AN INNOVATIVE community scheme in Watchet is seeing people learn new practical skills and making much-needed improvements in the town.

The Watchet Community Makers recently began work on a two-month project at Watchet’s scout hut, creating a large scale, built-in storage solution on request of Simon Bale, the scout leader.

The group aim to share and increase skills and enable community groups to develop at a low cost.

Following the scout hut, the makers plan to repaint the Watchet Community Centre.

The group also recently finished building a series of large wooden benches for Knights Templar School, so children can enjoy a quieter, restful time during breaks.

Community maker, Sarah Ward said: “I have found the group very welcoming and easy going, and it’s been great to see how much can be achieved in a short space of time.

"I’m looking forward to all the new and exciting projects planned for the warmer months when we can work outside.”

Watchet Community Makers meet twice weekly, on projects that are proposed by the community.

Its focus is on the built environment, covering areas such as construction, painting, plastering and carpentry.

The makers use monthly meetings to decide which projects to tackle, and in what order, with workshop sessions taking place on Thursdays (7-9pm) and Sundays (3-5pm) each week, in a community workspace at Harbour Studios on the East Quay.

An Onion Collective spokesperson said: "The scheme was initiated by social enterprise regeneration company, Onion Collective CIC, thanks to money raised by Healthfull, as a result of extensive research carried out in the town, asking its inhabitants what they felt Watchet needed for a stronger future.

"During this process, the community expressed a desire to make sure skills and trades were not lost and would be able to be passed to other people."

If you are a community organisation and have a project you would like to suggest for the town, or if you would like to join the team of makers, contact the Onion Collective on 01984 633496 / info@onioncollecive.co.uk.