“For many people in Frome the past year has been an extremely difficult one. The pandemic isn’t over with many people with acute health and financial needs continuing to feel anxious, isolated and struggling to feed themselves and their families. The reductions in Universal Credit, rising fuel bills and inflation are already hitting individuals and families locally and adding to their burdens. Over 40% of our food bank users are in work but with high local prices and low wages they are unable to make ends meet. As a very local charity we have continually kept our doors open and as well as providing practical support also provided emotional support to those who come to our doors in crisis.”

“On behalf of our trustees I would like to give a huge thank you to everyone in Frome who has supported us over the past year – staff and volunteers, local Frome Councils, businesses, charities, churches, schools, voluntary agencies and the many thousands of individual people and families who have donated their time, food and funds to help us continue our work. The Pandemic and increases in costs alongside benefit reductions will continue to have a huge impact on our work. With our committed staff group, volunteers and Trustees and the support of the strong local community we will face those challenges as we have others and do all in our power to maintain and grow services to meet need.”

Fair Frome spells out “Perfect Storm” for service users this winter.Local charity Fair Frome which runs the local food bank, furniture bank and other projects designed to help those people in acute financial need in Frome have raised their concerns about the impact of coming benefit cuts and cost of living rises which they say will hit those most in need hardest. The charity kept its doors open through the Covid lockdowns and not only made radical changes to the way it delivered its services but also dramatically increased the level of services it provided – especially through the Foodbank, Food at Five, their Assistance Scheme and direct help to schools and families on Free School Meals. This help was welcomed by all sections of the local community who supported the charity in its work not only through its volunteers but through increased financial and food donations. The impact of Covid hasn’t ended, with many more cases locally and although thankfully vaccinations have led to fewer hospitalisations and deaths many people are still having to self-isolate with resultant impacts on their mental health and ability to work.