Three good causes in Wells received a welcome cash boost when community-conscious Tesco colleagues handed out grants worth £3,000.

Burcott & District Riding for the Disabled was able to celebrate after receiving a cheque for £1,500, which will pay for new equipment and training for additional volunteers.

Another establishment to receive funding was St Cuthbert's C of E Academy. It was awarded £1,000 to develop the playground so that children's social and emotional wellbeing is enhanced by offering them a calming outdoor environment.

The third good cause to be awarded funds was Wells Theatre Festival. It received £500, which will be used to bring world-class contemporary theatre to rural Somerset and provide educational opportunities for local children.

The funding came from Tesco's Stronger Starts scheme, in partnership with the Groundwork charity, which supports many Somerset community projects and good causes, giving away thousands of pounds.

Helena Crowley, chair of Burcott & District RDA, said: "We're very grateful to Tesco for this essential funding. It will go towards helping our young people.

"During COVID we were unable to operate as normal, so we are now pushing hard to get new volunteers and clients back to full activity.

"Our aim is to provide therapeutic sessions which normally involve riding but also include spending time with our horses and ponies, getting to know them and learning about how to look after them.

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"Spending time with horses is proven to reduce anxiety, encourage interaction, increase self-esteem and facilitate the expression of feelings and emotions.

"In physical terms riders exercise over a hundred muscles a minute, without knowing it, making each trip to the stables an unwitting physiotherapy session."

Burcott & District RDA, based at Burcott Riding Centre near Wells, has been established for more than 30 years. Riders attend as individuals with a parent or carer, or within a group from their school.

Tracey Keating, Store Manager at Tesco Wells Superstore, said: "We're delighted that we can help groups and clubs in Somerset.

"Stronger Starts invites our customers to use their blue tokens to vote for local schemes they feel will benefit children and young people, and it's so good to see the impact that the funding makes."

Somerset shoppers can support local school and children's groups by dropping the Tesco blue token they receive at checkout into the relevant voting box as they leave the store.

For further information about Burcott & District RDA, go online at burcottrda.org.uk

To find out more about Stronger Starts, go to https://tescostrongerstarts.org.uk

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