A Kingskerswell-based patient support group is launching a fundraising cartoon-style calendar to increase awareness about its activities.

Kerwella Care, which aims to reduce loneliness and promote social inclusion through activities and support services, will be selling its fun calendar from November 1.

All the bright and colourful illustrations are based on real photos of the Kerswella community and volunteers.

Each month explores a different area of the organisation’s work from coffee mornings and memory cafes to lunches, trips out and laughter at its groups.

‘It’s fun, it’s joyful and we think it is a brilliant showcase of the warmth and connection and essence of what we hope we share at every event,’ a Kerswella spokesperson said.

The calendar was the idea of Kerswella transport co-ordinator Richard Mayoh, who had been playing around with AI on photos he’d taken at various events.

‘I’d been thinking about creating a calendar using photos taken throughout the year, but as not everyone is comfortable having their photo included, I explored the idea of turning them into simple cartoon-style illustrations instead,’ Richard explained. He used a mix of design software and AI to develop the images into those used in the calendar.

After the idea was approved by the charity’s trustees, the images were compiled into a calendar that depicts the warmth and humour Kerswella provides throughout the year.

Once people saw how the final cartoon-style images looked, it was a lot easier to encourage them to take part,’ Richard noted.

‘The aim is to celebrate what the organisation offers, highlight the fun and community spirit behind it all, and show how vital our volunteers are,’ said Kerswella coordinator Gill Gould. ‘We also hope it helps attract a few new ones: our youngest volunteer driver is just 20 and our eldest is an amazing 82.’

Calendars cost £10 and can be reserved by emailing [email protected]. Every purchase helps support Kerswella’s work across the communities of Ipplepen, Kingskerswell, Abbotskerswell.