MORE than £90,000 has been donated to Ilminster groups over the past year thanks to the town’s Gooch Charitable Trust.

Groups that benefitted from the trust’s generosity include Ilminster Football Club, Ilminster Cricket Club, Experience Ilminster Community Interest Company, Vaughan Lee, Horseshoes and Handprints and Sweet Surprise.

The trustees will be meeting next week to decide on more grants to be handed out, and they will also be awarding their annual Christmas Gift Award which goes to a local good cause.

Desi Fradgley, trustee and Horseshoes and Handprints, said: “The Gooch Charitable Trust has been wonderful to us and this March provided £2,500 to help towards our horse based activity sessions for young people from the Ilminster area which has been very, very much appreciated by local families.

“The sessions are not all about riding as lots of different sensory activities take place with the horses and ponies in a calm and relaxed environment, thus providing the youngsters with the opportunity to reduce stress and anxiety, develop self-confidence and a feeling of self-worth and develop communication/behavioural skills.

“We are so grateful to the Gooch Charitable Trust for helping facilitate our work for local families.”

Experience Ilminster Community Interest Company received a grant for £500 earlier this year. The money was used to fund new sound equipment for Ilminster events such as the midsummer experience and the Victorian evening.

Mike Fry-Foley, one of Experience Ilminster CIC’s directors, said: “Up until now we have relied on finding sound equipment from kind supporters who have provided the kit, sometimes at considerable cost to themselves.

“This will make our events much easier to present to a high standard. It will also add to the safety of events by giving us a way to easily spread safety information.”

“Ilminster is extremely fortunate in having the Gooch Charitable Trust which takes such a keen interest in supporting Ilminster-based organisations in such a practical way.

“Local organisations who might wish to use this equipment and also a large marquee that was purchased several years ago with a grant from the Gooch Charitable Trust, should contact Experience Ilminster CIC through its website.”

Jane Morgan, of Sweet Surprise, said: "The Gooch Trust donated £500 to Sweet Surprise.

"These donations are invaluable as they allow us to buy the special extras that we wouldn't' otherwise, be able to manage.

"On this occasion we bought two laptops. This has allowed several students to complete blogs, Sweet Surprise Facebook updates and produce signage, price lists and emails for the day to day running of the business.

"We encourage all abilities to contribute in every way possible and laptops allow us to provide one-to-one support with trainees for completion of tasks.

"We truly value all the help we get, but more importantly our trainees value it."