MEMBERS who shop at the Co-op in West Somerset now have plenty of good causes to choose to support for the next year.

One per cent of what shoppers at the stores who are also members spend on the company’s selected products and services can go to whichever cause they choose.

The scheme is all part of the Co-op’s Local Community Fund, with organisations ranging from a primary school to a charity for the elderly.

Local organisations and the projects they are raising money for, under themes of wellbeing, spaces and skills are:

Wellbeing

* Age UK Somerset’s Ageing Well Service: To provide weekly activities to tackle loneliness and promote health and wellbeing of older people in Watchet. (£18.37 raised so far.)

* Crowcombe and Stogumber Primary and Pre-school PTA: A minibus to provide isolated rural children with transport to and from school, for after-school clubs and school outings. (£13.08.)

* West Somerset Railway Association Steam Rally: A community, family, fun event which aims to educate people about their agricultural and industrialised past. (£6.51.)

* Dulverton and District Young Peoples Project: To provide a variety of exciting and challenging activities for young people in Dulverton.

* Minehead Eye Youth and Community Centre: A Young People’s Health and Wellbeing Project, empowering and inspiring young people from diverse communities. (£7.50)

Spaces

* Steam Coast Trail: To build a new path that will link the Steam Coast Trail from Dunster Beach all the way to Blue Anchor. (£32.87.)

* Exmoor Beekeepers: To create a permanent apiary to teach beekeeping and give the public an understanding and awareness of bees. (£10.74.)

* Bishops Lydeard Scout Group (spaces): To fix the hut roof and buy gardening tools to improve the environment, attract more wildlife, and develop scouts’ skills. (£11.04.)

* Bishops Lydeard School Association: To develop a disused area of the school grounds into an outdoor learning and nature area at the school. (9.09.)

* Dulverton Model Railway: To update the electronics, hardware, software, acoustics, and decor of the railway, enabling the organisation to improve this community asset. (£6.60.)

* Rainbow RDA – Huish Champflower (spaces): To build a disabled toilet. (£29.05.)

Skills

* Regal Theatre Minehead: To create more sophisticated promotional material for the Regal Theatre and preserve it for the next generation. (£8.08.)

* 10Radio: To replace the radio mixer desk and ancillary items, to improve the experience for listeners and volunteer broadcasters. (£21.40.)

n Brushford Parish Hall – Let’s Get Cooking!: To extend its ‘Men Get Cooking’ courses to improve shopping and cooking skills, improve nutrition, and bring people together. (£2.29.)