Somerset winter coat exchange receives thousands of donations
The initiative is designed to support the community by providing access to warm coats for everyone, especially those who may struggle to afford them.Over the winter period 2,086 coats were taken by people in need, with left over items donated to local refugee charity Refugee Aid From Taunton (RAFT).RAFT supports displaced people locally and further afield.Ms Smith-Roberts said: "I just find it really heart-warming for people to come forward to donate items that they don't need.""The items are put on a coat stand and people can take them, no questions asked."She added: "By encouraging the reuse of coats, the initiative also helps to reduce waste."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Daily Mail
All's well that ends well! Jackson the labrador is saved from 18ft-deep hole by firefighters
A lucky Labrador was pulled to safety by hero firefighters after he fell 18 feet into a deep well. Jackson, 11, was found desperately swimming to stay afloat when fire crews from three stations raced to the scene in Middlezoy, near Bridgwater, Somerset, last Sunday morning. The exhausted dog had fallen into the water-filled shaft and was rapidly tiring when firefighters began pumping water out of the well to give him a fighting chance. Jackson was rapidly tiring from having to swim for his life when rescuers finally reached him. Fire crews from three stations rushed to help after the pooch plunged into the hole. He had to tread water while the fire teams pumped out water. Officers eventually lifted him out with ropes before reuniting him with his lifelong owners. A Taunton Fire Station spokesperson said: 'Jackson had been treading water for some time and was becoming tired. 'Firefighter Brown volunteered to enter the well and rescue Jackson. 'Crews acted swiftly and safely to reunite the 11-year-old Labrador with his owners. 'Using a mini ejector pump, gas monitor, battery-operated fan and rope rescue equipment. 'The family who have owned Jackson since he was seven weeks old, were very grateful to all involved.' Jackson's owner, Aymee Smith, thanked Taunton, Bridgwater and Street firefighters for rescuing her dog. She said: 'Massive thank you again, you were all amazing. He's had a hell of a day. He's spent the whole afternoon sleeping. I'm just thankful he's okay.'
BBC News
2 days ago
- BBC News
'Hugely loved' Langport pleasure boat sunk by vandals
A "hugely loved" community pleasure boat has been damaged and partially sunk by Duchess of Cocklemoor was targeted on Tuesday night while it was moored on the River Parrett in Langport in was thrown over the roof and the bilge pumps, which kept the boat afloat, were switched Ian McNab said the boat, which is powered by solar panels, had sustained "a lot of damage" with most of the electrics needing to be replaced. Avon and Somerset Police said it was investigating "a report of criminal damage" leading to the boat, a former ferry built in 1908, had only recently been restored and Mr McNab said the damage had led to cancellations."The batteries appear to be saveable but the solar chargers, all of that has to be replaced," he said."We had 12 ladies on their way down to travel on the boat, so I had to ring them up and cancel. They were enormously disappointed."He added that the local community had rallied around and the boat could be up and running again over the weekend."We have great volunteers who help run the run the thing and she's nearly back together. "Had she been in deeper water, I don't know how we would have done it."The wave of love and support that followed this unfortunate little incident is just extraordinary."
BBC News
3 days ago
- BBC News
Minehead: How community responded to fatal school bus crash
People who helped respond to a fatal school coach crash a week ago have praised the community spirit they witnessed Prince, a 10-year-old boy, died when a coach carrying pupils from Minehead Middle School in Somerset left the road near the village of Wheddon Cross and slid down a 20ft (6m) Thompson from Wheddon Cross was part of a team that supported families waiting at a nearby rest centre, providing hot drinks, food and a hub where information could be shared."I have to completely praise the police, the fire service, the ambulance service, the air ambulance - they are just amazing people; Musgrove Park sent nurses out. The whole community came together to help," she said. "It was a terrible day. The poor parents and children who will always remember I think this incident. You couldn't really forget it."People in the community do love those children more than anything in the world".She added: "The impact of this coach crash has pulled the community really together." While Ms Thompson's team gave immediate support to parents and children, a team of paramedics worked alongside them, triaging young with more serious injuries were taken to Musgrove Park Hospital and the Bristol Royal Infirmary, while those with minor injuries were taken to Minehead Community Hospital."Most staff offered to stay to help," said Hannah Coleman, the service lead for community urgent care, Somerset NHS Foundation Trust."There were quite a few patients with head injuries and cuts, some of them quite deep cuts from the rolling down the hill I would imagine."The children were very traumatised, very quiet."She added: It was really not like these children, who we know because we see them all the time when they come off their bikes and when they're poorly." Since the crash a week ago, local groups have raised tens of thousands of pounds, with planned events and crowdfunding appeals, and Somerset Council has given £50,000 to a Somerset Community Foundation Liberal Democrat MP for Tiverton & Minehead, Rachel Gilmour, has also written to the government asking for support for the families involved."It is my job to follow this up and see what I can get the government to do to help my community," she said."Somerset Community Foundation is also making sure children can get support over the summer holidays." 'Painstaking' forensics Local ward councillor, Mandy Chilcott (Cons) also says she was working towards getting in-school support for those & Somerset Police said it continued to investigate the site of the crash."The coach was recovered on Saturday 19 July and is now subject to a painstaking forensic examination by experts," read a statement."Our Serious Collision Investigation Team has examined the collision site, and specialist officers searched the area. This was challenging due to the steep slope, woodland and undergrowth.""Our thoughts are with the family and friends of Oliver Price, 10, and a dedicated family liaison officer is available to children and an adult remain in hospital.
