What are the opening hours?

Monday 9am - 5pm Tuesday 9am - 5pm Wednesday 9am - 5pm Thursday 9am - 5pm Friday 9am - 5pm

The Balsam Centre

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The Balsam Centre

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We provide health, social and cultural opportunities for people living in and around Wincanton.

The Balsam Centre is an independent, local charity delivering innovative, community based health and wellbeing services across a large rural area, with a focus on accessible mental health support. The Centre works with people at whatever point in their lives that they seek help. The Balsam Centre itself, a former Cottage Hospital is a vibrant community hub housing everything from African Drumming to outdoor bread baking and a Women’s Shed.

29/10/2026

Balsam Centre Annual General Meeting (AGM)

The Balsam Centre is holding its Annual General Meeting on Thursday 12 November, from 6pm to 8pm.

The AGM is an opportunity to hear about the Centre's work over the past year, learn more about our activities and future plans, and put your questions directly to our trustees.

We welcome members of the community, partners and anyone interested in finding out more about the Balsam Centre.

📅 Thursday 12 November
⏰ 6pm–8pm
📍 The Balsam Centre

We look forward to welcoming you.

28/10/2026

🎄✨ Our Christmas lantern workshops are BACK to light up Wincanton! ✨🏮

It wouldn’t be Christmas in Wincanton without our magical Lantern Parade, and we’re delighted to be bringing our FREE Christmas lantern-making workshops back to The Balsam Centre this November, thanks to funding from Wincanton Town Council ️

Get ready to roll up your sleeves, unleash your creativity and add a little sparkle to the festive season! Whether you’re crafting with the family or enjoying some creative time with other grown-ups, you’ll make your very own glowing lantern, ready to shine at Wincanton’s spectacular Lantern Parade on Friday 27 November.

📅 Choose your workshop:
🎨 Family workshops: Saturday 7 or 21 November (10am-12pm)— perfect for some festive family fun!
✨ Adults’ evening workshop: Tuesday 18 November (6 - 8pm) — a chance to get creative and festive in good company.

Spaces always fill fast, so grab your spot early!

👉 Find all the details, times and booking information here:
https://www.balsamcentre.org.uk/lantern-workshops

A little festive note: Parents and carers must stay and supervise their children throughout family workshops.

Let’s get Wincanton glowing! 🏮🎄✨

27/10/2026

Lost sentimental bracelet

We would love to help one of our Balsam families to find their precious bracelet & bead.

Please keep a look out and share and get in touch if you have by any chance found it 🤞🏻

Hi, I’m desperately searching for my lost bead and bracelet.

I lost it between 6-10th October.

Even if just the bead is found I would be so happy. Please contact me if you have picked it up or spotted it somewhere. Thank you so much!

27/10/2026

Community Inclusion Day – Together in Nature 🌿
Don't forget, tomorrow we are holding a morning of Pumpkin Carving and decorating tailored for families of children with special educational needs and disabilities.

Enjoy a welcoming, inclusive environment filled with fun activities, where families can connect, play, and make lasting memories together.

📅 Date: TOMORROW - 28 October
⏰ Time: 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM
📍 Venue: The Balsam Centre
💰 £4 Per child (suggested donation)
⬇️ Book Here
https://www.balsamcentre.org.uk/.../together-in-nature...
Please share this with anyone you think would like to join.
We can't wait to see you there!

24/10/2026

Love vintage and pre-loved clothes? Enjoy a good rummage for second-hand treasures and one-off finds?

Make a date in your diary for The Winter Fair on Saturday 14 November!

Organised and run entirely by a dedicated team of volunteers, The Winter Fair is the biggest fundraising event in The Balsam Centre’s calendar, with all proceeds directly supporting our projects within the community.

Almost everything sold on the day has been handmade, donated, upcycled or repurposed. It’s about as sustainable as shopping gets!

Stalls include:
👗Vintage and Pre-Loved Fashion
🏺Trash and Treasure
🧸Toys
🍰Deli and Cakes
🌷Plants
👜 Bags
🖼️Art Gallery
💍Jewellery
🎁Gifts
🫖Kitchenware
🎟️Raffle
✨Tombola
☕Delicious Café

There’s plenty of parking but if you need a lift, shuttle-buses will be running all day from Wincanton Memorial Hall. See you there!

23/10/2026

🎃 Halloween Crafts Special – Monday 26 October! 👻

The Balsam Centre’s Tea, Toast and Play for Serving Armed Forces families is getting spooky on Monday!

Join us for a fun-filled morning of Halloween-themed crafts… you can even come in costume if you like! 🎨🕸️

As always, there’ll be plenty of buttery toast, warm cuppas and friendly chat for parents. ☕
🕒 Monday 26 October, 10am–1pm
📍 The Balsam Centre
👉 Free to attend – no need to book, just drop in!

22/10/2026

Community Inclusion Day – Together in Nature 🌿
We are delighted to be holding a morning of Pumpkin Carving and Decorating tailored for families of children with special educational needs and disabilities.
Enjoy a welcoming, inclusive environment filled with fun activities, where families can connect, play, and make lasting memories together.
📅 Date: 28 October
⏰ Time: 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM
📍 Venue: The Balsam Centre
💰 £4 Per child (suggested donation)
⬇️ Book Here
https://www.balsamcentre.org.uk/.../together-in-nature...
Please share this with anyone you think would like to join.
We can't wait to see you there!

21/10/2026

✨ Buggy walk of the year. ✨

Join us tomorrow morning at 10am for our last Buggy Walk of the year at Stourhead Gardens.

Getting outdoors is good for the body, mind and soul. Join us for a relaxed stroll through the stunning Stourhead Gardens, where the spectacular display of autumn colours are still on display.

The walks are FREE for families with children under 5 living within 10 miles of The Balsam Centre.

It's a wonderful opportunity to get out and about, meet other families, enjoy the fresh air, and let your little explorer discover the magic of the great outdoors.

Book your place here:
https://www.balsamcentre.org.uk/events-1/stourhead-buggy-sling-walk-2026-10-22-10-00

20/10/2026

🎉 A huge well done to everyone who took part in Friday’s Carnival! 🎉

What a fantastic celebration of community spirit, creativity and teamwork. It was wonderful to see so many people coming together to make the carnival such a special occasion.

This year was a first for The Balsam Centre, as we joined in the fun for the very first time—and what a brilliant experience it was! We had an absolute ball and were thrilled to come 2nd in the ‘Anything Goes’ category! 🥈

Of course, we’re already busy hatching plans for next year… who knows what we might come up with! 😉🎨

Congratulations to all the entries who were placed, and a huge thank you to everyone who took part, volunteered, organised and supported the event. It takes a lot of people working together to make a carnival happen, and the enthusiasm, imagination and community spirit on display were truly wonderful.

Here’s to a fantastic carnival, a community to be proud of, and many more celebrations to come! ❤️🎪

Address

Balsam Park
Wincanton
BA99HB

Opening Hours

Monday	9am - 5pm
Tuesday	9am - 5pm
Wednesday	9am - 5pm
Thursday	9am - 5pm
Friday	9am - 5pm

Telephone

+44196331842

Website

http://www.balsamcentre.org.uk/

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