The Summerfield
Force for Good Fund
Summerfield have teamed up with The Somerset Community Foundation
to create the Summerfield Force for Good Fund which allows us to invest
back into our local communities.
Our Partnership
As a company firmly rooted in the community, we’re proud to invest back into the communities where our clients and team live and work here in Somerset. We do this through The Summerfield Force for Good Fund, managed by Somerset Community Foundation, our long-term charity partner.
The Summerfield Force for Good Fund was established in 2008 and since then has made 19 grants worth over £30,000 to small local charities in and around Taunton.
In 2023, our 200th year, we worked with Somerset Community Foundation to create a new strategy that aligns our charitable giving with our company values and the needs of our local communities. This strategy brings all of our charitable giving and fundraising together through The Summerfield Force for Good Fund and will focus on two key strategic priorities:
Building Strong & Vibrant
Communities
investing in the places and spaces that bring people together, build connection, and make our communities stronger.
Helping young people
build a brighter future
supporting local young people and young adults to overcome challenges and develop the skills and confidence they need to thrive
Who are we supporting?
In Summer 2023, we selected two charity partners from the Taunton area who will receive long-term flexible funding to support their ongoing within the community work, these partners are:
North Town Partnership
(Priorswood Community Centre)
Originally formed in 1995 the North Town Partnership has spent over 28 years working with the local community in and around the Priorswood area in Taunton.
Priorswood Community Centre is essential to many vulnerable people within the local area providing mental health support, companionship to the elderly and activities for younger members of the community.
With the funding provided from the Summerfield Force for Good Fund the project can continue their vital mental health support activities. They originally had funding for 6 months however now with this support they can continue this project indefinitely.
Albemarle Centre
(Albemarle Road, Taunton)
The Albemarle Centre have been supporting and bringing the community together for over 40 years, with their core aim to provide a safe environment where people can be treated equally to everyone else within the community.
To many the Albemarle Centre is essential to daily life, providing support groups and social activities to a variety of people with different needs including learning difficulties, brain injuries, mental health conditions, physical barriers, loneliness and the elderly.
Support can be provided via individual support, assisting with daily life management, volunteering, socialising and progression towards finding employment.
With the funding provided from the Summerfield Force for Good Fund the Albemarle Centre can continue providing their much needed services to members of the local community.
However the Force for Good fund will also support a handful of small, local charities with grants of up to £2,000. These grants will support charities who work aligns with our strategic themes and who are based either in Taunton or in areas where we have a development.
14 Years of Making a Difference
The Force for Good fund has been supporting our community for over 14 years, having made 19 grants to local projects since 2009 totalling over £30,000.
We are proud to say that our committed relationship to this fund has provided support to over 8,000 members of our local community in and around Taunton.
| Year | Group | Total award | Summerfield contribution | Project | Primary Beneficiary | Number Of Beneficiaries | Area |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Conquest Centre | £5,000 | £5,000 | Equine-assisted therapy sessions based at a site near Taunton | Carers | 100 | Norton Fitzwarren |
| 2009 | Trident Youth and Community Centre | £5,000 | £1,000 | Improving a community and sports centre in Galmington | Local residents | 500 | Galmington |
| 2010 | North Taunton Partnership | £2,000 | £2,000 | Running a community hub in the Priorswood area of Taunton | Children and Young People | 500 | Priorswood Estate |
| 2011 | Taunton East DeveOpment Trust | £1,000 | £1,000 | Craft activities for young children from deprived areas in Taunton | Children and Young People | 50 | Halcon Estate |
| 2011 | Conquest Centre | £2,072 | £1,800 | Shower facility for young people and adults with disabilities. | People with physical disabilities | 200 | Norton Fitzwarren |
| 2013 | Ten Communities Youth | £1,000 | £1,000 | 8 week programme of outdoor educational sessions for young people | Children and Young People | 50 | Wiveliscombe |
| 2013 | Lane Estate Tenant & Residents Association | £1,000 | £1,000 | Improvements to local park for rural community | Local residents | 100 | Lane Estate |
| 2014 | On Your Bike | £2,200 | £1,000 | Training, employment and building skills for disadvantaged people in Taunton | NEET | 6 | Taunton |
| 2014 | Outdoor Challenge | £2,000 | £2,000 | Achieving the next level | Local residents | 50 | North Petherton |
| 2015 | Tone Ability FC | £1,500 | £1,000 | Tone Ability Progression | Children and Young People | 17 | Taunton |
| 2016 | We’re Eco C.I.C We’re Eco Wood Recycling | £3,037 | £1,500 | Purchase of tools for wood recycling project | People with mental health issues | 25 | Isle Brewers |
| 2016 | GoCreate Taunton CIC for Taunton Live | £2,000 | £2,000 | Taunton Live – the performing and creative arts festival (18 – 24 July 2016) | Families/Parents/Lone parents | 3000 | Taunton |
| 2016 | Centre for Outdoor Activity & Community Hub (COACH) | £3,220 | £1,220 | Kayaking for children with special educational needs | People with learning difficulties | 50 | Taunton |
| 2016 | Trident Youth and Community Centre | £730 | £730 | Renovation of men’s toilets. | Local residents | 800 | Galmington |
| 2018 | Wellington Mills CIC | £3,000 | £3,000 | Seed funding towards the regeneration of historic mill buildings for community use. | Local residents | 1000 | Wellington |
| 2019 | Taunton East Development Trust | £1,950 | £750 | New equipment for a volunteer-led local improvement scheme. | Local residents | 500 | Halcon Estate |
| 2019 | On Your Bike | £2,800 | £1,000 | Accredited qualifications for project participants and staff. | Men | 1000 | Taunton |
| 2020 | ROC Taunton Deane | £4,000 | £1,000 | Community mentor scheme for disadvantaged families with young children | Families/Parents/Lone parents | 40 | Taunton |
| 2020 | Wombat Cricket Club | £5,000 | £2,500 | Contribution towards the purchase of a local sports venue | Children and Young People | 200 | Bishops Lydeard |
| Total | £48,509 | £30,500 | 8,188 |
How we award funds from the
Summerfield Force for Good Fund
All of our charitable giving is managed by Somerset Community Foundation. The Summerfield Force for Good Fund does not open directly for applications.
Charities and community groups can apply to Somerset Community Foundation’s Main Grants programme, which is open all year round for grants of up to £5,000, or to The Somerset Fund, which awards grants to grassroots groups of up to £2,500. This enables charities to be considered to receive funds from more than 90 local donors with one simple application.
Find out more or apply here. You can also email info@somersetcf.org.uk or call 01749 344949 for advice or support with applying.
Somerset Community Foundation is a registered charity. Charity no: 1094446
About Somerset
Community Foundation
Somerset Community Foundation is a charity that helps passionate people in Somerset change the world on their doorstep by funding local charities and inspiring local giving and philanthropy.
Through our grant-giving, we aim to build stronger communities in Somerset where everyone has the opportunity to thrive. We award funding to hundreds of small, local charities, community groups and social enterprises across the county every year, offering a range of grants programmes, including project-based, core costs, small, large, annual and multi-year grants and loans.
We provide rewarding and impactful ways for donors to give through us to the causes and places they care about most. Donors can choose to either set up their own charitable fund with us, give to one of our existing funds, or support the work of the Foundation itself. Together, we fund amazing organisations and the passionate people that change lives every day.
Since we were founded in 2002 we’ve awarded more than £20 million in funding, changing thousands of lives across Somerset.
