Frome Town Council celebrated some of the town’s volunteers just before Christmas, with coffee and mince pies at the town hall, to say thank you for all their work in 2023.
The beginning of January is a traditional time to make resolutions for the year ahead, often centred around self-improvement, or a new challenge. Cllr Mark Dorrington from Frome Town Council is inviting resolution-makers to consider volunteering in Frome among their personal goals for 2024:
“Frome’s charities and voluntary groups are always in need of generous, talented people to join them. Could you help them make a difference? Whether you have an occasional couple of hours to spare, or a professional/personal track record that gives you a useful perspective as a trustee or director, you’re very much needed and valued – and every contribution counts.
“For many voluntary organisations, there’s one role in particular which is vital yet difficult to fill – a treasurer. Treasurers provide financial record-keeping and guidance to charities of all sizes. Although this job is crucial, it needn’t involve a huge time commitment: the principles of keeping good financial records day-to-day could be delegated to staff or other volunteers.”
There are many organisations in and around Frome that rely on support from volunteers to carry out essential work in the community. You could offer your support to opportunities associated with Frome Town Council, including working with displaced communities as an ESOL teacher, taking on responsibility for refreshing posters on one of Frome’s community noticeboards, or helping to staff the Discover Frome information point in Frome Library. Volunteering in Frome don’t just stop there – why not become a befriender for local charity Active and in Touch, provide transport through Frome Volunteer Drivers, or support Fair Frome food bank, or the Community Fridge?
Becky Newton, Volunteer Coordinator for parenting mental health charity Frome Birth Talk (FBT) said: “FBT couldn’t function without our brilliant volunteers. Getting the right support at the right time can transform the experience of new parenthood, and our volunteers make that happen. Our baby and toddler groups combat isolation and promote friendship, and it’s because of our volunteers that many parents in need of additional support hear about FBT’s counselling service. If you could help with setting up for the groups, making tea and snacks and simply chatting to people, we’d love to hear from you.”
If you’d like to offer your support to the community by taking on a voluntary role, you can find organisations and more information on how to do so at https://www.frometowncouncil.gov.uk/find/.
