Peals of applause filled Wells' Connect Centre as a full house showed their heartfelt appreciation for five good causes.

The occasion was Saturday's SOUP!, a quarterly grant-giving lunch organised by Wells Independents.

First good cause on the stage was the Strawberry Line greenway whose volunteer coordinator Richard Jones explained to the 85-strong audience how they had spent the money they won at the previous SOUP!

Some went on putting a large boulder and a locked gate at Dulcote following a vandal attack. The rest on tools.

Richard added that they hoped to open a new one-mile section from Charlie Bigham's past the recycling centre later this year.

Next was Nicki Hall of the Wells Trishaw project, the first of Saturday's presenters, who explained it takes anyone who is isolated or has difficulty getting out a free ride around the city. The trishaw costs £2,000 a year in maintenance, insurance and other costs but there's a need for a second one.

Nicki was followed by Ian and Ruth Ames-White of Wells in Mosaic who said it will be a unique six-metre walkable map of Wells' historic centre. The mosaic will last for hundreds of years and they need money for the last stages of construction and then installation. It will comprise 750,000 little pieces of mosaic all placed by Ruth.

Next to clamber on the stage was Edgar Phillips who explained that improving mental health was the cornerstone of what he does with his free Art Experience Days. They provide a safe and reassuring environment in his Portway Annexe studio where people work with him to create their own piece of stained glass art and take it home.

The final presenter was 15-year-old Sergeant Iris Marshall from Wells Air Cadets who told how they give young people a sense of responsibility and build their confidence with simulated flights on the ground. "If you can fly a plane what can't you do?" she asked. The 35 cadets also help with the Moat Boat Race and other community events.

Then the audience voted on which good cause was most in need of money. It was close-run and Art Experience Days received most but the other three also went away with money and a raised profile.

The compere Paddy O'Hagan thanked Martin Bowe of Wells Business Centre for match-funding this SOUP!, the Blue School for making the two choices of soup, Tesco for donating ingredients after Waitrose said they couldn't, Burns the Bread for the rolls, Morrisons for the white wine, beer and soft drinks, the Bishop's Eye for the red wine and Karen Young for making the beautiful flower arrangements on the tables.

A rousing ovation followed for Ross Young who organises SOUP! on behalf of Wells Independents, and then another for Kean White who is leaving his role as head chef of the Connect Centre, for all his support over the years. 

·      The next Wells SOUP! will be in the Connect Centre on Saturday April 6 from 1pm.