WATCH CIO

WATCH CIO Charity supporting adults 18+ in Somerset through peer support, creativity & community connection.

Two Free Online Courses Starting Next Week - Still Time to Book Your Place!Looking to invest in your wellbeing, build co...
05/06/2026

Two Free Online Courses Starting Next Week - Still Time to Book Your Place!

Looking to invest in your wellbeing, build confidence, or use your lived experience to support others?

We are pleased to be offering two free online programmes this June for adults aged 18+.

Peer Worker Development Programme
Starts: 10 June 2026
Duration: 10 weeks
Time: 10.00am – 12.30pm (Online via Zoom)

This course is designed for people with lived experience of mental health challenges who would like to support others, and also for those already working or volunteering in peer support roles. Participants will develop practical peer support skills, learn how to reflect safely on their own experiences, and receive ongoing support throughout the programme.

Inner Blue Sky
Starts: 9 June 2026
Duration: 4 weeks
Time: 10.00am – 12.30pm (Online via Zoom)

This course is a gentle wellbeing journey focused on reconnecting with calm, confidence and clarity. Topics include understanding stress responses, building self-compassion, developing resilience, exploring personal growth and creating a positive vision for the future.

Both programmes are free to attend and delivered online, making them accessible wherever you are.

To find out more and register your interest:
Email: [email protected]
Call: 07907 506314

Many thanks to our wonderful volunteer, Sue Cunningham, who came in yesterday to do leaf printing with our members.Sue n...
05/06/2026

Many thanks to our wonderful volunteer, Sue Cunningham, who came in yesterday to do leaf printing with our members.

Sue not only brought along leaves and ferns of all shapes and sizes, but also provided frames that helped turn the finished pieces into something truly special.

Sue is incredibly creative and is always coming up with new ideas for members to enjoy at the art table. We are very grateful for everything she does.

This Volunteers’ Week, why not do something amazing and volunteer with us? Whether you have activities or crafts you'd like to share, would enjoy supporting our members on trips, or simply want to lend a listening ear, there are a wide range of opportunities available.

Find out more here: https://watchproject.org.uk/volunteer/

Many thanks to our volunteer, John Selley, for providing a wonderful Magic Lantern show yesterday.This fascinating form ...
05/06/2026

Many thanks to our volunteer, John Selley, for providing a wonderful Magic Lantern show yesterday.

This fascinating form of historical entertainment was often animated and accompanied by music. Long before the advent of film and photography, Magic Lantern shows captivated audiences and offered a unique glimpse into storytelling and visual entertainment of the time.

John has kindly agreed to present another show around Christmas, and we are all very much looking forward to it.

This Volunteers Week, come and do something amazing - volunteer with us! Whether you have activities and crafts you would like to share, you'd like to support us on trips with our members, or lend an ear, there are a wide range of opportunities available.

Find out more here: https://watchproject.org.uk/volunteer/

New! Launching tomorrow, WATCH CIO is pleased to offer a weekly Wellbeing Drop-In at the Hive Youth Centre in Chard.Whet...
03/06/2026

New! Launching tomorrow, WATCH CIO is pleased to offer a weekly Wellbeing Drop-In at the Hive Youth Centre in Chard.

Whether you're feeling lonely, isolated, anxious, stressed, or simply in need of some friendly company, you're welcome to come along for a relaxed and supportive morning.

Enjoy a free cuppa and a chat, meet others, explore ways to improve your wellbeing, and learn about local support and opportunities available to you.

There’s no booking and no referral needed. Just turn up and join us.

Every Thursday from 4 June 2026
9.30am – 11.00am
Hive Youth Centre, Essex Close, Chard TA20 1RH

At WATCH, we believe that with the right support, everyone can thrive. Our drop-in is a welcoming space where you can talk, connect, learn, and find encouragement from people who understand.

