Local students’ voices heard on life in Frome

Frome College students have shared their experiences of being young people in the town with councillors at last month’s full town council meeting. They raised issues including concerns about climate anxiety, the stigma and unfair presumptions faced by young people and challenges in funding for smaller clubs.

The students Niamh, Tallis, Jack, Belle, Bella and Esme are the college’s Earth House ambassadors and have been working cllr Fiona Barrows, the lead Frome Town Councillor for climate and the ecological emergency.

Frome College’s Earth House project sees students working in collaboration with local groups to understand our impact on the natural worlds and what we can productively do to support the environment.

Cllr Barrows invited the students to the town council meeting last month, describing them as “extraordinary, articulate and with so much to say.”

At the council meeting on Wednesday 12th June, Niamh, a Year 10 student, spoke of the climate anxiety experienced by her generation and “a looming feeling, like a storm on the horizon of my generation’s future,” and urged the council to “walk towards a future with as much investment in the environment as possible.”

Tallis and Esme both spoke about the stigma sometimes experienced by young people and the unfair presumption that they might shoplift or engage in anti-social behaviour. Clubs, activities and things for young people to do were cited as potential solutions.

Jack, who is a member of Frome Canoe Club, echoed their thoughts and the issue with smaller clubs gaining the funding they needed to provide activities.

Belle spoke about the need for increased biodiversity and green space, and Bella shared disappointment at the amount of single-use plastic on the Frome College site and a littering problem made worse by a lack of recycling bins.

The assembled councillors shared their thanks to the students for speaking and sharing their ideas.

Amanda Le Pivert, a teacher at Frome College who also attended the meeting with the students said, “It’s quite rare that you hear a teacher say something like this but on a night like tonight I am glad [it has been] nearly 30 years’ worth of experience to get to this point. These moments really matter and it means I can continue to do what I do.

“[Earth House] has been operational since last September. Over that time, [we have] collaborated with inspiring people from community organisations including Frome Town Rangers, SHARE, Edventure, Frome Medical Practice, the Climates, Community Fridge, Green and Healthy Frome, Graham Burgess, and a plethora of other individuals who strive to save and make a better planet for us.

“These Earth House ambassadors among many are beginning to develop the college site. Their endeavouring to increase biodiversity through tree planting and the regeneration of the college pond. We now have an outside learning space for all to use, we have become Green Connectors. We have listened and we have learned and we have begun to plan for careers that focus on sustainability.

“In our sessions I have been absolutely overwhelmed by the student’s support of Earth House. Whilst the other secondary schools and I know this for a fact, struggle to engage with their students when tackling greener issues. The Earth House ambassadors at Frome College have risen to every challenge and embraced every new opportunity. We have 50 students on our books representing every facet of the student body.

“Thank you for your support so far. We aim to keep going funding or no, we aim to keep going to ensure the voices of Frome’s future are heard. We look forward to the next year continuing our work with your support.”

A spokesperson for the town council said, “Plans will be made to continue the conversation and work with the students and some of their peers to ensure the voices of young people are heard at Frome Town Council.”