Our Community Organising project is all about encouraging more people to get involved in volunteering and communal activities.

Thanks to support from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, we’re working in areas in Somerset that have been identified by the Office for National Statistics as some of the most highly deprived in the country.

Using an innovative and asset-based approach, we’re supporting communities to deliver activities shaped by what local people want and need.

Yeovil resident, Sue (pictured top left), approached our team member, Sarah, for support with setting up a regular poetry group. Sarah helped her with finding a suitable venue, generating publicity, and setting up group guidelines.

Tea and Poetry is now very well attended and regularly welcomes attendees from Able2Achieve, a charity which supports individuals with learning disabilities, mental health, and other associated disabilities.

Joe, Learning Manager from Able2Achieve, shares the impact Tea and Poetry has had on their members:

“Poetry has been a huge success for us. We’ve had engagement from learners who are normally reluctant to try new things. More importantly, it has given our learners the chance to speak in public, be listened to, and be praised for their words.”

Poetry has become part of Able2Achieve’s curriculum and attendeess Alec and Tom, gained the confidence to read their poem to a crowd of over 150 people at their annual awards ceremony.

The group has also connected with the Yeovil Poets Society, had a visit from the Town Mayor, and written poems to celebrate this year’s Wonderful Wassail at Yeovil Country Park.  

And it’s not just the attendees who benefit from the regular meetings. As Sue, who now volunteers to lead the group, explains:

“It’s an excuse to get out of the house and socialise. I love listening to what others have written, seeing the smiles on their faces when they ‘get’ what your poem is about. I’ve also made some lovely new friends since starting Tea and Poetry with the help of Sarah. We’re a friendly group who meet once a month, but I find myself getting excited when it’s time to meet up again.”

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.