Our Community Organisers are supporting local volunteering and activities that improve people’s health and wellbeing. A recent history walk in the Westfield area of Yeovil is a great example of this.

Earlier this year, our team member Sarah worked alongside staff and volunteers from the South Somerset Heritage Collection (SSHC), who host a huge variety of historical objects and images, to support a successful event called the ‘Stiby Story’. 

Building on that, she identified a desire to bring something new to St Peter’s Community Centre in Westfield, a place that’s already active and well-used. The aim was to create a different kind of event that might attract local residents who don’t normally visit the centre. 

Sarah helped connect SSHC with the Westfield Community Association (WCA), a local group that aims to develop a stronger sense of community in their area. Together, they planned a fascinating history walk, bringing the stories of Westfield to the people who live there, without needing anyone to travel.

She introduced Mike, a local volunteer from WCA with great knowledge of Westfield’s past, to Joseph from SSHC, who regularly leads history walks in Yeovil. They worked together to create a route, and Sarah supported by helping with planning, designing posters and leaflets, and making sure the event was safe – including preparing for the hot weather on the day.

The walk was open to everyone, including local residents, adult learners from Able2Achieve and students from Westfield Academy, connecting different parts of the community and strengthening the relationship with the local school.

Jack Male, a history teacher at the academy said:

“It was wonderful to hear about local history in Westfield, with characters like Stiby and Johnson who are so prominent in Yeovil’s history.

“The students learnt a lot from Joseph from South Somerset Heritage Collection and it was a wonderful introduction to St Peter’s Community Centre and the community garden too.”

The event was a huge success, and participants reported feeling more connected with their community. Learning about local history in this way helped build a sense of pride in the area, and planning for a similar event is already underway.  

If you would like to find out more about our Community Organising project or need some help with setting up a group or activity in your local area, please get in touch.