WATCH CIO

24/12/2025

WATCH would like to express our sincere thanks to everyone for all your peer support and encouragement throughout the past year (and beyond). We’re truly grateful for everything *you*, our members, volunteers, staff, trustees, and partners have done to keep us moving forward. You’re the reason we're still peer! 😊🎁❄️

Enjoy a well-deserved winter break, and we look forward to reconnecting in the New Year. 🎄✨🎉

(Please note: Our office will reopen on Monday the 5th January 2026 -- but we may be in the process of moving around that time, so please forgive any cardboard boxed delays?! 📆📦)

23/12/2025

Support this festive season

The holidays can be joyful — but they can also feel tough. Our partners Open Mental Health Network have created a Festive Wellbeing Kit with simple, practical support to help you (or someone you care about) through the winter months.

https://openmentalhealth.org.uk/festive-wellbeing-kit/

At WATCH, we’re proud to work alongside OMHN to keep connection and wellbeing at the heart of our communities.

Please share.

For some of us, the holiday season can be painful and overwhelming. Money worries, isolation, the anticipation of spending time with family, or the stress of preparing for all the festivities can be hard on our mental health.

22/12/2025

Mindline will be operating as normal throughout Christmas and the New Year for anyone that might need support.

Just a quick reminder of Mindline Somerset’s opening hours over the holidays — 24/7, available any time, day or night, seven days a week.

📞 Call us on 01823 276 892 or 0800 138 1692

Mental health support is here when you need it 💛

22/12/2025

Our thanks to the Chard and Ilminster Newsovering our story! Have a read below 👇

Chard based mental health charity WATCH CIO has been shortlisted as Charity of the Year for the Somerset Business Awards 2026.

19/12/2025

Our staff, volunteers and members are thrilled that we have been shortlisted for Charity of the Year! 👏

It’s great for our work and the community of Chard to be recognised. We are one of six charities in Somerset to make the shortlist.

Our thanks to for their work organising the awards.

Find out more about the awards here: https://watchproject.org.uk/charity-of-the-year-shortlist-for-watch-cio/

18/12/2025

Last weekend, several of our members braved the crowds of shoppers and took a daytrip to Exeter Cathedral and the Christmas Market. We sampled lots of street food, perused stalls selling hand-crafted stocking fillers and wandered the cathedral corridors. Everyone had a marvelous time and arrived home feeling well and truly in the Christmas spirit. ❄🎄🎅🏻🎄❄

17/12/2025

We still have a few spaces left for our FREE Self-Discovery workshop in Chard starting Monday, 12th January 2026 (for 8 weeks)!

Secure your place today by emailing courses@watchproject.co.uk or calling us on 01460 712119. ☎️✉️

(Please note: This event will take place at Chard CommuniTea Waffle and booking your seat is essential. 😊)

14/12/2025

🎄 Watch has a stand at the Gillingham Grange Christmas fair today, so if you are free pop on down from 11am- 3pm. 🎄

12/12/2025

WATCH's Thursday Project held it's annual Christmas Party yesterday!
We enjoyed a spot of festive line dancing, a line or two of bingo, some majorette baton twirling, a dazzling display of magic card tricks, a feast of Christmas party food and - what for many is always the highlight of these yearly gatherings - we heard from some of our members about what being a part of the Thursday Project means to them.

It was a fantastic day with amazing company. Thank you to everyone who came, but especially to our brilliant members and volunteers who pulled together to make it all happen. ⋆꙳·❅*🎄*❆·꙳⋆

11/12/2025

We have been shortlisted for the Somerset Business Awards 2026! 🎉

Watch CIO is thrilled to have been shortlisted in the Charity of the Year category 🫶

Our huge thanks to those who nominated us recognising the work we do in Chard and the wider Somerset area 🌳

10/12/2025

Last Friday, several of our intrepid members braved the downpours and made the journey to Folly Farmyard as part of our Conservation Community Action Group (CCAG). We were given a tour of the farm and discussed various tasks that we might be able to volunteer to help with in the new year.

Thanks to Jonathan for being a fantastic host. We look forward to spending more time together in 2026!

04/12/2025

Since late September, members of WATCH and ARK at Egwood have come together to form the Somerset Wellbeing Orchestra. Under the guidance of the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, they have been busy learning to play instruments and rehearsing songs.

On Tuesday of this week, all of their hard work and effort culminated in a wonderful live, festive performance. We were treated to rousing renditions of Last Christmas, Hit the Road Jack, Dreams and more. We particularly enjoyed the traditional African music!

Well done to everyone who took part, especially those brave enough to sing solo! You were all amazing!

Huge thanks to our friends at the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra for orchestrating it all!