Wells Community Network (WCN) has been awarded a £243,757 grant from the National Lottery's Reaching Communities programme, to be delivered over the next three years.

The organisation, which began life as the Wells Coronavirus Network at the start of the pandemic in March 2020, was formed by a small group of local volunteers responding to the unfolding health crisis. As the pandemic eased, the group continued its work under the new name, identifying longer-term unmet needs in the city.

The new funding will support the recruitment of a manager and administrative assistant, strengthening WCN's structure and enabling the expansion of key services. The move marks a shift from a volunteer-only model to one supported by core paid staff.

WCN says the grant represents a significant vote of confidence in its work and will help reduce the administrative burden on volunteers, allowing them to focus on direct community support while also addressing the risk of burnout.

The charity plans to expand services such as the Helpline, Welcome Hub, Trishaw rides, and Microprovider support, as well as grow its Neighbourhood Watch scheme and continue publishing its free fortnightly newsletter.

Expected annual impacts include 150 additional Helpline users, support for around 200 refugees through the Welcome Hub—many of whom are Ukrainian—and a 25% increase in Trishaw ride availability.

Future projects under consideration include the creation of a dedicated carers' hub to support isolated and stressed carers, and improvements to the provision of community transport in Wells.

In a statement, WCN said the funding had been "secured by Wells volunteers for the people of Wells" and described it as a sign of the National Lottery's trust in the city and its volunteer network.