East Coker Parish Council, enabled by a local fundraising campaign, finished rebuilding and modernising the East Coker Pavilion to facilitate more events and sports at the recreational ground. With the support of the SALC Community Health and Wellbeing grant, the council is organising an event on the 30th of August 2026 to thank all those involved in helping the project and to showcase the new facilities.
The grand opening event will the community together to enjoy a gymnastics display, a Beat the Goalie competition, fruit and veg stall, live music, ribbon cutting, healthy food buffet and open doors. The aim is to create a memorable celebration for the parish, encouraging sporting participation and social connection.
The pavilion, in its newly rebuilt condition, is planned to be “a focal point for sport, health and wellbeing in the parish for a long time to come”.
Chilcompton Parish Council received a seed grant to undertake a parish-wide survey to explore how connection parish residents feel to their community, to see what support there might be for developing projects, to help increase social cohesions and activity, and to improve well-being of people living in the village.
The survey was well responded to, and the Parish Council now have a set of actions guided by the survey results.
Short Term Actions:
Longer Term Actions:
The survey informed the development of a new project, a community family day, to bring the whole community together. The Parish Council have received a further grant for this event, which will be held on the Old Rec, raising awareness of this area, and encourage the use of the new equipment which is being installed. The event will also offer taster sessions of wellbeing activities that are available in the village, to help increase the visibility of wellbeing providers in the village, the event will also offer music and a family picnic.
The aim of this project is to bring the community together and place an emphasis on inclusion, social cohesion and wellbeing for the whole community. The event will help to build capacity in the village by establishing an active group of volunteers to continue future village community events.
Cossington Parish Council has big plans to host more outdoor events using the village hall, church grounds and gardens, to complement an existing, decades-long programme, including open mic nights, flower festivals, weekly coffee mornings and jubilee and coronation events. The team is looking to expand on outdoor events after well supported events in 2025 and 2026, with afternoon teas, garden parties, charity open gardens, live music events, plays, breakfasts and being able to deliver a choice in food. The events are largely supported by dedicated volunteers.
SALC’s Community Health & Wellbeing Programme is supporting Cossington PC with a grant, worth £1,000, covering the costs of three gazebos, an event shelter, a gas stove as well as the painting of pickleball court lines. The event shelter is to provide shelter for at live music events.
This project is centred around enhancing mental health and wellbeing across Glastonbury and has two key branches:
1. Glastonbury Mental Health Network’s (GMHN) “The Snug” Sessions:
The snug is a safe and inclusive space open to all members of the community. Glastonbury Mental Health Network hosts two weekly events and the grant will enable them to expand these sessions to St Dunstan’s House. The sessions are incredibly valuable in promoting mental wellness, providing opportunities for social connection, creative expression and support.
2. Part- funding the Facility Lead role at St Dunstan’s House Community Health & Wellbeing Centre:
St Dunstan’s House is set to to be operational soon and will provide a central venue for NHS and social care services , national and local charities, local businesses and community groups to collaborate and offer holistic health services. The grant will be used to fund a dedicated Facility Lead who will oversee the centre’s operations and planning activities within the centre.
This project created a warm and welcoming space for residents to connect. Held weekly at the Community Cafe, it provided a friendly environment where people could enjoy a subsidised meal, join in games and activities and hear talks on a variety of topics. The project focused on supporting older residents, those with memory challenges, and those who may feel isolated by achieving a community spirit and helping reduce loneliness.
Meare Parish Council successfully delivered a free, inclusive community event with a focus on wellbeing, social cohesion and accessibility.
Project successes:
Activities offered:
Porlock Parish Council have transformed the vacant Old School Centre in Porlock into a Community Hub aimed at providing a community-led space, expand existing library services and create a multi-purpose area for use of the community.
Key deliverables:
Tatworth & Forton Parish Council is planning to deliver an open-air cinema event for local families on the 26th of September 2026. The aim of the project is to improve community involvement by bringing families together. The Community Health & Wellbeing Programme Grant, worth £700, covers the costs of the screening, allowing the council to additionally provide a free food item to the children that attend whilst supporting local food providers.
This project is part of Taunton Town Council’s Town of Sanctuary Strategy and Action Plan 2025-28. The project identifies Taunton Town Council’s commitment to ensuring that refugees are better embedded into Taunton and is designed in collaboration with refugee charities Taunton Welcomes Refugees, CHARIS Refugees and RAFT.
This project aims to create a culture of welcome across Taunton to increase social cohesion and build a compassionate and inclusive community.
Key deliverables will focus on ensuring that refugees are better embedded into Taunton. This includes:
Somerton Town Council’s Community Shed Project created a welcoming space where residents can come together to socialise, learn new skills and take part in practical activities such as woodworking and DIY projects.
This project offers opportunities for social engagement and shared experiences.
Upton Parish Council identified a need for targeted first aid training to support local farmers, lone workers and individuals within Upton and surrounding parishes. Acquiring the skills and knowledge to be able to handle medical traumas is essential when working in a remote area, where emergency services may take longer to arrive.
The council planned and delivered a talk, demonstration and Q&A session on 18th June 2026, led by an ex-RAF nurse who has served in Afghanistan. The session was open to all surrounding villages.
The SALC Community Health & Wellbeing Grant was used to provide first aid kits (x10) to remote farms and households, ensuring they have both the skills and equipment to respond effectively while waiting for emergency services.
The council is monitoring the outcomes to ensure any future sessions will remain relevant to the needs of the community.
Wellington Town Council have converted the former Kings Arms Pub into a Community Hub after taking on the lease of the ground floor. The Kings Arms Community Hub is now a point of contact for families and vulnerable adults to access advice, guidance and support.
The space will accommodate groups such as toddler sessions, employment hubs, dementia and memory support groups.
The charity Young Somerset will also run its Bold and Brave Cafe in the Hub, offering young people employment opportunities.
This grant will support staffing costs at the Community Hub.
In 2024, West Bagborough Parish Council conducted a Community Review, with support from Thrive (CCS), identifying key community priorities:
To address these priorities, West Bagborough Parish Council held a summer village fete as a community wide-event with circus skills, sports games and face painting for children, morris dancing, the village choir, birds of prey, walking with alpacas and traditional fete stalls for all ages. There was also a very well attended dog show, and live music throughout the afternoon and evening.
The event successfully brought people in the village together, as well as people from neighbouring villages. A Fete Committee has also been established as a result of the event, with a number of volunteers who supported the organisation and delivery of the day.
The success off the Fete has resulted in West Bagborough Parish Council purchasing a friendship bench to be placed near the village war memorial, as well as a picnic bench for the children’s playground. The aim of this friendship bench is to encourage people to walk and meet and greet, whilst providing a place for resting for older residents within the parish.
The first stage of Westzoynland’s wellbeing project is a Health and Wellbeing Fair, taking place late August or early September 2026. SALC’s Community Health & Wellbeing Programme grant, worth £1,500, will kickstart the project to increase access to, and participation in activities that improve long-term physical and mental wellbeing across the generations.
The event sets out to: