MEMBERS of the Minehead Group of Amnesty International were delighted that the sun shone for their garden tea party on June 13, in Carhampton.

More than 40 friends and supporters attended, including local MP Rachel Gilmour, who spent the afternoon chatting to those present.

Mrs Gilmour also added her signature to a number of campaign letters and solidarity cards, which have been sent to various countries and individuals.

These included human rights cases in India and Afghanistan, and a campaign drawing attention to the exploitation of garment workers in South Asia.

As well as drinking tea, eating home-made cakes, and catching up with friends, visitors also browsed the book stall, bought raffle tickets, and took part in a picture quiz displayed around the garden.

Generous donations resulted in a total of £560 which will be sent to Amnesty International UK, to help fund vital research and campaigns on behalf of those facing injustice, unfair trials, torture, the death penalty, and other abuses of human rights anywhere in the world.

The next events for the group will be a stall at Roadwater Fete on July 25, and a letter writing session on September 16.

For more information about the Minehead Group, people should email [email protected].

CHILDREN’S advocacy charity Route1 is looking for an independent visitor to support its work across Somerset.

It follows record numbers of children being taken into the care of Somerset Council, the figute now standing at more than 700.

As a result, Route1 is seeing an increase in the number of children who are asking for an independent visitor, a volunteer who makes a commitment to one child in care.

The volunteer visits the child once or twice each month to build a trusting, supportive relationship and friendship that can sometimes last many years.

The visits might involve going out for coffee and a chat, having a picnic, or going for a dog walk.

The relationship can bring life-changing experiences and opportunities to a child or young person - and their visitor.

One volunteers said: “I have been a volunteer with Route1 for five years now.

“Supporting a child in care has been one of the most rewarding things I have done.

“Last week, I had the privilege of taking my young person to the beach for the first time.

“The joy on their face will remain with me always.”

Route1’s youngest volunteer is 19 years old, while or oldest is older than 80.

Some have experience of being with children, but many do not.

A spokesperson said: “If you are kind, fun, and reliable, then we can support with the rest.

“There is extensive, free training which is delivered face-to-face - no Zoom breakout rooms for us.

“And once trained, there is ongoing support.

“Your life experience will be highly valued, and you will be trained and supported in developing key skills.

“Your volunteering can be arranged to suit your availability.”

More information about Route1 advocacy and independent visitors can be obtained by emailing [email protected] or calling 01749 822801 or visiting the charity’s website.

FLOWER and produce show schedules are now available for Wootton Courtenay’s largest annual event and ‘one of the most enjoyable’, which will be held in the village hall on Tuesday, August 4, from 2 pm to 5 pm.

The schedules can be obtained via the village shop and contain details of the many different classes which are intended ‘to suit everybody’.

Show chairman Ingrid Popplewell said: “If you do not have much of a garden, you can bake, knit, sew, take photographs, and/or create a flower arrangement to enter for the show.

“It is not necessarily winning prizes that is the thrill, it is taking part and contributing to the benches full of beautiful exhibits which creates such a happy atmosphere in the hall and brings us all together.”

Mrs Popplewell said this year there would not be an auction, but instead surplus cakes, bread, preserves, and flower exhibits will be sold from a table in the hall.

She said: “Exhibitors will be invited to bring their food or flower exhibits to the sales table to be sold.

“If they do not bring them to the table, they will not automatically be sold.

“This will allow cup holders time to go outside and be photographed with the other winners without worrying about rescuing their exhibits at the same time.

“The committee felt this might prove to be a less fraught arrangement for exhibitors.

“Any fruit and vegetables not claimed by exhibitors will go to the village shop to be sold in aid of the West Somerset Food Cupboard.”

This year’s show has a new section just for children, including ‘miniature garden’ and ‘decorated cupcakes’.

The three photography topics are ‘village life’, ‘trees’, and ‘sunlight’, and the hanging baskets colour theme is blue, purple, and yellow.

THE recent sell-out 2026 ‘The Concert’ at the Regal, Minehead, raised a total of more than £5,800 for Cancer Research, the organisers reported this week.

A spokesperson said: “Three annual Minehead Concerts have now donated £15,000 to the charity.

“Huge thanks to all those who have performed in the event and attended and contributed so generously.

“Many people in the Minehead area also took part in the pre-Covid annual events that David and Anne Pitts organised in Bristol and Cardiff.

“All these events combined have raised over £100,000 for Cancer Research.”

This year’s Minehead Concert, on June 6, conducted and compared by David Pitts, attracted a capacity audience for a programme which varied from classical works to musicals and rock.

A NUMBER of governor vacancies currently need to be filled in Nether Stowey Church of England Primary School.

The 144-pupil school wants to hear from people whether they have experience in education, business, or just want to support the school to be the best it can be.

It is a role for people who care about children, are good at asking questions, and who want to ‘make a difference’.

Governors are involved in all aspects of school leadership, volunteering their time and skills to support the education of all pupils, the ethos, vision, and values of the school and the most effective use of resources.

They meet regularly with headteacher Terry Luke to make sure the school action plan and high standards of education and financial practice are upheld.

It requires only four to five hours’ commitment per month, with the full governing body typically meeting four or five times in a year.

Mr Luke said Nether Stowey was a ‘welcoming, happy, forward thinking school’ where its community shared the highest of expectations and aspirations for everybody, working hard together toward securing the best outcomes for every single child.

He said: “Our vision is underpinned by our Christian principles and values of thankfulness, fellowship, endurance, peace, charity, and trust.

“These values are shared with all staff, governors, and children, inspiring all that we do.”

Anybody interested should email to [email protected].

WEST Somerset Morris will be dancing at two locations on Thursday, July 2, the first being at the Hood Arms, in Kilve, at 8 pm, after which the dancers will be moving on to appear an hour later at the Haven holiday centre, in Doniford, at 9 pm.

A FUN walk along Minehead beach and toward the harbour, and a dog-themed bring and buy sale to raise money for The Cinnamon Trust is being held on Sunday, July 12.

The walk will start at 9.30 am from the Jubilee Café, The Esplanade, Minehead.

It will go along the beach toward the harbour and Culvercliffe, and then back to the Jubilee Café.

Everybody is welcome to join the event, with or without a dog, and walk as far, or as short a distance as they wish.

Breakfasts will be available at the Jubilee Café on returning from the walk, and the dog-themed bring and buy will be in the café from 9.30 am to 12 noon.

Anybody who is not able to join the walk can still go along for the breakfast and the bring and buy, which will be available throughout the morning.

The Cinnamon Trust is the only national charity for the elderly and terminally ill and their pets, and information will be available all morning for people to learn more about the trust and how the charity works.

Any dog related items people want to donate to raise money for The Cinnamon Trust charity will be gratefully received and arrangements should be made by calling Karen on 07896 259462.

Previous walks and dog-themed bring and buys have contributed toward the purchase of a generator at one of the two Cinnamon Sanctuaries, and a special grooming table tailored to elderly cats and dogs in their care.