AGE UK Somerset celebrated Volunteers Week lockdown-style this year by holding a quiz via email and post – and one of the winners was Kay Smith, of Stogursey.

Usually, the charity’s volunteers are treated to a variety of events and outings as a thank-you for the effort they put in to making life better for older people in the county. 

This year’s alternative celebration – a Somerset-themed quiz – offered prizes of “birds, beauty and booze”.

Exmoor Distillery, based in Dulverton, donated bottles of its award winning Northmoor Gin along with tonics to go with it and a bottle of the hand wash that it has diversified into making.

Carl Bovis, a wildlife photographer from Westonzoyland, donated copies of his ‘100 Birds’ and bird colouring books along with cards and prints, and Buff, Urban Day Spa in Taunton donated a beauty travel case filled with ESPA beauty products.

Kay shared the bird prizes with Les Cornford, of Worle, Richard Corp, of Cheddar, won the gin and the beauty bag went to Gaynor Watts, who lives near Ilton.

Between them the volunteers’ roles include providing Information and advice, befriending or leading gentle exercise sessions. While the exercise sessions are not taking place at the moment, the information and advice volunteers have still been helping older people over the phone, and the befrienders have switched to offering a telephone service while it is not possible to meet face to face.

?The charity is still open and staffed and can be reached by calling Age UK Somerset on 01823 345610 or emailing [email protected].