A NUMBER of groups in Ilminster are jumping for joy after receiving a cash boost.

The Gooch Trust awarded £500 to the Ilminster Brownies to cover travelling costs, £200 for the Warehouse Theatre towards the cost of improved stage lighting, and £3,000 was approved to assist the Sunny Isle Pre-Schoool group in adding new heating and air conditioning equipment to their Greenfylde School site premises.

The group also agreed to support the staff costs of the Somerset Streetspace project and committed to a further three- years programme supporting Vaughan Lee House Care Home with an increased grant of £4,000 towards the mini bus annual running costs.

Mrs Heather Virgin, chairman of the Gooch Trust, said: “We’re very pleased to be contributing to this variety of Ilminster projects at the present time.

“My father, the late Archie Gooch, who created the Trust in 1998, would have been delighted that the trust is broadening its support to the Ilminster community and making such a difference.

“I’m particularly pleased that this is one way his name will continue to be associated with the town which he worked for and loved since arriving during the war.”

To apply for funding, call Marion Ward on 01460-52214 or email goochtrust@googlemail.com