SOME of the town’s best-known organisations have donated £1,200 to local family support charity, Purple Elephant.
Frome Lions Club, Frome Town Rotary, the Rotary Club of Frome and the Inner Wheel Club of Frome, have each donated £300 to the charity that provides year-round holiday activities, pre-school parenting support, twice weekly play sessions, a library toy-lending provision, an adult-to-child befriending service and the annual free Children’s Festival.
“The total of £1,200 will mean this vital charity is able to complete its exciting seasonal plans for locally-referred children,” says a spokesperson for Purple Elephant. “The local donations mean that at least 100 local family-members will go to the theatre this Christmas! Purple Elephant will use the money to provide tickets for performances of Elf -The Musical at the Merlin Theatre and Snow White at the Memorial Theatre.
“Local families will be in the audience for the theatres’ ‘relaxed performances’, which are specially designed runs of the show where the ambience of the auditorium and the theatre ‘rules’ are relaxed and the sound and light effects considered differently. This makes it an ideal show for those who are young or new to the theatre environment, being suitable for people with learning disabilities or anyone who would benefit from a more relaxed environment.
“This style of presentation and welcome reflects the needs of the families that the charity supports, some of whom may otherwise not get to go to theatre. These joyful, local show-trips are becoming an annual tradition for the charity, bringing a bit of magic each year to a child’s Christmas.”
Founder of Purple Elephant, Sue Willis said, “The ongoing support of local organisations such as the Frome Rotary Clubs, Inner Wheel and Lions has happened for years. They are an integral part of our work and we are very grateful they have chosen to work with us again this year in making some children’s lives just that bit better.”
Additionally, Purple Elephant has also been chosen to receive a £1,000 donation from The Wainwright Futures Foundation Trustees.
“Quarrying and aggregate specialists, John Wainwright and Company Ltd. are committed to supporting local communities,” says the spokesperson. “They want to express their commitment that they should share the fruits of their success with their neighbours. They say it’s part of commitment to doing the right thing. With many thanks noted to Wainright trustees, Purple Elephant families will now benefit from this local support too.”
You can find more about Purple Elephant’s services, including volunteering opportunities, at: www.PurpleElephant.org.uk
