News in Wells

Like many charities during the coronavirus pandemic, Somerset's five Citizens Advice services have had to change the way that they help local people.

More and more individuals and families are seeking advice over the telephone and email, on issues related to their finances or employment, through to consumer, relationship or housing problems.

The Mendip Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) Partnership have announced their Volunteer of the Year for 2020, choosing not just one volunteer but all 34 Volunteer Rangers collectively.

The award has always been given to an individual that has gone above and beyond the call of duty, but due to the extraordinary circumstances of 2020 it felt unfair to celebrate just one volunteer.

Thanks to more than 450 generous supporters across Somerset, the annual Surviving Winter appeal - which provides funding and support to our older neighbours in Wells who are struggling to heat their homes - is getting close to reaching its target of £120,000 this winter.

Surviving Winter, which is run by Somerset Community Foundation (SCF), encourages people who can afford to, to make a donation from their Winter Fuel Payment.

New year always brings hopes and resolutions, both more important than ever this year.

Like people of goodwill everywhere, members of Mendip Ramblers hope for a better year in 2021 for the whole world.

As of one minute past midnight today (Boxing Day) Wells, along with the rest of Somerset moved into the Very High Alert coronavirus restriction level.

This is Tier 3, involves tighter restrictions on travel and meeting up, and applies to all of Somerset, Bristol and Gloucestershire.

Extra funding has been made available to support Somerset's foodbanks which have been playing a vital role throughout the coronavirus pandemic.

In order to provide extra support this winter, grants of between £2,000 and £3,000 have been awarded to a number of foodbanks across the county, including Wells Foodbank, as part of Somerset's Food Resilience Programme.

It's nearly time for Santa and his nine gorgeous reindeer to begin their tour of the country.

He has a lot of presents for well-behaved children and grown ups in his sleigh!

We have all been there - forgotten some vital ingredient, or bottle of wine - and needing to make a last-minute dash down to a supermarket in Wells.

Check below for the Christmas and New Year opening times for Lidl, Morrisons, One Stop, Spar, Tesco and Waitrose in Wells.

Grants worth £4,500 have been awarded to three charities and community groups in the Wells area in the latest round of the Somerset Fund, managed by Somerset Community Foundation (SCF).

Horrington Cricket Club, Wells Community Shed and Wells Swimming Club have all received money in this phase of the fund's payouts.

The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport has now announced that 11 charities in the Wells constituency, including Heads Up at South Horrington, have received a combined total of more than £196,000 to help their crucial work continue, despite the challenges of the coronavirus pandemic.

Wells MP James Heappey has said this money will be a "lifeline" for these charities and those that they help.