Meeting Minutes April 2026

1.     Welcome and Apologies – Emily, Anthony, Gail

2.     Updates on Actions:

Water butts – Village Hall water butt has now been installed but needs tap fitting. Still awaiting money from WCPC – Action: SM to chase again.

Cheddar – LB has received the application form for Heart of Cheddar Charity Shop nominated charity for Quarter 3 (July). Copy attached. Action: All would anyone like to take this forward?  

Movie night, next meeting 13^th May at Masonic Hall – National Emergency Briefing.

Nationwide project. 50 min documentary, with discussion after. Parish Council, our two Somerset Councillors (Harry Munt and Matt Martin) invited, Tessa Munt MP will be in London but her Office Manager, Emma has been invited.

Swift boxes – Mens Shed currently making. 6 locations found. Install planned in May.

Solar 1000 - MSC map and data has been supplied although doesn’t provide the information needed. Action: Emily to ask MSC for more detail

Green Wedmore Solar Challenge 1000 Summary	Apr-26
Enquiries from and sent info to*	273
Installations booked in or not completed yet	5
KW booked in for Installation*	808.41
KW already installed*	784.33
Installations complete*	116
Installations carried out by other company or closed for other reason*	33
* cumulative figures

No change from previous month, the 5 current installs are still being completed.

Church Solar Update - David Eccles taking over for this project, bringing lots of new energy. The project needs to be approved by diocese before planning.  

3.     Treasurer Report:

Summary report 2 March – 1 April 2026

Details	Income	Expenditure
Wedmore in Bloom, water butts		£1657.92	£1657.92
Donations
Private	£10		£10
Total	£10.00	£1657.92	£1647.92
Opening Balance			£4186.78
Closing Balance			£2538.86
Net Income			£1647.92

Allocations

`            Butterfly Corridor       £75.40

               Unallocated                   £2463.46

               Grand Total                     £2538.78

4.     Woodland maintenance – PC formally taken back management of Worthington Woods (WW) and Terry’s Community Woodland, apparently since last Autumn. We remain responsible for managing the non-PC owned part of Terrys Wood (the newer woodland area and orchard). PC’s contractor have cut back brambles drastically and in nesting season at WW, removed insect friendly log piles and destroyed a hedgehog box. Relationship very difficult, and there has been a lot of upset - not aligned in thinking. Action – SM to alter website and signage etc

5.     Upcoming events:

            Sat 11th April - Repair Café, all café slots filled, plenty of cakes.

Sun 26th April - Freecycle, 10am Village Car Park

Wed 13th May Movie event, Masonic Hall 7:30pm

6.     AOB

King’s Garden Party – SM & LB attending 6 May.

Award – Tuesday 26^th May? Wedmore Village Farm? Action VBH to speak to Jason. SM to chase Lord Lieutenants office to confirm date and time.

Save Wedmore Lives Campaign - Sue Rippon – PC formally agreed at Highways committee to prepare parish wide road safety strategy. Main thrust seems to be community speed watch. SR reports that the speedwatch website shows graphs with very little change in behaviour. SIDS purchased 5 at around £5k each. Data hadn’t been downloaded. They are now going to download data. SR encouraged everyone to sign up to https://savewedmorelives.org.uk/ as a supporter. Email your support of 20 mph campaign to PC clerk@wedmore-pc.gov.uk with copy to info@savewedmorelives or go along and speak at a PC meeting as a member of the public.

Vanessa launched project – River Brue & Axe Rivers, Nature Mapping https://www.somerseteelrecoveryproject.co.uk/data-mapping. Documentary on BBC world Service covering eel trafficking – watch here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GIoOXtFEuxc and good article Radio 4 food programme https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m002lfhd Work on Gold Corner ref more eel friendly pumps. Work ongoing for Eel management plan for Somerset which will be shared as a model for other areas.

Vanessa wanted a say big thank you to everyone who has ever helped at Worthington Woods to be formally recorded. So many people have put in their time and expertise over the years.

Mike Rippon reported that the air source heat pump at Village Hall has performed brilliantly over winter. Energy costs have decreased massively.

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Heart of Cheddar Grant Application Form

Thank you for applying for a grant from Heart of Cheddar. We are a small local charity that uses profits from our shop in Cheddar to support initiatives that strengthen our community. All projects must primarily benefit residents of Cheddar and the surrounding area.

Please answer all questions as fully as you can. Incomplete applications may not be considered.

Section 1: About You / Your Organisation

1. Full name of individual or organisation applying:

2. Name of main contact person:

3. Contact email address:

4. Contact phone number:

5. Full address (including postcode):

6. If you are an organisation:

   • What type of organisation are you? (e.g. registered charity, CIO, community interest company, voluntary group, school/PTA, etc.)

6. Charity or company registration number (if applicable):

6. Do you have a constitution/governing document? (Yes/No – please attach if yes)

7. Are you applying as an individual or on behalf of a group/organisation?

Section 2: About Your Project or Request

8. Project / Initiative title (short and clear):

9. In one or two sentences, what are you asking us to fund? (the “elevator pitch”)

10. What is the main purpose of the project? What problem or need in the Cheddar community are you addressing?

11. How does this project align with Heart of Cheddar’s mission to support local initiatives, build community resilience, create connection, and help people thrive in Cheddar?

Section 3: Who Will Benefit?

12. Who is the project for? (e.g. children & young people, older residents, families, people facing hardship, specific groups, the whole community, etc.)

13. Approximately how many people in the Cheddar area will directly benefit?

14. Will the project reach any particularly vulnerable or underrepresented groups? If yes, please describe.

Section 4: Project Details & Timeline

15. When will the project start and finish? (or is it ongoing?)

16. What are the key activities and milestones?

17. How will you deliver the project? (Who will run it? Do you have the people, skills, or partners needed?)

Section 6: Budget Breakdown

23. Please provide a simple breakdown of costs (you can attach a separate budget sheet if you prefer):

Item	Cost (£)
(e.g. Hall hire)
(e.g. Materials/equipment)
(e.g. Volunteer expenses)
Total

Section 7: Impact & Sustainability

24. What difference will this project make? What outcomes or changes do you expect to see?

25. How will you measure and report on the success of the project? (e.g. number of attendees, feedback forms, photos, simple report)

26. What will happen after the grant ends? How will the benefits continue, or the project be sustained?

Section 8: Additional Information & Declaration

27. Is there anything else you would like us to know? (e.g. previous similar work, quotes from beneficiaries, photos of the need, partner letters)

28. Please attach any supporting documents (e.g. budget, quotes, photos, governing document, recent accounts if applicable).

Declaration I confirm that the information provided is true and accurate to the best of my knowledge. I understand that Heart of Cheddar may contact me for further information and that funding is not guaranteed.

Name: ______________________________ Date: ______________________________

Once completed please email to hello@heartofcheddar.org