Young Somerset Receive a total of £3,000 in donations from three Royal Arch Chapters

Representatives from Avalon Chapter, First Principals Chapter, and Chapter of Fidelity & Sincerity visited Young Somerset on 14 May to present a cheque for £3,000, raised jointly by the three Chapters with additional support from the Province.

We were warmly welcomed by the Young Somerset team, including Peter Eliot, Head of Community Development and Partnership Officer, along with two of his colleagues, Helen Bowen and Jenn Chidley Sanders. During the visit, we were given a detailed insight into the charity’s vital work with children, young adults, and their families across the Province. As Somerset’s largest youth work charity, Young
Somerset provides a wide range of services, both through group activities and targeted one-to-one support programmes.

We were then taken for refreshments at The Bold & Brave Café which is located within Taunton Library. It is run through a partnership agreement with Young Somerset and Somerset Council. The Cafe provides the opportunity for young people to breathe life into this vital community space and support young people to gain core skills – confidence, communication, teamwork – as well as specific employability skills related to customer service and hospitality.

Since Young Somerset was announced as the Province’s chosen charity for 2024, a total of £12,000 has been donated by Chapters across the Province, with further support from the Provincial Fund. This is a wonderful achievement and one in which we can all take great pride. The continued generosity and commitment shown by our Chapters remain one of the Province’s greatest strengths.

Ray Guthrie MEGS, and I would like to offer our sincere thanks to all the Chapters that have
supported Young Somerset through their donations to the Province’s chosen charity.

Geoff Lester – RA Provincial Charity Steward.