The Axminster Care Service was set up as a charity 34 years ago, raising funds to help the people of Axminster and the surrounding parishes, and to fill the gaps where other funding is either not available or insufficient. 

Support has since been given to a wide selection of projects in the local area. In recent years, these have included funding of equipment for a disabled child; funding of household items for disadvantaged families; new laptops for the Job Club; Axminster Community Shed for their transition to portable tools; Flamingo Pool for a new hoist for the disabled, and many more.

The charity is mostly funded by its charity shop in South Street, managed by Amanda Walker and her team of volunteers. The remainder of funds are given by way of donations and bequests. 

Axminster Care Service (ACS) also has a comprehensive transport service, which provides transport to medical appointments, and for which passengers are asked for a small donation towards costs. 

The transport service is available to support those who are unable to drive themselves or use public transport. 

ACS is now very pleased to once again be able to support fellow Axminster charity Arc with funding. 

It has been instrumental in funding Arc since it was founded in 2007 by clinical lead psychotherapist Catherine Davies and GP Dr Barry McKenna, offering specialist mental health and trauma care to all their referred patients from Axminster Medical Practice. 

Arc's latest project will see the reinstatement of their clinical placements following disruption during the Covid-19 pandemic, offering training to the next generation of therapists. 

Axminster Care Service will fund the first year's academic cohort, which will increase the number of counselling hours by 700 hours.

Arc's impressive statistics speak for themselves, with more than 3,100 referrals delivering 30,000 hours of free counselling to patients; training more than 50 therapists, and clinically contributing to the specialist trauma care field. 

As founder Catherine Davies explains: "It is a vital part of Arc's commitment to therapy that we pass on our expertise to the next generation of therapists. 

"At Arc, we not only continue in making our local community a happier and healthier place, but the funding from ACS ensures that our legacy has longevity through training students."

For all enquiries to Axminster Care Service, contact the secretary on 01297 35550 or email [email protected]

To make a donation to Axminster Care Service, visit https://www.cafonline.org/my-personal-giving/start-giving/donate-now

For donations to Arc, visit https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/mentalhealthawarenessarc