Frome Town Council Awards Community Grants to 20 Local Projects
Frome Town Council’s Grants Committee has awarded more than £50,000 in Community Grants to support a wide range of local organisations and projects making a difference across Frome. The funding will help community groups deliver initiatives focused on reducing isolation, supporting young people, improving wellbeing, increasing access to nature, developing skills and employment opportunities, and strengthening community connections.
At its recent meeting, chaired by Councillor Philip Campagna, the Grants Committee considered 20 applications following an updated grant process that included a new Expression of Interest stage and support for applicants throughout the application period. The process was also informed by the work of a community-based Grants Advisory Panel, made up of residents who assessed applications and shared their perspectives with councillors before final decisions were made. This year there were also thematic priorities that applicants were encouraged to address including community cohesion, intergenerational projects and projects aimed at NEETS (young people not in employment education or training).
Alongside the Community Grants awards, the committee also agreed £5,000 of match funding towards the Somerset Frome River Catchment Partnership, helping unlock additional external funding for environmental projects focused on water quality, biodiversity, climate resilience and nature recovery.
The successful Community Grant awards are:
- Wellbeing Café, The Good Heart – £3,000
- FrogLife Trust: Wild Memories Project – £3,000
- Jackdaws Music Education Trust: A Year of Brass – £2,000
- Purple Elephant Family Support: Children’s Festival accessibility project – £3,000
- Frome Climate Seniors intergenerational growing project – £3,000
- Vallis Farm Education Trust work placement programme – £3,000
- Frome Chamber of Commerce work experience programme – £500
- Frome Birth Talk perinatal counselling service – £3,000
- Black Swan Arts: Captured Next Gen – £3,000
- Selwood Academy PTA outdoor classroom and nature space – £3,000
- Frome Community Bike Project cycle instructor training programme – £3,000
- The Blue House community facilities refurbishment – £3,000
- Frome Christmas Get Together – £3,000
- Frome Neighbourhood Network: Transition Streets Project – £3,000
- We Branch Out CIC mentoring and employment support programme – £2,000
- Wyldwood CIC nature-based activities programme – £3,000
- Systems Change Lab intergenerational project for men and boys – £5,000
- Frome Families for the Future: River Festival – £3,000
- Frome Festival internship programme – £3,000
- Young People Frome: Multicultural Frome – £1,950
The Grants Committee also publicly thanked the Grants Advisory Panel for its contribution. The panel, made up of residents from across Frome, provides community insight alongside councillors’ assessments, helping ensure grant funding reflects local priorities and aspirations.
Councillor Anne Hills said: “These projects show the very best of Frome. They bring people together, create opportunities and offer support where it’s needed most. We’re proud to support the people and organisations whose kindness, commitment and hard work help our community thrive.”
Community organisations are encouraged to connect with the council’s wider programme of support, including networking events, training opportunities and future funding programmes. A separate participatory grant-making programme led by young people is expected to launch later this year on 1 December.
For more information about Frome Town Council grants and community organisation support, visit www.frometowncouncil.gov.uk.
