AS part of our 170th anniversary celebrations, the County Gazette has launched a Community Fund to give a platform to the exceptional voluntary work which goes on throughout our community. We have been asking organisations to write in and tell us why they need fundraising support. We are featuring one group each week in the County Gazette, and this week its the turn of the Ruishton Ladies.

Ruishton Ladies RUISHTON Ladies are a small group of retired ladies who support the Neo Natal unit at Musgrove Park Hospital by knitting tiny articles of clothing and blankets for babies in the unit.

We also knit ventilation bonnets, which are essential to the work at the unit.

These bonnets are knitted in six sizes. Each bonnet has a small flap at the top which is held in place by two buttons.

When the doctor needs to examine a baby the flap is opened. Medical instruments can be used without having to remove the complete bonnet, thus avoiding the childs head losing body heat.

In our first year of knitting we were fortunate to receive wool from CSV. This has now been used up. Earlier this year, Hatchers donated some wool, which was a help.

However, we are now knitting from our own resources, which will surely reduce our output.

More funding support would ensure that we can maintain the hospitals needs for these very tiny people.

The Ruishton Ladies are proud to give our support to the staff and the parents.

For more information contact Jill Squier on 01823-442501.

ö To apply, e-mail communityfund@countygazette.co.uk or write to Community Fund, Somerset County Gazette, St James Street, Taunton TA1 1JR. Include 150 words about the cause and its fundraising need/s, with details of how readers can make donations.

Community Fund applicants: ö The Albemarle Centre ö The New Build Appeal, St Margaret's Hospice ö ESCAPE Support Group providing activities for disabled children and their families ö Mindline Somerset ö SAB C Somerset Association for the Blind ö Taunton Well Woman Centre ö Home-Start Taunton Deane ö Somerset Wildlife Trust ö 1st Wellington Scout Group ö East Somerset Railway ö Kingsmead School Society ö Chedzoy Pre-School ö HELP C Holiday Endeavour for Lone Parents ö St John Ambulance Taunton Combined Adult Division ö Somerset Cancer Care ö Victim Support Somerset ö The Open Door C Taunton's homeless charity ö North Town Primary School (new sensory room planned for special needs children) ö Norton Fitzwarren Village Hall Chair Appeal ö Norton Fitzwarren Pre- School ö Moon Bear Rescue (Quantocks based) ö Somerset Prostate Cancer Support Association ö Reminiscence Learning ö Conquest Centre ö Taunton Sea Cadets ö Pawlett Village Playgroup ö Taunton Vale Disability Club ö Wellington St John Ambulance ö Selworthy School ö BIBIC, Pawlett ö Carer Support Programme (CSP) helping parents who bring up/care for disabled children in the county ö Labrador Rescue Trust in Somerset ö Hemyock Pre-School ö Huish Woods Scout Camp Site C also the centenary year of Scouting ö Buckland St Mary Pre- School ö Taunton Beekeepers ö Holy Cross Church, Hillfarrance ö Taunton & District Mencap ö Taunton Womens Refuge ö Staplegrove Scout Group ö SASBAH Somerset Association for Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus ö Taunton Deane Association for Neighbourhood Care ö Taunton Opportunity Playgroup ö Ruishton Ladies C knitting ö Helens Rabbit and Guinea Pig Boarding and Rescue ö Taunton & District Citizens Advice Bureau ö Macmillan Cancer Support ö Somerset Wheelchair Sports Club ö Railway Runabouts ö SAVES Emergency Services