Pembrokeshire FRAME is a long running charity that many will recognise by their iconic furniture removal vans across the county. Yet the organisation has developed so much since its humble beginnings in 1994. The community support and opportunities offered by FRAME, are more important now than ever.

FRAME is a supported employment and life changing charity that transforms hundreds of lives in Pembrokeshire each year, by providing access to learning, supported and meaningful occupation, social enterprise, voluntary and employment opportunities, help and support to enable individuals to reach their potential.  

Frame was founded in 1994 by Jenny Sims, helping to change the face of recycling and disability employment provision in the county. Jenny was recognised in the New Years honours list in 2020 and awarded the BEM (British Empire Medal) for all of her hard work and dedication to the charity.  

During the pandemic FRAME sourced grant funding to launch Bags of Care community fridge scheme. Together with the Green Shed Café (Haverfordwest) they delivered bags of food and hot meals to local elderly residents who most needed it during the pandemic.

Chief Officer for FRAME Paul Hughes says that everything they have achieved so far is due to Jenny’s vision.

‘We are able to offer opportunities and support to people who come to us as staff, volunteers or on placement as well as to provide some training. In future, we would like to develop our training and offer qualifications as well as supported work placements for people.’

FRAME saw 53 participants and 23 volunteers working with them between April 2021 and March 2022. Between them they attended 19 training courses.

Some of the many projects that the charity is responsible for in include 2 re use centres in Pembroke Dock and Merlins Bridge as well as The Green Shed, a community re use centre, which opened in 2018 thanks to National Lottery Funding. The Green Shed has a café space and rooms for hire as well as the FRAME furniture surgery which currently provides supported workshops benefitting participants and volunteers and is looking to offer community workshops in the future.

Alongside the community fridge project, FRAME run 3 social enterprises: One of a Kind – a furniture upcycling project, the Frame furniture surgery (offering re upholstery workshops to help reduce waste) and a gardening project. As a result of their many projects there are also employment and skills support opportunities to work in areas such as administration, e commerce, cookery, collection and delivery crew.

The impact that the charity has had on the everyday lives of its participants is clear.

Ella says “One of the best things about working here is the people. They are so friendly and supportive. I never thought I would end up here, doing this, but I love it.”

Beth adds, “being here has really helped my mental health. I feel so much better for getting out and being around people working on something every day and bringing life back to something like this.”

Chris Harrison, digital and marketing communications manager added, “For a participant, there’s a real buzz about selling something in the shop that they have worked hard on.”

FRAME welcome volunteers for a variety of roles across the charity, which can help them build confidence, make new friends, develop skills and to make a difference to the community and people with disabilities and mental health issues in Pembrokeshire.

FRAME is keen to note the work that they do to support their local environment.  They work with Pembrokeshire County Council and are contracted to carry out a number of waste reducing activities throughout the year.  In the year 2021-2022 they collected 1021 tonnes of household waste, of which 883 tonnes was reused or recycled.

The re use projects help the local community and the environment, bringing new life to items neglected or abandoned, making them affordable for purchase whilst employing people who may not find opportunities elsewhere. Their Community Fridge project, launched in 2019 thanks to funding from the WCVA and The Landfill Disposals Tax Communities Scheme, has enabled them to help the community adapt, recover and thrive following the impacts of Covid 19. The community fridge project saw 60 tonnes of food brought in and distributed between April 2020 and March 2021 and continues to be a much-needed facility in the community.

FRAME also support the community by collecting furniture across the county in their specialist vans. Chris notes “90% of what comes to us is re used or recycled in some way. What can’t be resold or repaired is broken down and sent off to various places.”

Paul continues “we aim to work further on reducing waste and giving back to the environment in future. That’s our goal.”

FRAME’s work alongside other organisations and charities in Pembrokeshire, is something they would like to develop further, says Paul ‘We are keen to work with other charities. We deliver Christmas presents for Patch, share surplus stock with organisations such as the VC Gallery or Green Acres. We are also part of the Pembrokeshire Circle and work with Pembrokeshire College.’  

All of the great work they do at FRAME is thanks to donations and funding from the local community as well as Pembrokeshire County Council, The National Lottery and The Pembrokeshire Postcode Lottery.

FRAME is excited to share news that it will be opening a new refill store in Pembroke Dock in July 2022, with the aim to develop opportunities further in the local community. There are also plans, funded by a legacy grant from the late Hywel Davies, to employ a Wellbeing Coordinator, who will work across the charity and help develop a new community garden project.

If you’d like to find out more about FRAME, visit their website or Facebook, Instagram and Twitter pages.