03/06/2026

During Carers Week 2026 (8th to 14th June), Somerset Carers (part of Thrive Somerset) is inviting unpaid carers across Somerset to take some time just for themselves.

They are hosting a range of free activities where you can relax, try something new, and meet other carers who understand what caring life is like. But booking for some of the events closes soon!

Booking deadline reminder!

Some of our Carers Week activities close for booking soon – and places are limited for some.

If you’ve been thinking about coming along, now’s the time.
✨ Free activities
✨ Supportive environment
✨ Time just for you

Check availability and book today: https://somersetcarers.org/carers-week-2026/

03/06/2026

Yesterday afternoon, Day 2 of our Volunteers Week Thank You events we had the absolute pleasure of spending the afternoon with Jane of Gilbert & Swayne!
Our Volunteers learnt all about chocolate, got to taste loads of different flavours (Tarragon and Sea Salt was delicious!) and then were treated to a delicious cream tea! All kindly donated, for which we are very very grateful.

They run chocolate making courses too: https://www.gilbertandswayne.co.uk/

02/06/2026

A BIG thank you to Susie, Caroline and Corrina at Somerset Brick and Tile Museum in Bridgwater for giving our Volunteers a wonderful morning as part of our Volunteers Week treats.

We learnt a little about the history of the brick industry in before having a go at making a decorative clay tile!

https://swheritage.org.uk/our-sites/somerset-brick-and-tile-museum/

02/06/2026

Yesterday we were delighted to present four of our long-serving volunteers with a well-deserved Room to Reward hotel break.

Pictured are Dr Lucy Po***ck, Patron of Age UK Somerset, Kate Barrington, Volunteering Manager, Martin Sumpter, Volunteer, Steve Holt, Chairperson, Pat Pike, Volunteer, Christine Holdsworth, Volunteer, and Simon Glover, Volunteer.

Between them, Martin, Pat, Christine and Simon have given over 60 years of volunteering to Age UK Somerset - an incredible contribution which has made a real difference to older people across Somerset and North Somerset.

Room to Reward is a wonderful volunteer-recognition charity which works with hotel and accommodation partners who donate unsold rooms so charities can say thank you to their “Hidden Heroes” with a well-deserved break.

A huge thank you to Martin, Pat, Christine and Simon for all the time, care and commitment they have given over so many years. We are so pleased to see their dedication recognised in this special way.

Room to Reward