FROME charity Fair Frome is now in its 7th year and has had a challenging but ultimately successful year in meeting its aim to provide practical support for those experiencing financial, health and social difficulties.
The charity said, “This year has been really difficult for everyone. The impact on many people newly affected by financial meltdown and the stresses of Covid-19, combined with existing health and poverty issues which pre-existed in the town, has led to unprecedented calls upon our services which we have had to adapt and increase to meet that demand.
“We have tried to be as responsive as possible given the changing nature of the pandemic and lockdowns etc. Throughout the year we have kept our doors open and provided not just practical support, but a listening ear to those many people whose mental health has suffered through loneliness, ill health and poverty. Some of the services we have provided include:
• Our Food Bank which has given out 1,224 food parcels over the past year. An increase of 33% over last year, many of them delivered to families shielding during lockdowns with additional fresh food.
• Delivered over 200 Christmas parcels filled with food and Christmas goodies
• Given out over 2,000 vouchers through the food bank for fresh fruit and veg from a local shop.
• Given away over 200 toys and books for Christmas presents.
• Food at Five Takeaway: Our wonderful chef and her team have provided over 100 hot meals every week in three different areas of the town, free to anyone on benefits or low income.
• Holiday Hunger: Provided an average of 30 meals per session three times per week in school holidays combined with activities. Free to children with families on low incomes
• Furniture Bank: Provided free white goods and household furniture to referred families. These have been donated, refurbished and recycled, therefore saving them from going to landfill.
• Assistance Scheme: Providing school uniforms, refurbished laptops and many other essential items to referred families. Frome Lions and Rotary have worked with us to provide funding for the more expensive items.
• Food for Schools; during lockdowns delivered additional food parcels to Frome schools for families on free school meals.
• Given supermarket gift tokens via schools to over 800 children on free school meals during three school holidays.
• Supported local businesses through our purchasing.
• Campaigned on issues relating to local poverty, including the retention of free school meals during school holidays and with the local Citizens Advice to provide a benefits system which meets local needs. We have also campaigned for better access to local businesses and shops for those with hidden or visible disabilities.
Bob Ashford, chair of trustees said, “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 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.
“I would like to especially thank Wendy Miller-Williams, one of our two coordinators, who is retiring at the end of the year after six amazing years with us, during which she has been instrumental in creating the Fair Frome which exists today.
“The pandemic isn’t over and the longer term financial, physical and mental health impacts will be felt by many people in the town for a long time. Frome is an amazing community and we know that working together with your support we can continue to do all we can to provide those services which are so vital to many people.”
