Frome launches anti-racism charter

A new anti-racism charter aimed at tackling racism and supporting people who experience discrimination has been launched in Frome.

The charter has been developed by the volunteer-led ARC Project Frome in response to local residents’ experiences of racism and encourages organisations to stand against racism, promote inclusion and support people experiencing discrimination.

The charter has already been adopted by a number of groups and businesses including Frome Town FC, Frome Rugby Club, Frome Medical Practice, Purple Elephant, The Good Heart, Fair Frome, Frome Independent Market, Asda, Lidl, plus others.

Frome Town Council also adopted the charter at its full council meeting on 5th August following a unanimous vote by councillors.

Speaking at the meeting, ARC member Lenka Grimes said, “There is a rise in racism in our town. One of our members has had three incidents in four months and she has lived here for 17 years. That just gives you a snippet of what’s going on.

“There are 20 in the group including adults and children. All the people in our group have been subjected to racism in our town.”

ARC was set up in 2020 and has supported individuals experiencing racism while working with schools to raise awareness of standing against racism. The group is due to launch a school-specific training programme in the autumn, with nine schools already signed up.

Lenka said, “At ARC we have also reported incidents for other people. There have been incidents in schools, we have written letters as a group to support them and to take those steps because it can be very isolating if you are on your own.”

The charter asks organisations and groups to commit to four key principles: not tolerating racist attitudes or behaviour; speaking out against racism and participating in town-wide efforts to oppose and challenge racism; helping others in Frome to address racism and call out racist behaviour and discrimination; and reporting racism and any hate crime to either the police or SARI, the Stand Against Racism & Inequality charity.

Leader of Frome Town Council Cllr Fiona Barrows said, “I think that we have a reputation as a town for being welcoming and inclusive and community-minded, which we absolutely are and there’s obviously lived experience of people living here who are dealing with racism on a regular basis. I think it’s really important that we do this. I am hoping that we can continue this conversation and see what else we can do after this.”

For more information about ARC, visit https://www.facebook.com/groups/thearcproject/ or  if anyone would like a copy of a poster to display, contact the group via Frome Town Council.