Frome Welcomes Refugees

Frome Town Council welcomes all displaced people and have dedicated staff to help support the refugee and asylum-seeking community in Frome and the surrounding area.

Frome Town Council is proud to be a key partner in Welcome to All, a Somerset-wide initiative launched in 2025 to support displaced people. Led by Thrive, formerly known as Community Council for Somerset (CCS) and funded by Somerset Council, the programme brings together local authorities, community organisations and charities to build a network of safe, welcoming spaces. In Frome, this means continued funding for Iryna Ladyzhenska, Welcome Hub Advice Officer at Frome Town Council and her work at the town hall’s Welcome Hub.

Iryna works in partnership with the local displaced community to assess what is working well and what needs developing, in order to shape a service that positively engages with those already living in the area, whilst also supporting those who newly arrive.

The Welcome Hub links in with local existing services and opportunities, is a point of contact for refugees and asylum seekers, signposts to regional and national services for practical support and offers cultural and social opportunities. The Hub works with local organisations and volunteers to enable English language learning opportunities for displaced people.