Wedmore Real Ale Festival (full story – pictures) celebrated another record year of ale drinking and fundraising on Saturday night, with the organisers pouring out £20,000 in donations to local worthy causes.
Some 16 organisations were handed cheques at the annual Presentation Evening at Wedmore Village Hall in Wedmore on the 2nd October 2021. The cheques were presented before 100 people made up of the successful beneficiaries, organisers past and present, volunteers and sponsors, who gathered to celebrate a fantastic comeback year for the 20th festival, which took place in the village over the weekend of 10-12th September.
This year’s fundraising was the most successful yet, surpassing 2019’s total of £19,000 and bringing the total amount of money raised for local causes over the festival’s 20-year history to a whopping £226,320.
The beneficiaries for 2021 include Children’s Hospice South West, Weston Hospicecare, Weston-Super-Mare Samaritans, Somewhere House (Somerset) Limited, Wedmore First School PTA and Wedmore & Axbridge Community Health Fund.
‘We are delighted that the festival was so successful that we can give away £20,000 on the 20th anniversary of the festival,’ said James Turbitt, a WRAF committee member. ‘It was especially gratifying after having to postpone our 20th festival by a year due to the pandemic. Everyone welcomed the return of the festival with open arms, helping make it one of the largest local social events in Wedmore. We’ve had some great feedback from our guests on the new site, the food stalls and the Ginjar gin bar.’
James added: ‘Deciding on where and how much to donate is a difficult decision and one the committee takes very seriously, as there are so many worthy causes. Giving out the cheques makes all the hard work in running the festival more than worthwhile.
‘This fundraising feat would not be possible without our sponsors and our committed and enthusiastic team of volunteers who help bolster the organising committee to keep the festival running smoothly: those 6,500 pints and 246 wine and prosecco bottles don’t pour themselves!’
The complete list of 2021beneficiaries:
Wedmore in Bloom £350.00
Let’s Make Wedmore Sparkle £400.00
Green Wedmore £400.00
Holy Trinity Church Blackford £400.00
Wedmore Scout Group £450.00
Wedmore Tuesday Club £500.00
Blackford Village Hall £700.00
Weston-Super-Mare Samaritans £850.00
Weston Hospicecare £1,000.00
Wedmore First School Academy & Nursery £1,000.00
Isle Of Wedmore Junior Football Club £1,000.00
Hugh Sexey C of E Middle School £1,000.00
Children’s Hospice South West £2,500.00
Wedmore School PTA £2,750.00
Somewhere House (Somerset) Limited £2,950.00
Wedmore & Axbridge Community Health Fund £3,000.00
The donation to Wedmore PTA includes their £750 share of the takings from the festival raffle, which they helped to run and generate a record breaking £2,025 worth of takings.
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For further information please contact Alan Page: 07799 473316 / alan@urbanplanters.co.uk
Please attribute photographs to – Dae Sasitorn