CHARD based mental health charity WATCH CIO has been shortlisted as Charity of the Year for the Somerset Business Awards 2026.
WATCH CIO is one of just six charities across the county to have been shortlisted for the category, which is sponsored by law firm Clarke Willmott.
It is the second time WATCH CIO has been shortlisted for an award in four months; in September, it was Highly Commended at the BBC’s Make a Difference Awards ceremony.
The Somerset Business Awards are organised annually by Somerset Chamber of Commerce and 2026 will be the 21st year of the county-wide awards. The final ceremony is set to be held in March 2026.
Julie Matthews BEM, CEO of Watch CIO, said: “It’s really wonderful that our charity, which was started as a small project back in 2007, has been recognised by the prestigious Somerset Business Awards. It means a great deal to our staff, members and volunteers to be shortlisted for Charity of the Year, recognising the hard work we do in Chard and the wider county.”
She continued: “It’s especially nice for the town and community of Chard too, which continues to be integral to our story. Our passion is about helping isolated adults in Somerset through peer support and to help people to improve their mental health and wellbeing, and Chard is central to this.”
WATCH CIO supports some of the most isolated in Somerset, including lone parents, migrant workers, members of the LGBTQ+ community, disabled people and many more diverse groups.
To find out more about the charity, visit www.watchproject.org.uk or telephone 01460 712119.
