Somerset Freemasons and the Somerset Community Foundation Supporting Deserving Children
Chris Crump and Andy Wade, representing the Somerset Masonic Charity, accompanied by Fiona Foster from the Somerset Community Foundation met George, Sue and many other volunteers at Avalon Camps, in Mark near Highbridge on 30th July 2025.
Avalon Camps is a charity based in Somerset, which gives deserving children between the ages of 8 & 9 from Hartcliffe & Withywood areas of Bristol, a fabulous opportunity to have a free holiday in the Somerset countryside. The children, who often have difficult home lives, are recommended by their teachers or care and welfare officers. Many have never left Bristol, so the camps give them the chance to do something totally different, to learn, play and sleep in the great outdoors, visit local farms and take part in new activities.
Avalon Camps run two 5 day camps at the beginning of the school summer holidays each year. The camps are run by around 150 Somerset volunteers, 40 of whom are young leaders working towards DofE Gold (recommended directly by the DofE). The camps are led by 2 Camp Managers who also give their time freely.
The young leaders take on the roles of Tent Leaders, each looking after a group of four children for the time they are at camp. The Young Leaders bring energy and enthusiasm to the children during the camps, and come from diverse backgrounds across the whole of Somerset. Among so much else, they gain invaluable life skills, broaden their perspectives, and develop leadership abilities, and without exception, say how satisfying it is to contribute to a project which has such an impact on young lives.
The camps cost c.£18,000 a year to run, and are funded entirely through donations and fundraising. The children gain first-time experiences such as: walking in the Mendip Hills; a visit to a local farm; an activities day with a 30m climbing wall and archery; a visit to a local 12 century church and climb to the top of the bell tower; holding Birds of Prey; and a visit from the Avon & Somerset Police Dogs Unit.
Somerset Freemasons (Somerset Masonic Charity), supported the amazing Avalon Camps this year via the superb Somerset Community Foundation. If you would like to know more or to donate to either Avalon Camps or the Somerset Community Foundation, please visit their websites at the links below.
