News

New dental practice in Crewkerne to open online portal and phone number for local people to express an interest in NHS dental care on 22 April 
 
A new NHS dentist is opening at Crewkerne Dental Care, 22 Market Street, Crewkerne, TA18 7LA – local people are being invited to express an interest in an NHS appointment there from this Wednesday, 22 April at 09.00.
 
Crewkerne Dental Care, commissioned by NHS Somerset and run by Dentistry For You, is due to start seeing patients later in May. The practice will be offering NHS dental care and is part of a commitment by NHS Somerset to expand NHS dental provision in Somerset, with a focus on areas where the need is greatest.
 
From Wednesday 22 April at 09.00, the practice will open a form on its websiteso patients can express an interest in an appointment at the practice. A phone number, for people who can’t access the internet, will also be available from the same time and date on 07578 694 668. The practice is not yet open to patients and will not be accepting in-person expressions of interest at the premises.
 
Once the Practice has allocated initial slots, it will put expressions of interest on hold. The portal may be reopened in future months.
 
The Practice will then get in touch with patients to let them know when they might be able to have an NHS appointment. 
 
Demand is expected to be high and the available slots are expected to go quickly so local people in Crewkerne are encouraged to act quickly to express an interest.
 
The website address is: www.dentistryforyou.co.uk/find-a-practice/crewkerne-dental-care

Open Doors Steering Meeting November minutes

Bar 5, 6th November 2025

At meeting: Michael Fox (MF Chair); Kate Rew (KR Secretary);  Jess Wright (JW); Karen Rawlinson (KRa Treasurer); Chris Latham; Nigel Bell; Erin O’Donovan; Val Edmunds; Robbie Church (BAGN); Steph Tregillus; Kirsteen Catherwood  (KC Volunteer Coordinator) Christine King (CK)

Apologies: none

Volunteer Coordinator Report: KC Getting more products in kind (funds to buy additional products) ; limit donation to two items. Supporting Big Issue salesperson in town. Poundland (Connor) is supporting the Pantry. 

Food around 300kg of food this month. Lots of private donations – dog food, apples. Lot of people coming in to donate. Increase in number of families coming to collect food. Also elderly as winter approaches.

Good situation with volunteers.

Co-ordinator’s Report

Chop and Chat  – relaunch struggled – various challenges – venue, setup. JW feels not quite working. This Friday, Christmas outing to Bilby’s. Range of activities in pipeline lead up to Christmas. MF Ambulance service wants to visit C&C – confirm dates with JW

Repair Hub – 15 items have come in and 10 have been repaired. 2 donated to Fixy and impossible to fix 3 remaining ones. Additional 3 repairers this week, inc textiles and MF for bikes. Challenge is attracting repairers. CK asked about donations – encouraged. In initial stages , feeling the way. PAT testing ? £1-£5 per item.. This is still being discussed.

New Space: JW have long sought home for OD. Opportunity to share the shop at 2 West street with Fran and an artists co-op. Affordable at £325 per month so technically we get the keys in December but there will still be stuff to do. JW has put lot of funding applications to pay for the space, and awaiting outcome of these (mostly by Early Jan). Need separate meeting to discuss the detail. Advantages are that it’s a blank canvas – can run the repair hub, community fridge. Two funding bids for capital works. Heating.?!

NAME OF NEW SPACE?  To discuss ideas at December meeting.  

PLEASE PUT YOUR THINKING CAPS ON!!!

Suggestions Workshops, community fridge, repair hub

SOUP Low risk hygiene rating for the space. Name for the soup kitchen

Festive window: JW funding from Crewkerne TC won’t be available until the New Year. So proposing a reduced version on West Street. Can liaise with Creative Crewkerne, Bowhayes

KR Green Scythe Fair potential source of funding? JW hope that we could have a launch night to coincide with the model installation. KC says stepson may be able to print a banner

Fundraising

Waiting with Ark, Watch and Community Hub, for Reaching Communities bid for project coordinator funding –  will find out this month.

OTHERS: Awards for All for grant to get space up and running. Find out in December

Tesco donation slot

Somerset Community Foundation Winter support – £10,000 go to core costs.

SSE (School for Social Entrepreneurs) JW doing the course as CW not with us anymore.

Common Ground money towards capital, buildings. £8,500 which could go to heating, furniture etc. 

Community Giving end of November  potentially cover flooring.

ScrewFix – will pay towards building repairs and maintenance

Marketing E O’D not had any viral posts but continual stream, sharing links,  best post Repair Hub in Ireland. What works: resharing relevant, emotive stories. Taking photos, visuals. Eyecatching posters works well. Clear direct messaging, find sweet spot so people read info. Continue what services offering, new space etc.. Sthg that wld be really good a monthly roundup post. Repair Hub, Pantry, some sort of video post.

Board Meeting – first one held last month. Insurance now shows on the accounts and the accountant has passed them. KRa has amended some points and Safeguarding policies have been edited by JW’s friend who is an expert. New project coordinator will be the lead with KC as the deputy. KC said that there is an incident report book.

Christmas Drinks aim to have them in the new space on West Street

Date of next meeting 4th December
AOB KC wants to discuss donated items for those people who won’t receive anything (Bowhayes, Chubbs Lawn). Potentially promote this in Poundland window. Waitrose may get involved.