Lidl Frome

Paulton Larder is a volunteer-led community project supporting our neighbours in Paulton and the surrounding area. We rescue good surplus food and share it with local people who could use a little extra help—no judgement, just practical support. By keeping quality food out of the bin, we cut waste and stretch household budgets at the same time. We rely on community donations and the generosity of local partners, and we’re always grateful for volunteers. Every pound, product, and hour given helps us support more families close to home.

In partnership with Frome Town Council, Edventure: Frome – a school for community enterprise – challenged its students to help tackle the problem of Food Waste in Frome. A team of 10 students organised pop-up events feeding over 200 people from gleaned and surplus food, ran a workshop at Frome Community college and began looking into the logistics of setting up a Community Fridge – inspired by other similar projects from around the world. Edventure: Frome and Frome Town Council have then supported Project Coordinator Esther Deeks to take this project to fruition. This community fridge is the first of its kind in the UK and a pilot project.

YMCA Mendip is a fully autonomous, independent, self-governing local charity working for the people of Mendip and South Somerset, with a main focus on (but not restricted to) young people. We specialise in housing & homelessness issues, youth & community work and deliver information, advice & guidance services. The young people who come into our cor housing provision are the most challenging and vulnerable in our communities. Many are care leavers or have left dangerous and complex home lives affected by unemployment, housing problems, domestic violence, neglect and drug and alcohol abuse. As a result, our young people can be traumatised and often experience poor mental health, lack social and practical skills, have low self-esteem, have little or no income and find it difficult to communicate their emotions and engage with traditional services, and are struggling to cope. We currently provide over 100 accommodation units for young people and some adults across Mendip and South Somerset. This consists of supported housing projects, emergency accommodation and dispersed flats (with floating support). We provide a warm, welcoming, and safe home and provide support for young people to develop life skills, prepare for independent living and have access to training, education, employment and social & leisure opportunities.