STAFF at an award-winning farm shop in Somerset have this month (February 2021) chosen to continue supporting a charity based near Taunton for another year.
Rumwell Farm Shop is extending its support for Conquest Centre into 2021, as they were unable to do their planned fundraising for the charity in 2020.
Anne Mitchell, Joint Owner of the farm shop, which is located on the A38 between Taunton and Wellington, said: “We’re delighted to be able to offer our continued support for Conquest Centre. We selected the charity at the start of 2020 and had various plans for fundraising events to help support it last year. Covid unfortunately meant we were unable to fundraise in the way we would have wished, so it will now be our chosen charity of the year for 2021.
“Conquest Centre is dedicated to providing a range of horse-based activities for adults and children with a wide range of additional or complex needs. It is currently closed due to Covid and has lost all its income, but they are in need of funds to help keep their horses fed and healthy until they can re-open again when the lockdown is eased.
“Throughout the year we’ll be raising awareness of the wonderful work the charity does and donating 10p from every bag of jazzies sold. To add to this, we will also donate the proceeds from all our 5p carrier bags sold in 2021. We will add all this to any money raised in 2020 via the fundraiser, plus, we’ll be hoping to host some fundraising events later in the year, restrictions permitting. We hope to raise at least £2,000 for the charity in 2021.”
Conquest Centre’s mission is: ‘To provide therapeutic support involving equines, small animals and the environment to enable each individual to thrive.’ All activities are delivered by qualified instructors with specialist expertise in working with people with additional physical and behavioural or emotional needs, and are supported by a team of specially trained volunteers.
Core activities include riding, horse and small animal care, Thrive Approach Therapy and sensory work, all provided in either group or private sessions as appropriate.
Jess Dixon, Centre Manager for Conquest Centre said: “We are so delighted to be supported by Rumwell Farmshop again this year, it has been a difficult year for everyone, so their generous support is gratefully received.”
Rumwell Farm Shop is an independent, family-run, award-winning business owned by the Mitchell family. It was originally a potato store, when David and Anne Mitchell began selling their potatoes and free-range eggs at the gate.
Due to customer demand, the range of products soon increased, and the farm shop grew into the place it is today. David and Anne’s sons, James and Jack, are now also involved in the business, as well as daughters-in-law Sophie and Donna.
Rumwell Farm Shop, which is an essential food retailer during the lockdown, has a traditional butchery counter selling free-range pork and Rumwell Angus beef reared just four miles away on the family farm. There is also a delicatessen, bakery, jam kitchen, food hall, wine cellar and gift room.
Home grown potatoes are also still available, when in season, as well as everything from fruit, vegetables and groceries to plants, flowers, gifts and cards.
The Rumwell Café, which is currently closed for the lockdown, can seat approximately 80 people. The food prepared in the café kitchen is sourced from the farm shop, the Mitchell family farm and regional suppliers.
Families are welcome to the café when it is open and there is a menu especially for children. The cafe also serves afternoon teas, carvery on a Sunday and is licensed to sell alcoholic beverages.
For more information, please call Rumwell Farm Shop, which is located in Rumwell between Taunton and Wellington, on 01823 461599 or visit www.rumwellfarmshop.com.
