ISOLATED adults in the Chard area will benefit from support and connection thanks to a £5,000 charity grant.

The cash, from the Somerset Community Foundation (SCF), has been awarded to Watch CIO to help fund weekly peer-support sessions, which help adults experiencing loneliness, and social isolation build confidence, connect with others and feel less alone.

Led by lived-experience facilitators and volunteers, the sessions give participants the chance to form friendships, gain resilience, and access ongoing support within their community.

“Watch CIO provides a lifeline for people who might otherwise go without support,” said Clare Stephen, programmes manager at SCF.

“Adults in Somerset face the longest waits for mental health treatment in the South West, making safe spaces to talk, share experiences, and connect locally more important than ever.”

The grant came ahead of Time to Talk Day, on February 5, which highlighted the importance of conversation and community in protecting mental wellbeing.

“I know from personal experience how isolating mental health challenges can feel,” said Julie Matthews, founder and CEO of Watch CIO, who was awarded the British Empire Medal for her services to mental health in Somerset.

“It’s easy to believe that no one else understands. Through peer support, people quickly realise they’re not alone, and that shared experience helps build confidence, resilience, and hope.”

People can support groups like Watch CIO through SCF’s Somerset Wellbeing Fund, which directs gifts to grass-roots initiatives across the county. Find out more at www.somersetcf.org.uk/wellbeing.

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