CHARD’S greatest groups and volunteers have been recognised at the town’s annual parish meeting.

Grants were awarded to organisations including Towards Tomorrow Together (Little Daffodils), 2381 Ilminster training corps, Manor Court scouts, CLOKS, The Project, Eclipse Juniors, and Street Space.

Awards were presented to five residents for outstanding service to the town.

Maria Farey was awarded for founding and running Chard Local Kids Society, and Dick and Nora Arnold were called “remarkable individuals” for voluntary work including with Chard Hospital’s League of Friends and the Methodist Church.

Tony Prior was recognised for 35 years of voluntary work, while Arthur Helbert was given a standing ovation after more than 50 years with the Royal British Legion.

Cheques were also given to the mayor’s charities, Chard First Responders and Chard Hospital’s League of Friends.

Nora Arnold, the chairman of the League of Friends of the Hospital, said: “The League of Friends of Chard hospital is a registered charity, which over the years has raised large funds to pay for items at the hospital which are not available under the NHS, and which improve the stay and visits of patients, and help the staff in their work.

"Examples are the Reminiscence Therapy Unit, a Hydraulic Lift Walker, a Hi and Lo Bed, an Alternating Pressure Mattress, High Back Chairs, a portable Bioscan Cubascan700 Bladder Scanner, TVs and DVDs, down to gifts for patients at Christmas.

"Some of these medical items can cost several thousand pounds, and Matron always has a wish list.

"The small committee carry out many fund-raising events, such as the recent Music and Magic Evening and an earlier Antiques Call my Bluff. 

"They also have street and in-store collections as well as bag-packing in some of the local supermarkets. The League is also grateful to those who give donations, leave moneys in their wills, or nominate the League for gifts at funerals.

"Currently the League is desperate for a Minute Secretary to take the minutes at their meetings, which only happen every other month, normally at 2.30pm at the hospital.

If someone feels they could help in this way, please contact the me on 01297 678288. Further members for the committee are always welcome.

"Now it is confirmed that the hospital is NOT closing, the need for the League is even greater.

"We are so fortunate to have a hospital with beds, a minor injuries unit, day centre, and X-ray unit, and facilities for consultants to visit, saving patients having to travel to Taunton or beyond. The League has constantly lobbied for this."

Julie Scott, from Towards Tomorrow Togetehr's Chard branch, Little Daffodils, said: "A huge thank you for this. We are a pregnancy and infant loss support group for Chard.

"This is going to provide a session for GPs, florists and undertakers, and raise awareness. We are here and support anybody who has been through the loss of a baby through infancy.

"We applied for the local community fund, to enable Little Daffodils through Towards Tomorrow Together to provide a service locally for people who have experienced the loss of a baby during and after pregnancy.

"We were very thrilled with the offer of this fund and the amount in which we have received.

"It will go towards much needed awareness raising for the charity, the group and of course to break the taboo barrier that is baby loss.

"There were other community groups there too to receive funds, for their groups, it was nice to hear of other organisations which may not always get the awareness."

Anna Smith, co-ordinator for Chard First Responders, said: “We rely on volunteers who give up their time and stay in your town. We all know the importance of getting care to someone as soon as we can.

"We are trying to get our car back on the road. We think it will cost about £900 just to insure the car for the year. It has been off the road for a few years now.

"With a heart attack, we try to get there within three minutes. You need somebody there within three to four minutes to be effective."

Michael Jones-Tovey, of Manor Court Scouts, said: “We are going to use this money to refurbish the floor in our headquarters. This will keep it available to use for at least another 10 years.

"There are children aged six to 15 from the scouts but there are other groups that use it too.

“There are more than 100 kids that use they hut and they will all benefit from this.

"We have done fundraisers but this is the last bit we needed."