THE people of Puriton and Woolavington are nearly half way through a 10 year programme to make their community an even better place to live.

Residents are on track to deliver their plans with £800,000 of £1m Big Lottery funding available to meet the challenges they have identified.

The two villages were first set aside the funding in 2015 after successfully being granted up to £1m in Big Lottery Funding via Big Local to make a massive and lasting positive difference to the community.

The money is administered by SHAL Housing, as the Locally Trusted Organisation, with the Villages Together Partnership, a resident-led group, making decisions on how the money should be spent.

Applications are made to the Partnership and funds granted are either in smaller community grants worth up to £1,000 to support local community groups with specific goals, or to larger ‘priority area’ projects that deliver the current two year plan.

So far approximately £126,000 of the money has already been spent.

There have been a number of successes so far with larger projects approved for funding, including a Dream scheme, where young people aged 8-14 sign up to take part in positive community activities and then rewarded for their commitment. Support has been given to a new Youth Theatre group in Woolavington, The Hub Woolavington as well as funding for the Hello Project designed to tackle loneliness in the area.

The Woolavington Youth Theatre will receive £15,000 over three years, the Dream scheme has been given £19,000, £49,600 has gone to the Hello Project.

Smaller groups to benefit include Woolavington WI, Flare Youth group, Woolavington Thursday coffee group, Woolavington Hand Bell Ringers, Puriton Borrow A Book Club, Puriton Bingo, Puriton Flower Show, Puriton Village Hall, Coffee stop club – Puriton- (Clist room), Woolavington Craft Group Woolavington Church Bells, Puriton Happy Tots ,1st Puriton Guides, Puriton Over Sixties, Woolavington Toddler Group.

Community project lead Sharon Collard says she hopes more people will apply with ideas for projects.

“We are gaining some momentum now and spending the money on some really innovative projects but we are still open to hear ideas for projects that matches the Villages Together Partnership’s established priorities.” Ms Collard said.

The Villages Together team has set a number of targets including tackling loneliness, improving youth services, increasing people’s skills and mitigating the impacts of limited public transport.

If you have an idea of a project that could benefit Puriton and Woolavington get in touch with Sharon by emailing Sharon@shal.org or call 07740 410232 or 2 King Square, Bridgwater, Somerset, TA6 3DG.