CHARITIES and organisations in Bridgwater could benefit from the annual Bridgwater Carnival by attending a drop-in session this weekend.

Bridgwater Carnival's open day on Sunday, July 28, will take place between 11am and 3pm at the Carnival Centre on Bridgwater High Street.

Jonathan Walter, Bridgwater Carnival’s collection officer, said: “Helping local charities and organisations to boost their funds has always been an integral part of our carnival activities, and every year we need over 1,000 volunteers to help us on carnival day.

“There are a number of roles we need volunteers to fill, including collectors, programme and souvenir sellers, car park attendants, marshals, grandstand stewards, announcers, drivers, and traffic management assistants, and at the open day we can talk through how these fundraising and volunteering activities work for mutual benefit with interested charities and community groups.”

For more information on the available fundraising and volunteering opportunities, drop into the carnival centre during the open day, or contact Jonathan on collection@bridgwatercarnival.org.uk or call 07808 988182.

Any charitable group or community organisation (including sports clubs and Parent Teacher Associations) will be considered and in return, arrangements can be made for a share of the collection or a donation to be made to the group.

Jonathan, who is in his third year as collection officer for the carnival committee, added: “There is always a variety of fundraising opportunities available, and the more help and support we receive the more money we raise for good causes, and I really do hope we see some new groups involved with this year’s carnival."

Between 1982 and 2023, £892,584 has been collected at Bridgwater Carnival and shared between the official Bridgwater Carnival charity and its charity partners, and in the past two years, approximately £65,000 has been donated to good causes and local charities as a result of carnival related activities