A new fundraising campaign to purchase an accessible minibus for the Chard community has been launched by Watch CIO.
The Chard-based mental health charity is aiming to raise £30,000 to purchase the vehicle to plug a gap in transport provision in the local area and to raise funds for its maintenance and upkeep. The new minibus will be used to access outdoor activities, additional events, and nature recovery projects at farms on the Blackdown Hills.
A sizeable grant of £14,000 was recently awarded to WATCH CIO by the London-based philanthropic Clothworkers’ Foundation for the purchase of a minibus. The 500-year-old Clothworkers’ Foundation funds activities across the country, including capital and smaller grants.
A dedicated fundraising page has been established online at: www.zeffy.com/en-GB/donation-form/raise-funds-for-chard-watch-minibus or www.bit.ly/4cDGN34
CEO of WATCH CIO, Julie Matthews BEM, said: ‘We are excited to launch our fundraising campaign to purchase a minibus. It will enable our members to get out into nature and open up access for more opportunities.”
Julie continued: “Transport options in Chard, and especially the rural areas around the town, can be quite restrictive with limited public bus routes and no train provision in the town. It can lead to feelings of social isolation and loneliness, and our intention is to remedy this with a minibus, helping to reach communities and provide a much-needed service.”
WATCH CIO will work closely with the community and other charitable organisations to share the resources of the minibus once operational. Beneficiaries of the minibus could include disabled people, people with mental health challenges and neurodiversity, elderly people, migrant workers, single parents, young people aged 18 to 25, carers accessing respite, veterans and homeless people.
“We are on the lookout for a minibus in our local area and would like to support any garages or motor dealers who might be able to assist us with our purchase. We’d also like to hear from anyone who would like to be a volunteer minibus driver.”
To find out more, contact info@watchproject.org.uk