It's Volunteers Week and WATCH would like to say a HUGE thank you to all of our brilliant volunteers for sharing your ti...
01/06/2026

It's Volunteers Week and WATCH would like to say a HUGE thank you to all of our brilliant volunteers for sharing your time so freely, your talents and commitment to make a positive impact in our organisation and to the people and communities we support! From our volunteers at our Thursday project, and online on Pathways, to our Trustees... your support and dedication to Watch does not go unnoticed and we're busy handing out certificates of appreciation this week!

This Volunteers Week, come and do something amazing - volunteer with us! Whether you have activities and crafts you would like to share, you'd like to support us on trips with our members, or lend an ear, there are a wide range of opportunities available.

Find out more here: https://watchproject.org.uk/volunteer/

STOP PRESS! The next Inner Blue Sky course starts 9th June 10-12.30pm. Boost your emotional resilience with this 4-week...
20/05/2026

STOP PRESS! The next Inner Blue Sky course starts 9th June 10-12.30pm. Boost your emotional resilience with this 4-week wellbeing journey to reconnect with your self-acceptance and self-compassion reducing everyday stresses and strains of living.

The course is FREE but places are limited - contact [email protected] 🌞

This week, for Mental Health Awareness Week, the theme was “Action”, so we decided to get out and visit the breathtaking...
15/05/2026

This week, for Mental Health Awareness Week, the theme was “Action”, so we decided to get out and visit the breathtaking Chard Reservoir. The weather was kind to us, and staff, volunteers, and members all enjoyed meeting Ranger Hannah for a stroll and learning more about the reservoir.
We learned that the reservoir was built in 1842 to feed the Chard Canal and that, during WWII, it was known as the “Chard Lido”, where people could enjoy swimming and boating. Over the years it has changed ownership several times, and since being conveyed to South Somerset Council, it is now a managed nature reserve with a strong focus on wildlife conservation. Today, it is enjoyed by walkers, fishermen, and local visitors alike.

There are many different habitats around the reservoir, and the wildflower meadows are home to pignut, yarrow, orchids, red clover, and many buttercups. We visited a couple of ponds where we spotted baby newts and butterflies, and we also saw where they hope to create a natural fence line. We helped feed the birds with mealworms and suet balls, and there were even plastic bottles placed on strings to deter squirrels from stealing from the bird feeders. However, a video sent by Hannah afterwards showed that this was certainly no deterrent for one mischievous squirrel!

As one of the “Five Ways to Wellbeing” is to “take notice”, we downloaded an app to identify birds through their songs. We managed to identify wagtails, goldcrests, robins, wrens, chiffchaffs, and even the ducks — although perhaps that was because we bribed them with oats!
We finished our walk with a picnic by the river, a perfect spot to unwind and enjoy the many benefits that nature can bring to our mental health.


Last week we were fortunate to welcome Navigate back for a fun and insightful ‘Brand Challenge’ workshop. Nikki and Tina...
06/05/2026

Last week we were fortunate to welcome Navigate back for a fun and insightful ‘Brand Challenge’ workshop. Nikki and Tina brought along a great selection of goodies for everyone to taste, putting us to the test: could we tell the difference between supermarket own brands and the big names?
It turned out to be a real eye-opener! Many of us couldn’t spot the difference at all—and some even preferred the cheaper options.

The biggest surprise? The total saving came to £13.88 on that shop alone just by switching to own brands. Definitely food for thought!

Yesterday, our members teamed up with our funders, Abri, for a sunny community litter pick as part of the ‘Keep Britain ...
24/04/2026

Yesterday, our members teamed up with our funders, Abri, for a sunny community litter pick as part of the ‘Keep Britain Tidy’ campaign.

It was fantastic to see so many people getting involved, doing their bit to help keep our local area clean and welcoming. A big thank you to Abri for also providing lunch for our litter heroes—it was very much appreciated by everyone who took part!

We’re already looking forward to the next one. 🌱

Address

Chard

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 1pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 1pm
Thursday 9am - 1pm
Friday 9am - 1pm

Telephone

+441460712119

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