Frome Town Council stands with those affected by the conflict in Ukraine. There are many ways in which individuals can show their support, from financial donations to registering to house refugees.
If you’d like to help, the advice is to use an official government or charity channel to ensure that the support you offer is processed in the most effective way.
To help connect people across Frome who would like to help and support refugees, we have set up a form to collect relevant information to help coordinate the effort. If you have any skills that may be of use to both refugees and their hosts in Frome, please fill in our form:
Donating items
At present, the most urgent support that charities need is financial. Some organisations have urged people not to donate items at present as it’s hard to distribute them effectively. Financial donations through official campaigns will have a positive impact on both refugees and the local economies supporting them.
You could also consider organising a local jumble sale to raise money and donate the proceeds to one of the charity appeals listed below.
We will update this page with information on how to donate specific items as and when they are requested.
Financial donations
Frome Rotary are collecting to support refugees both in Frome and our twin town Rabka-Zdrój.
To donate, text UKRAID to 70085 followed by the amount you wish to donate (up to £20) i.e. UKRAID20 gives £20.
Register to house refugees
The government continues to operate their Homes for Ukraine scheme giving UK residents the opportunity to register their interest in housing Ukrainian refugees as they arrive in the UK. Individual sponsors will be asked to provide homes or a spare room rent-free for as long as they are able, with a minimum stay of 6 months. In return, they will receive a ‘Thank you’ payment from Somerset County Council.
Sponsors will need to name a Ukrainian refugee they would like to host. The government is encouraging people to connect with refugees through formal channels such as charities, community groups and non-government organisations. Charities that could help you connect with a refugee include Refugees at Home, Room for Refugees, Shelter 4 Ukraine and Reset.
Please note that financial support will only be provided to those who house refugees through this official government scheme.
Support for refugee sponsors
Somerset County Council have a web page to provide information and support for Somerset households who have volunteered to sponsor Ukrainian refugees.
Offer of work to refugees
If you are a local business looking to offer work to refugees coming to Frome we have been working with Jobcentre Plus to give advise on how best to recruit.
The National Employer Partnership Team (NEPT) who work alongside Jobcentre Plus, are asking all employers to initially make contact via the official government work offer site where you will be given support and advice throughout the process.
Support for refugees in Somerset
Somerset Skills & Learning have a range of free workshops and courses available to support refugees in Somerset including English lessons, Wellbeing, Support & Mental Health Workshops and Employment skills for young people (16-24).
Volunteer your time
If you would like to donate your time there are a number of organisations listed in our directory FIND who will be able to offer a range of support to refugees in the same way as they do to existing residents, through schemes such as Frome Community Drivers, befriending and mentoring projects and children’s play service.
Other ways to donate financially
There are lots of organisations across the UK and internationally who have launched appeals including the following:
• Disasters Emergency Committee – Ukraine humanitarian appeal
• Hope and Aid
• The Red Cross
• UNICEF – specific fund to protect children in Ukraine
• The UN Refugee Agency
• The Ukrainian Embassy has set up a special fund to support Ukraine
• Polish Humanitarian Action is supplying hygiene products, food, and blankets to those in need on the Ukrainian/Polish border
• UN Women UK works to ensure that women and girls’ rights are upheld during times of peace, and now, during this time of war
• Care International is running an emergency appeal to provide emergency food and water
• Donations to Choose Love are supporting projects providing vital aid and services to those still in and fleeing the country, including: emergency medical care, food, shelter, clothes, legal support, support for the LGBTQIA+ community and mental health support
Useful links
Information on housing rights from the Chartered Institute of Housing
Ukraine Advice Project UK – free service to connect those fleeing Ukraine with free legal advice on UK immigration, visas and asylum from qualified and regulated lawyers
Frome Loves Ukraine Facebook group
