Our Impact

Here at Fair Frome all our work and projects centre around ensuring we make a real difference to real people in Frome. We work with the local community and people in Frome who need are help the most to ensure that our services and programmes reflect the current needs of the local community.

The last couple of years in Frome have seen our services expand and change with the rapid increase of need in Frome. From the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic to rising living costs and fuel poverty as a result of the cost of living crisis, the Frome community has been impacted by our socio-economic climate.

2023 was a challenging but ultimately successful year in meeting our aim to provide practical support for those experiencing financial, health and social difficulties.

Lenka Grimes, Senior Coordinator said:

“For many people in Frome the past year has been an extremely challenging one with rising food and energy bills and inflation hitting individuals and families. Over 40% of our food bank users are in work but with high local housing rental prices and low wages they are unable to make ends meet. As a local charity as well as providing practical support we have also provided emotional support to those who come to our doors in crisis.”

Reaching people in Frome who need our support the most whilst making sure our projects provide support for actual need wouldn’t be possible without feedback and support from our clients and users. Here are some stories of how our work has impacted the people of Frome.

Measuring our impact on the local community highlights the reach our programmes have. In 2023 we have…

  • Given out food parcels to 560 Individuals and 815 families over the past year with additional items of fresh food like eggs, milk, cheese, butter and fresh fruit and vegetables
  • Given out over 2,500 vouchers through the food bank for fresh fruit and veg from a local shop
  • Given out over 2,400 vouchers for a local butcher to provide quality and fresh meat
  • Given out over 1,200 vouchers for a local baker to provide quality and fresh bread
  • Given out over 200 Christmas Food parcels and supported The Frome Christmas Get-Together in 3 locations – providing around 200 meals and company on Christmas day

 

  • Holiday Lunches: Provided on average 100 hot lunches per week in every school holiday combined with activities delivered by partner Purple Elephant, to referred families
  • Furniture Bank: Supported over 150 households in the Frome area. We have repaired cookers and washing machines where possible. Provided free white goods and household furniture to referred individuals and families. These have been donated, refurbished and recycled, therefore saving them from going to landfill
  • Assistance Scheme: Providing school uniforms, refurbished laptops, vouchers for clothes and shoes, transport for appointments, carpets and many other essential items to referred families. Frome Lions, Kevin Corcoran and Rotary have worked with us to provide funding for carpets
  • Baby Basics Bank: providing baby equipment, formula and nappies for referred families

 

  • Hosted weekly Homeless and rough sleepers support services and Housing advice drop ins with partner organisations
  • Hosted meetings with partners, referrers, other statutory and voluntary groups to look at levels of need and coordinate practical support
  • Campaigned on issues relating to local poverty. We are also affiliated to the Independent Food Aid Network (IFAN), the Living Wage Foundation and The Equality Trust and have supported their campaigns