FROME BIRTH TALK
Frome Birth Talk provides a free counselling service for pregnant and parents in Frome, Westbury, Warminster and the surrounding area. We also offer two free weekly drop-in groups and occasional wellbeing events. All our activities are designed to promote positive perinatal mental health and bring people together to combat loneliness and isolation.
Financial health, per its FY2025 accounts
The accounts state that the charity operated at a deficit, with expenditure of £60,678 exceeding income of £53,172 for the year. The trustees report that unrestricted reserves stood at £16,835, which is above their stated policy target of three months' expenditure (£15,169). The filing notes that the primary National Lottery grant ended in April 2025, creating a need for diversified funding to ensure long-term sustainability.
What the accounts disclose
“In 2024, we secured the following grants and large donations, totalling £42,264: £23,014 from the National Lottery Community Fund”
“We aim to hold sufficient unrestricted reserves for three months’ expenditure, which is currently £15,169.”
“Rebecka Mau continued to do occasional paid work providing cover for our Counselling Co-ordinator role. The trustees are satisfied that this is for the benefit of the charity as she was recruited in an open and fair manner before becoming a trustee.”
“Hanna Fisher was paid a small one-off fee for creating and delivering an organisational development day in April 2024. The trustees were satisfied that this was for the benefit of the charity as the fee was a fraction of the usual fees charged by someone with Hanna's qualifications and experience”
“Rebecka Mau continued to do occasional paid work providing cover for our Counselling Co-ordinator role. The trustees are satisfied that this is for the benefit of the charity as she was recruited in an open and fair manner before becoming a trustee.”
“Hanna Fisher was paid a small one-off fee for creating and delivering an organisational development day in April 2024. The trustees were satisfied that this was for the benefit of the charity as the fee was a fraction of the usual fees charged by someone with Hanna's qualifications and experience”
Trustees
- Laura Alexanderchair
- Aaron Calver
- Annette Schwalbe
- Gail Norris
- Holly Brown
- Rebecka Mau
Income and spending
| Financial year end | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
| 28/02/2025 | £53k | £61k |
| 29/02/2024 | £58k | £53k |
| 28/02/2023 | £36k | £37k |
| 28/02/2022 | £27k | £24k |
| 28/02/2021 | £26k | £15k |
Common questions
Is FROME BIRTH TALK financially healthy?
Per its FY2025 accounts: The accounts state that the charity operated at a deficit, with expenditure of £60,678 exceeding income of £53,172 for the year. The trustees report that unrestricted reserves stood at £16,835, which is above their stated policy target of three months' expenditure (£15,169). The filing notes that the primary National Lottery grant ended in April 2025, creating a need for diversified funding to ensure long-term sustainability. Its FY2025 accounts were independently examined.
Government & lottery funding
| Funder | Date | Amount | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| Somerset Community Foundation | 28/05/2026 | £3k | Frome Birth Talk |
| Postcode Lottery | 30/06/2025 | £19k | Unrestricted Funding |
| Somerset Community Foundation | 10/12/2024 | £3k | This would help us provide warm spaces in the form of two parent and child drop-in groups |
| Somerset Community Foundation | 14/11/2024 | £250 | Christmas party for parents, toddlers and babies in Frome at the Friday morning toddler group |
| Somerset Community Foundation | 08/05/2024 | £5k | Salary contribution towards a volunteer coordinator for support groups for new parents in Frome |
| Postcode Lottery | 30/06/2023 | £9k | Unrestricted Funding |
| Somerset Community Foundation | 22/05/2023 | £5k | Counselling support for pregnant women and those who have lost a baby |
| Somerset Community Foundation | 10/10/2022 | £3k | Recruiting and supporting volunteers to assist families during the perinatal period |
| The National Lottery Community Fund | 28/02/2020 | £99k | Frome Birth Talk development |
| Somerset Community Foundation | 27/11/2019 | £160 | Grant to Frome Birth Talk |
| Somerset Community Foundation | 05/04/2019 | £2k | Frome Birth Talk - student counsellor placements |