Humans of Frome- by Ciara Nolan- Spotlight on Heather Wride

Who are you and what are you involved with?

My name is Heather and this May I finished my 4 years on the town council, a position that was both exhausting and rewarding and left me seeing both the best and the worst of Frome.

I became very involved with those living in poverty in the town, something that a blind eye can easily be turned to because of the image that the town has gained in recent years but affects so many people in Frome, whether they are in employment or not. 

This foodbank gives out an average of 80 parcels each month; this number rises during the school holidays and that figure really disturbs me. I think it should disturb everyone.

What are you doing now?

These days my son, cat and I live in Sunny Shepton Mallet! We moved here just over a year ago because we couldn’t find anywhere we could afford in Frome. Now that I have spare hours on my hands I have been working on a new project launching on Crowdfunder very soon which will be ‘Crackers without the Crap’. I got sad looking at the tiny plastic frog from the Christmas crackers that I knew would end up in landfill or the ocean and although my dad is doing a grand job in his quest to supply a small country with bottle openers, I decided there must be a better way. So I decided to develop a range of fully recyclable, plastic free crackers. There will be a bit of crap, jokes and hats, but they will be filled with wildflower seeds and other seeds for other bee friendly flowers. 

Money from sales will be donated to Plastic Oceans who keep the ocean plastic free, The Bumblebee Conservation Trust who help the bees and crackers will be donated to foodbanks to help enable people who need support to have a good Christmas.

What about the future?

I would like to see Crackers without the Crap be successful, my boy to thrive and people to be kinder to others. 

If you can, please donate to Fair Frome’s Food bank or furniture bank.