Pupils offer a local taste in media project

People from Midsomer Norton got a taste of the selection of goods and services the town has to offer during the first of a series of dedicated local shopping days organised by Somervale School media students and the Chamber of Commerce.

Residents living in and around Spencer Drive were delivered leaflets urging them to join the students for a coffee and a slice of cake in the town centre.

The project is the result of a recession grant given to Midsomer Norton and Radstock Chamber of Commerce by Bath and North East Somerset Council to help encourage more people to make the most of what is on their doorstep.

The chamber was keen to counter misconceptions that local shopping is more expensive or offers less choice so asked Year 10 media studies students at the school to organise a co-ordinated marketing campaign, which saw maps, radio adverts and signs explaining the benefits of shopping locally.

The students also worked with Somer Valley FM on the project.

Over coming months the students will repeat the leafleting campaign focusing on a different housing estate in the town.

Student Adam Slocombe said: "It has been great to work on a project that will help businesses rather than just being for GCSE coursework.

"Working in association with the Chamber of Commerce has been a good way for us to get real experience of what it will be like work with businesses in the future."