‘It’s getting tougher for all small charities’ – Frome Birth Talk extends community fundraising campaign until end of year

Local charity Frome Birth Talk has extended its fundraising campaign until the end of the year as it seeks to secure more monthly donors to help secure the charity’s future.

The campaign launched in March, with the charity aiming to raise £1,000 per month in regular donations to help cover running costs until 1st June. With that date now passed and £700 secured, the charity has decided to keep the fundraiser open until the end of year, in the hope to secure more donors and ultimately Frome Birth Talk’s future.

“We are extremely thankful for our one-off donations but it’s really helpful for us to see a projection of what is to come,” said counselling coordinator Lucy Hill who explained that the charity is hoping to increase the amount of people who can donate on a monthly basis.

“It’s getting harder and harder to guarantee grants, so to have a community of people who are supporting us regularly is incredibly helpful.”

Frome Birth Talk provides free counselling services for pregnant people, new parents and those who have experienced baby loss. They also run support groups like Bump to Baby and Frome Toddler Talk.

Funding comes from grants and community donations however, with an increasing volume of charities struggling financially, the process is getting more competitive.

“There are lots of charities applying and the criteria is getting stricter, and the feedback is getting less. It’s tough for small charities at the moment,” said Lucy.

“From 2020 to 2025 we had a National Lottery grant which ran out in April. We are in the process of applying for continuation funding and we are likely to get a decision on this in October or November.

“National Lottery funding is a big one from the past and hopefully from the future. Other grants we have received have included the Somerset Community Foundation grant; we have recently been awarded some money from the Somerset Freemasons and also the Friends of Frome Hospital support us as well.”

Frome Birth Talk employs three part-time members of staff, a pool of professional and trainee counsellors and has volunteers who run the groups.

“Without the necessary funds, we can’t pay the counsellors or the staff,” said Lucy. “It would also mean having to cut back on some of our services and counselling sessions which would mean longer wait times for people.”

Since the charity launched in 2014, the number of referrals and residents using the service has grown. Last year the charity received 150 referrals for counselling; this year, 200 people have already been referred.

“It’s getting tougher,” said Lucy. “There is a growing demand for the service and this community fundraising campaign is the first time we have ever had to ask our community to support us in this way and it feels like a really apt time.”

To donate, either monthly or as a one-off, visit Frome Birth Talk’s LocalGiving page at localgiving.org/charity/fromebirthtalk or find them on social media.