THE County Gazette backed Albemarle Appeal this week received a £6,000 boost.

An unnamed trust has pledged £5,000 towards essential building work at the Taunton organisation, which works with people with mental health or learning difficulties.

And Oakwood Church, which holds its services in the charity's building in Albemarle Road, Taunton, has put £1,000 towards the project.

The cash will be used to upgrade the lift, add a disabled toilet and fire exit, window repairs, toilet facilities and a storeroom to ensure that its child care facilities meet OFSTED standards, re-siting the kitchen in the existing toilet block and re-locating the toilets centrally.

The Albemarle Centre's £150,000 appeal was featured in the County Gazette a fortnight ago, and will also involve fire protection and prevention work in its eight adjacent flats which provide individual living for vulnerable tenants.

Among readers who have already responded to the appeal are the Silver Birch Club, UNISON, and Mr and Mrs R.J. and A.G. Walsh.

Staff at four supermarkets expect to raise at least £500 with a five-a-side football tournament on Sunday, taking the running total to almost £7,000.

Shoppers in Woolworths can help push up the total on Saturday, June 28, when several fundraising events are taking place.

Among the fun from 10am to 4pm is face-painting, guess the weight of a cake and the name of a teddy, a white elephant store, a tombola, a treasure hunt and a lucky dip.

Future events include a barbecue in the Albemarle Centre garden, a competition to win a car from Taunton Flower Show on August 6-7 until the end of September, a fun day in French Weir, Taunton, on Saturday, August 30, an old time music concert and a panto performance of Dick Whittington at the Albemarle.

Mandy Sutton, who works at the Albemarle is appealing for a venue to carry out an abseil to raise more cash. Anyone who can help or is organising any fundraising events should contact us on 01823-365102.

Readers wishing to donate money to the appeal should send cheques made payable to 'The Albemarle Centre' to The Albemarle Appeal, Somerset County Gazette, St James Street, Taunton TA1 1JR.