SOUP returned with a sellout success in Wells Cathedral - and money for four more good causes.

The afternoon began with eating disorders charity SWEDA, winners of the previous SOUP, sharing how they had used the money received to benefit vulnerable children and adults.

This grant-giving lunch used to have £700 to share. Now it has increased to £850 with the lion's share of the June audience's votes going to Wells Focus Counselling who went away with £500.

Lucia Chadwick from this charity based in South Street told how they support people suffering from isolation, grief, depression and other challenges.

One they had helped was an autistic 14-year-old boy who was not going to school and had run away from home. But they developed his interest in photography which changed his life. He is now happy and back at school.

The first of the four good causes to present was the Friends of Wells Cathedral Grand Organ Appeal whose David Morgan-Hewitt told the audience they still needed a third of the £3 million required to restore the organ which was at risk of imminent catastrophic failure.

Claire Sully spoke on behalf of Edric Hobbs, who was at a wedding. and will attempt to cycle the height of Mount Everest up and down the Old Bristol Road between Wells and Priddy to raise enough money to donate a defibrillator inside Wells Town Hall in memory of his Somerset Council colleague and Wells City Councillor Tony Robbins.

The final presenters onstage were John Crickett and Sue Isherwood from Westbury Footlights who are £1,000 short to bring The Handlebars, a group of talented young actors who tour England by bicycle every summer, to perform As You Like It in the village.

advertisement

SOUP host Paddy O'Hagan thanked the sponsors Cooper & Tanner, Fresh & Good for providing the SOUP and the Cathedral Virgers for setting up the tables.

This SOUP saw the introduction of four tickets paid for by the Bishop of Bath and Wells to invite voluntary groups that have never been to this innovative charity lunch and spread the word.

"SOUP is this extraordinary gathering that builds community and forges social capital, cohesion and resilience," said Bishop Michael.

It will return to the cathedral at 12.40pm on Saturday September 12.