MORE than £1million has been dished out to voluntary groups in North Somerset. The North Somerset branch of Quartet, based at the Badger Centre in Wadham Street, Weston, was only set up in 2001 and has recently celebrated reaching the milestone. It is

MORE than £1million has been dished out to voluntary groups in North Somerset through a community foundation.

The North Somerset branch of Quartet, based at the Badger Centre in Wadham Street, Weston, was only set up in 2001 and is hoping to give out its next million in half the time.

The Quartet Community Foundation, which was originally known as the Greater Bristol Foundation, covers Bristol, Bath and North East Somerset, South Gloucestershire and North Somerset. It provides help for those wishing to donate money in their area and to groups looking for financial aid.

Quartet assistant director, Ronnie Brown, said: “We are a channelling service. We help donors to decide where they would like their money to go and then ensure it gets there.

“We then provide grants to groups we think could benefit, which could be considered quite small compared to the money given out by such organisations as the National Lottery.”

In the six years since being established, the North Somerset branch has distributed more than 500 grants to around 400 different community groups.

Ronnie said: “We particularly like to help smaller groups which only need smaller amounts of money to make a big difference to their work. That is why it is such an achievement to reach the £1million mark.”

One organisation to benefit is the Springboard Opportunity Group, which provides pre-school sessions in the area for children aged five and under.

Two grants from Quartet, totalling £19,000, have helped set up a family support service and play sessions for children with additional medical and learning needs.

North Somerset People First, which provides support to adults with learning difficulties, has also received grants from the foundation.

General manager Sue Hogarth said: “Quartet gave us a grant to buy an interactive whiteboard that we use in meetings.

“The board makes meetings more understandable to our members and allows them to be more involved.”

Portishead Jubilee Day Care Centre was granted nearly £1,000 to enable members to go on outings.

Centre treasurer, Brian Hickery, said: “The majority of our members are elderly, disabled or housebound. Without our centre they would not get out at all and with Quartet’s money we can keep running outings.”

For more information about Quartet visit www.quartetcf.org.uk