Warminster Youth Club
WHAT an incredible year we’ve had. We launched our dedicated SEN youth club session running alongside our regular Thursday session during term time.
Alongside this, we have delivered 50 weeks of detached youth work working with some of the most vulnerable young people.
We started our young person referral service taking referrals from the police when they become concerned for a young person offering one to one support in school. We expanded our service to working with over 30 young people one to one in school offering mentoring and specialist support with amazing results.
2025 was the year we launched the Inspire Youth Awards where we were overwhelmed by the community support and the truly inspiring young people and adults who were nominated.
In our first year, we awarded 12 awards and had over 50 nominations. All this incredible work amounted to working with over 200 young people offering one to one intervention to over 70 young people, helping every young person we work with the virtual support they may otherwise be missing.
Looking ahead to 2026, we will hold the second Inspire Youth Awards hoping to make it bigger and better. We will continue to run our SEN session with the support and funding from Warminster area board. We will continue to work with schools across the town helping those young people identified through other agencies.
We are hoping to work alongside the young people to build and design a soap box for the 2026 soapbox derby. We have been very fortunate to be allocated funding to run more music sessions at All Instruments. We will continue to deliver detached all year round in all weathers come rain or shine.
Most of all, we will continue to work with the incredible young people that we do and make a difference.
Beyond Dementia
This year marks an exciting new chapter for our charity as we move forward with a new name: Beyond Dementia (formerly Alzheimer’s Support).
After more than three decades of supporting people living with dementia, the name reflects something we’ve always believed – that people are more than just a diagnosis and with the right support, life with dementia can still be full of meaning and good moments. Our rebrand isn’t just a new look; it’s a reminder of the values that have guided us from the very start.
One of the highlights of 2025 was the launch of a new Memory Group at Christ Church in Warminster. The group has quickly become a popular space for creativity, companionship and connection, thanks to the enthusiasm of our members, volunteers and the wider community. We’re excited to see it evolve further in the coming year.
The Old Silk Works day club has also had a great year, continuing to be a place where people living with dementia come together to enjoy activities, build friendships and feel supported. And of course, no year would be complete without the club’s much-loved Christmas pantomime, which once again brought lots of laughter and festive fun.
Throughout 2025, our staff, volunteers and community have given their time and energy to help more people living with dementia than ever before. We’re incredibly grateful to everyone who has supported us this year and look forward to 2026 with positivity.
To find out more about our services, please visit www.beyonddementia.org.uk.
The Athenæum
After another sell-out pantomime season, it’s time to reflect on some of the successes of the year, and also to highlight the ongoing need for support from volunteers to maintain this fabulous town venue for 2026.
The Athenaeum faced a number of challenges last year, but the team have also been working hard on grant applications allowing several high-value projects to be undertaken that otherwise would not have been possible.
Firstly, Warminster Town Council stepped in with some emergency funding to repair the studio’s storm-damaged roof, home to Centre Stage Perform, which was then augmented with a CIL (Community Infrastructure Levy) grant to upgrade some old and failing stage-tech, including a new lighting desk, replacement microphones/audio equipment plus some infrastructure upgrades.
A detailed energy assessment and application via the Department of Culture, Media and Sport led to successful funding for energy efficiency upgrades. Being a grade-II listed building, there are limitations on what could be achieved, however, more than £100k has been invested in additional roof insulation, secondary glazing and energy-efficient lighting.
Over the last year, we have completed a full conversion of our lighting rig to 100% LED. It’s a privilege that very few venues, let alone a venue of our size, are able to have. This, in combination with other upgrades, has made us one of the most technologically advanced theatres in the South West.
The LED stage lighting has also significantly reduced our energy consumption; we now use an average of 70% less electricity per show than we used to use, whilst vastly increasing our capabilities.
Safety and accessibility has also been improved, with LED step lighting installed in the stalls, and converting the front row to removeable seating which gives getter options for extending the stage as well as accommodating wheelchair users. A new access control system, together with CCTV, has also been implemented, increasing security for both volunteers and user-groups.
Friends of Warminster Hospital (FOWH)
It might be useful to know a little bit about the history of Warminster Community Hospital (WCR).
It all started way back in 1866 when the then Marquess of Bath granted land in Portway for a cottage hospital staffed by one doctor and two nurses. It soon became apparent that more space was needed, so in 1929, the Marquess of Bath donated further ground closer to the Hospital for the princely sum of £14,000. In 1948, the NHS was created, and the majority of cottage hospitals were due for closure, but all credit to the people of Warminster as they saved the hospital.
In 1967, the Outpatients’ Department was inaugurated together with two new wards and a purpose-built Physiotherapy Department. From 1993 to 1996 there were several further attempts to close WCR – however, with the lead of the FOWH, Warminster’s hospital was saved. In 2021, £3.5 million was spent on moving the Longleat Ward to the ground floor and FOWH provided new furniture. FOWH has also been responsible for creating wall murals and hanging pictures, generously donated by many local artists.
Moving forward, a number of purchases by FOWH are in process, including leg exercise equipment, several large screen televisions and craft therapy weights. Also provided are clay art lessons and practice steps for patients returning home.
The aim of the FOWH charity is to promote, support and enable the provision of services to patients within Warminster and the surrounding villages, as well as encouraging the recruitment of volunteers. In addition to the Longleat Ward, the hospital offers outpatient services, which can only be accessed by referral from local GPs.
