SHARE Frome calls for urgent support to prevent closure

SHARE Frome, the town’s very own Library of Things, could close this year if community support is not found.

SHARE is an independent charity, owned and run by the community to serve the people and businesses of Frome and the surrounding areas. For nearly nine years, they have been providing local people with an easy way to save money and space, whilst being kinder to the planet. Local people can borrow anything from tools and kitchen equipment, to tents and items to stage events. 

SHARE has been operating out of the building next to Halifax since 2015 through an arrangement with the building owners, Lloyd’s, the Cheese and Grain and Frome Town Council, which allowed the charity to run rent-free.

However, following the announcement that Halifax is set to close in July, the charity will soon find itself without a home.  

A spokesperson for the charity said, “Sadly, SHARE, like so many other charities, has experienced significant financial hardship in recent years. Our running costs have risen by 290% in the last 12 months and there have been greater demands on our time to meet with trading standards legislations.   

“In March, we were given the devastating news that we will be losing our free premises in Frome, which means we now need urgent support from businesses, individuals and organisations in the community, to ensure we can find a new home and continue delivering our borrowing and repair services.  

“Ironically, just like other valued services in Frome such as Fair Frome and the community fridge, SHARE has seen a huge rise in the demand for their service from those individuals and families most in need. The 280% growth of our concession membership for those on low incomes since March 2022, shows a clear need for a Library of Things borrowing service to exist in Frome.  

“So how can people help? SHARE has launched a web page https://sharefrome.org/save-SHARE-together/ with all the information you need to do just that. There will be some great suggestions of how people can give their support, plus opportunities to pledge support in your own way.”

SHARE will also be inviting the community to attend meetings throughout April where they will explain how people can help and they will be on hand for people to ask questions and discuss how the community can save SHARE together.   

The first meeting will take place at Frome Town FC on Monday 22nd April at 6.30pm, the next meeting will take place at council chamber at Frome Town Council on Friday 26th April at 6pm and the final meeting will take place at The Good Heart on Sunday 5th May at 7.30pm. 

The charity added, “If you care about SHARE, if you are proud to tell friends you have a Library of Things in your town, if you are already a member or would like to become one, if you want to help protect the environment, if you’re new to the town and want to be part of the SHARE community, your support, no matter how small, is vital and will make all the difference.”  

SHARE Frome was the first Library of Things to start in the UK and in the last 12months, has lent 3,564 items to 865 members. It has saved them a total of approximately £122,000 and helped them protect the planet by borrowing and not buying. By not buying, they have helped the community stop approximately 102270kg of new materials from being used.