Purple Elephant runs services for families local to Frome who face disadvantage and challenges. We run support groups, 1:1 work, activities and events which help families to overcome their challenges and have fun! Our services include Small Steps parenting support, the Toy Library lending service (run in partnership with Frome Library) and stay and play sessions, a befriending service for children aged between 5 and 12 years, family support activities during school holidays, a youth club for 8 - 13 year olds and Frome Children's Festival. We run some of our services in partnership with Fair Frome and support their services for families in crisis.

Our services are all either free or very low cost to attend and we welcome families with additional needs and disabilities. Some services are for referred families only, others are open to all, helping to support social integration. Our services benefit local families by giving them positive things to do, learning new skills and developing the bonds within the family, improving mental health and wellbeing, enabling access to free healthy meals, and developing a sense of fun.

The families we support face challenges including low income, additional needs and disabilities, poor mental and physical health; they may experience domestic or substance abuse, live in temporary accommodation or be young or single parents. In Frome, one neighbourhood falls within the UK’s 20% most deprived with another four in the 40% most deprived; there are two wards where 25% of children are living in poverty; over 1000 children are eligible for free school meals; 17% of pupils have additional needs or disabilities, above the Somerset average. 

We've been supporting these families for over 10 years now and need your help to carry on.