For further information visit www.fowh.org or email fowh@gmail.com
Warminster Cricket Club
The 2025 season has been one of the most successful in recent memory for Warminster Cricket Club, with all three senior teams delivering performances that underline the strength and spirit of the club.
The 1st XI enjoyed a truly outstanding campaign, crowned champions of Division 1 of the Wiltshire County Cricket League with three matches to spare. Their consistency, resilience and quality shone through, highlighted by Anre Schutte’s remarkable 859 runs at an average of over 70 and Bradley Small’s 38 wickets at under 10 runs apiece. Promotion to the Wiltshire West of England Premier League for 2026 is a fitting reward for their dominance.
The 2nd XI showed great fight and flair, recording some memorable wins and pushing opponents close in other tight contests. It was a challenging season, but one they will build upon for next season. The 3rd XI also capped off a brilliant season by securing promotion from Division 8. With eleven wins and consistent contributions from players such as Stuart Waterland (481 runs) and Mark Evans (33 wickets), they demonstrated the depth of talent and commitment across the club.
Beyond the statistics, what truly defines Warminster CC is its community spirit. Over 50 players represented the club this season, from seasoned performers to emerging youngsters, all contributing to a vibrant and welcoming environment. There is also a growing youth and junior section and the largest All Stars and Dynamos section in Wiltshire.
As the club looks ahead to 2026, there has never been a better time to get involved. Whether you’re an aspiring cricketer or coach, a parent keen to introduce your child to the game, or someone simply looking for camaraderie and sport, Warminster CC offers opportunity, support, and enjoyment for all. Join us, be part of our journey, and help shape the next chapter of success.
Bowmen of Warminster
Bowmen of Warminster is an archery club with a difference; we are affiliated to the National Field Archery Society (NFAS) and as such we shoot at targets set in woodlands which is a great connector to nature.
We started our year saying farewell at our AGM to two of our club’s stalwarts Emma and Julia, who served as club treasurer and club secretary for many years. The club showed its appreciation for all their dedication and commitment by presenting them with flowers and life membership of our club. We sincerely wish them the best in your future endeavours.
We belatedly presented the Club Championship Shield to last year’s winner Richard who narrowly beat the competition by a couple of points, a well-deserved champion.
In July, we held a social event shoot and a few of us went over the Welsh border to try our luck at a course permanently set out with 3D targets made of rubber. We had a great day out at Wye Valley Archery Centre.
In September, we held this year’s Club Championship completing 34 targets. It was great to have so many new and old members taken part with a range of ages from six to 70. On the day, Dave narrowly triumphed as this year’s Club Champion, he was presented with the Champs Shield by the club secretary, Tim.
What is really great is that we now have more members deciding to represent the club at some National Field Archer Society open competitions, these competitions are hosted by other archery clubs who set up courses in their woodland for other archers to compete in.
Hopefully the club will continue to grow in the coming year.
For more information, visit bowmenofwarminster.co.uk or nfas.net
Warminster Youth FC
The year started with some new faces joining our existing teams, and league action continued for the Lions in the Mid Wilts Youth League. Our under-6s continued to grow as they began preparing for their first season of organised fixtures.
The summer period saw a number of teams enter and play in a range of tournaments across the region, with the under-7s and under-9s showing some real signs of progression in particular.
The end of our first season was celebrated at our end-of-season awards, held at Thoulstone Park, which was attended by over 200 people and was the perfect way to celebrate the club’s hard work during its first season of existence.
The start of the 25/26 season saw the latest members of our under-5s make the step up to the club from the MiniKickers pathway, along with the inception of our new under-13s team, Warminster Youth’s first ever 11v11 team, and two new under-7 age groups.
In October, 100,000 steps were walked by the club chairman, supported by other members, players and families along the way, raising over £2,300 for the club during the 75km challenge, which took more than 15 hours.
Our second annual club quiz took place in December at Warminster Town Football Club and was attended by over 60 people, raising further funds for the club. We close the year reflecting on another period of growth, development and enjoyment across our age groups. Thank you to all of our players, families, coaches, committee members and sponsors for everything you have contributed this year!
Warminster u3a
Over the past twelve months, as we marked the 25th anniversary of Warminster u3a, our organisation has continued to thrive and develop.
We have seen a notable rise in membership, demonstrating the appeal and vitality of our community. In addition to welcoming more members, the range and number of groups on offer have also grown, providing increased opportunities for engagement and learning across a diverse array of interests.
We celebrated 25 years of outstanding service by Margaret Moon (Bookworms) and Robert Wright (Country Dancing), whose leadership has greatly benefited Warminster u3a. We sincerely appreciate their long-standing commitment and support.
Throughout this year, our monthly speakers have proven to be both engaging and popular among our members. The talks have covered a rich variety of subjects, including intriguing stories of murder, fascinating aspects of history, and the wonders of nature. In addition to these captivating topics, we have also welcomed representatives from local charities. Their presentations have shed light on the important work they do within our community, allowing members to gain a deeper appreciation of their efforts and contributions. This diverse range of speakers has greatly enhanced the learning experience available to all Warminster u3a members, making each session both informative and enjoyable.
Members participated in two rewarding excursions. The first was a relaxing summer boat trip from Poole to Wareham, offering scenic views and time together. The second was a visit to the Royal Mint in Llantrisant, where members learned about coin production and its history, gaining insight into an important institution.
As we look forward to 2026, we are enthusiastic about planning even more outings and opportunities for discovery. We warmly invite current and prospective members to join us and become part of the welcoming u3a family community.
