A Positive Start to 2026
We would like to extend our warmest wishes to our community for a positive, healthy and peaceful 2026. While we have been experiencing seemingly endless days of rain, it is important to remember that brighter days are just around the corner. In only a couple of months, Easter weekend will arrive, bringing longer days and increased activity within our community.
Our team have been busy over recent months and there is a lot to share with you so we have created two separate reports so that you are not overwhelmed with lots to read. Thank you for your time and please do contact us if you would like any more information or we can help.
Grant Funding and Community Initiatives
We are pleased to share positive developments for both the Porlock Vale community and Porlock Vale CIC, as well as the Information Centre. In recent months, we have secured grant funding dedicated to specific initiatives, allowing us to continue and expand the valuable services and community work we provide.
This achievement serves as a strong endorsement of Porlock Vale CIC’s ongoing commitment to ensuring the long-term sustainability of the Information Centre. Our efforts to secure funding reflect our dedication to preserving and enhancing the services available to residents and visitors alike.
National Lottery Awards For All Grant
We have been awarded a National Lottery Awards For All grant that will enable us to organize twelve community events throughout Porlock Vale. These events will be held both indoors and outdoors, focusing on themes such as community engagement, local history, heritage, and the rich diversity of local flora and fauna. In addition to programming, this funding helps support our extended opening hours at Vale Yard by covering essential overhead costs, which have become increasingly challenging to manage.
As a result of this grant, we have also been able to hire a new part-time staff member, Paul Gibbs. Paul brings a wealth of local knowledge and experience to the team, further strengthening our ability to serve the community effectively.
Accelerating reform Fund Project and Community Survey
At our Community Conversations afternoon which we held last Autumn, we launched our community questionnaire on how we could identify how best to help people stay in their homes and communities before requiring statutory adult social care. Our plan, has always been to continue to hold welcoming, educational, informational and supportive events through Porlock Vale so please watch this space for our next event planned for Spring 2026.
With central government ending funding for many non-statutory services and devolving responsibility and one-off funding to local councils across the UK, via the Accelerating Reform Fund (ARF), Somerset Council chose 10 trusted local charities—including Porlock Vale CIC—to develop support solutions. Given Porlock Vale’s notably older population, we secured funding to deliver new and expanded community services. We expect to launch these initiatives by late April or sooner.
This project has to become self-funding and part of the delivery of our services will include how we can ensure that income is generated to continue this work. The next nearest recipients of the ARF fund is based in Wiveliscombe, Taunton and Highbridge, so we are flying the flag for the whole of West Somerset. We are seeking a new part-time administrator for this project and a part-time Community Support Lead, who will become a familiar, trusted and knowledgeable face in the Porlock Vale Community.
These roles offer a unique opportunity to make a tangible difference in the lives of local residents, helping shape a stronger, more supportive community for everyone in Porlock Vale. We are very grateful to the members of our ARF Steering group who come with fantastic ideas, input and enthusiasm to represent their neighbourhoods in the Vale.
Community Survey
We have closed the community survey and are currently analysing the results and anticipate that these will be available in the next few weeks, to all of our key partners and to those who would like to see a copy.
Focus on Mobility
We are delighted to have been selected as a Local trusted Organisation with Somerset Activity Partnership (SASP) and again been the very fortunate recipient of funding to help our community access the tools and support to remain fit, healthy, and mobile for as long as possible. We all, increasingly, lead sedentary lives, and we will be working with SASP to engage and have fun in seeing how we can move more. We know that mobility is the key to healthy life.
A fledgling project, which links with the ARF project and the SASP projects is a Slips, Trips and Falls prevention campaign, which we have been invited to be part of. This is another exciting project, which we are very pleased to be part of, for the benefit of our community.
Good Neighbour Scheme
Thanks to a grant from the Somerset Community Foundation Stronger Communities Fund, we are nearly ready to launch the Porlock Vale Good Neighbour Scheme. Volunteers and requests for help are in place, and once DBS checks are completed, we will update you. The checks are required for us to operate safely, effectively and professionally.
Royal Garden party, Buckingham Palace
Porlock Vale CIC is proud and honoured to announce that Deborah Stanyon, our CEO of Porlock Vale CIC has been invited to a Royal Garden Party at Buckingham Palace, in recognition for her work and passion for the Porlock Vale community.
Community Events
Our first Songs and Scones afternoon was a great success, especially with our Guest of Honour Denise sage, who was recognised and thanked for the incredible work and support which she has given to the Porlock Vale community over the last 20 plus years. Our next community event is the Community Soup Day on Friday 27thFebruary at 12.30 pm in Porlock Village Hall. Please do join us, all are welcome, but booking is essential. We are buzzing with ideas and plans for different themed events which will take place through Porlock Vale over the next year.
There will be new and varied events taking place around Porlock Vale, over the next year. These aim of these events will be to ensure that we reach as many people as possible, with information and service which will support them making informed decisions for their health and well-being. The events will be part of a targeted campaign in connection with the community projects which we are leading.
We are extremely grateful that we have been awarded grants for specific projects, but this money is ring-fenced and we are unable to use this money for our usual running costs and overheads.
The success of our projects relies on the support of our community and the volunteers who do so much behind the scenes, which is often unseen. We are grateful to all who help us. Thank you.
The photos on here are courtesy of Exmoor Commons on Flickr, and are almost certainly from Shaun Davey, to whom we are very grateful.
