Local charity, Fair Frome, has shared its annual figures highlighting the services and support provided to residents throughout 2025.
The charity, which runs the town’s food bank, furniture bank, baby basics bank, Food @ Five scheme, Community Pantry and a community garden plus more, has reported a ‘challenging but successful 2025’ in meeting its aims to alleviate the effects of poverty on residents.
Over the past year some of the services the charity has provided include:
Food Bank – given out 422 individual food parcels and 615 family food parcels
Community Garden – produced fresh fruit, vegetables and a space for everyone to enjoy
Community Pantry – accessed by 210 households (132 families and 78 individuals)
Food at Five – provided 5,217 hot meals sit down/takeaway in three different areas of the town, as well as supporting the YMCA residents, offering a warm space
Holiday Lunches – Provided 852 lunches across 28 sessions during school holidays, including a family Christmas party, in partnership with activities delivered by Purple Elephant
Furniture Bank – Supported 120 households in the Frome area; repaired cookers and washing machines where possible, supplied 229 donated items, 65 donated electrical items and bought 30 white goods items. Saved 6.7 tonnes from landfill.
Assistance Scheme – supported 65 families; providing school uni-forms, refurbished lap-tops, clothes and shoes, heated blankets, transport for appointments, carpets, and many other essential items to referred families. Worked with Frome Lions, Kevin Corcoran and Rotary to provide funding for carpets
Baby Basics Bank- supported 28 families, providing baby equipment like cots and prams
Given out 2,120 vouchers through the food bank for fresh fruit and veg from a local shop
Given out over 150 Christmas food parcels
Given out 400 wrapped personalised Christmas presents for children
Part of The Frome Christmas Get-Together team which provided around 200 meals and company on Christmas Day
Provided weekly shower and clothes washing facilities for homeless people and those in temporary accommodation.
Hosted housing advice drop-ins, homeless and inclusion GP drop-ins, Citizens Advice sessions and digital inclusion drop-ins
Hosted meetings with partners and referrers, other statutory and voluntary groups to look at levels of need and coordinate practical support
Campaigned and raised a voice on issues relating to local poverty. Have supported campaigns from the Independent Food Aid Network (IFAN), the Living Wage Foundation and The Equality Trust
Senior Co-ordinator at Fair Frome Lenka Grimes 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. Many beneficiaries 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 through hands-on projects, we have also provided emotional support to those who come to our doors in crisis.”
Pictured: Fair Frome team; Nick McCulloch, Rebecca Harrison and Lenka Grimes
