More than £76,000 has now been invested in Somerset communities through a charitable fund set up by global fashion brand Mulberry.

The Mulberry Somerset Community Fund was created in 2021 and is managed by Somerset Community Foundation.

Mulberry, founded in Chilcompton in 1971, established the fund to give back to the county where the business began.

So far, the fund has awarded more than £61,000 in grants to local groups.

A further £15,000 has gone to the Somerset Care Leavers Fund, which supports young people aged 18 to 25 as they move towards independence.

The latest boost came during Somerset Day month in May, when Mulberry chose Somerset Community Foundation as its charity partner for customer donations across its UK stores.

Customer donations raised another £2,320 for the fund, with half of the total matched through Adyen Giving.

One group to benefit is On Your Bike, a charity which helps people build confidence, learn new skills and access affordable transport through cycling.

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A £2,000 contribution from the Mulberry Somerset Community Fund is supporting a pilot project in Bridgwater, near The Willows, Mulberry's second UK factory.

The project provides low-cost refurbished bicycles and maintenance support to families who would otherwise be unable to access them.

Kristen Pye, philanthropy and marketing director at Somerset Community Foundation, said: "Mulberry is a fantastic example of a global business staying true to its Somerset roots.

"We were incredibly proud to be chosen as its charity partner during May, bringing Somerset communities to the attention of customers across the UK.

"Our local knowledge and strong relationships with charitable groups across the county allow us to help businesses like Mulberry give with purpose and strengthen their Environmental, Social and Governance goals while making a real difference to local communities here in Somerset."

Rosie Wollacott, head of group sustainability at Mulberry, said working with SCF helped the company connect with local organisations it may not otherwise have found.

She said: "The Fund has enabled us to give with purpose and strengthen our focus on projects that champion creativity, craft and mental health, while helping tackle wider challenges facing communities across Somerset."

Businesses interested in supporting local communities through SCF can find out more through Somerset Community Foundation.

Somerset Community Foundation is a grant-making charity which funds local charities, community groups and social enterprises.

It says it provides more than £4 million of funding to local groups every year.

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