THE growing team of volunteers behind Frome’s first Kindness Festival have announced some highlights to look forward to in the festival week, 1st – 6th March.
“Kindness is my favourite drug – it works for everyone and it’s very hard to get the dose wrong,” says Dr Phil Hammond, comedian, medical doctor and Somerset resident, who will be performing at the Merlin Theatre on Friday evening 4th March.
David Warburton MP and John Harris, Guardian journalist and local resident, have both agreed to be on the panel for a discussion of ‘Kindness in Politics’ on Thursday evening 3rd March at Frome Town Hall.
Tuesday 1st March will be the culmination of the Humankind Book Blast at Frome Town Hall, in partnership with Hunting Raven independent bookstore, and on Wednesday 2nd March, there will be an evening looking at how to bring more kindness, caring and sharing into our streets and neighbourhoods, organised by the Frome Neighbourhood Network and Let’s Talk.
‘Self-care lunchtimes’ will be a series of free online events 1st – 4th March looking at topics such as the importance of self-compassion and how to get a better night’s sleep. There will be a special session on 3rd March for anyone in the caring professions.
Family activities will include crafts and badge-making sessions, a morning yoga session for parents and children on Saturday 5th, and a tree-planting afternoon on Sunday 6th.
On Thursday 3rd March there will be a kindness-themed session for 18 – 35-year-olds at the Make Shed. Workshops will take place throughout the week in local schools.
Organisers of the festival say, “Alongside all this, look out for acts of kindness popping up all around the town, a Thank-You Project at Lo Rapitenc in Cheap Street and in the Frome Times, a range of kindness-focused happenings at Frome Medical Centre, and – at the weekend – a kindness theme to Window Wanderland and the Frome Independent.
“If you’d like to join the Kindness Crew who are making this all happen, there are regular volunteer meetings on Sundays 4pm – 5pm at The Good Heart at 7 Palmer Street during February as well as a one-to-one drop-in from 1pm – 3pm every Monday.
“Find out more and join the mailing list at www. thegoodheart.uk/ festival/ or follow The Good Heart on Facebook. Booking for these events will open later this month.”
