RUNNERS up to the Frome Times’ People of the Year awards, Frome Friendship Club, have been connecting the community, providing a social space for people in Frome to come together and make new friends.
The group started in 1999 and hold twice weekly meetings on Mondays and Thursdays at the Assembly Rooms behind the Memorial Theatre for anyone, of any ability, aged 55+ to eat lunch, play games and socialise. They also organise day trips and small holidays for the members.
Pete Daymon-Johns, chairman of the club, said, “People come from 11am and there’s a choice of what they can eat for dinner. They sit down and we play some games and have fun before lunch. We then have dinner, pudding and a cup of tea. On Monday we do bingo after lunch until around 3pm. There’s also a care worker here to keep an eye on those who may need support. On a Thursday we do the same but with no bingo afterwards.
“As well as these meetings every week we also run day trips to Weymouth and Weston and have a five-day holiday coming up in Eastbourne in May!”
With around 100 members the group is open for new people to join.
Pete added, “It means a lot to be runners up to the Frome Times’ People of the Year award. I am getting regular phone calls from lots of different people wanting to come in and try it out. People don’t have to stay; they can come in and try it out and see what they think. On the whole people come back and I am getting lots of positive feedback from people that they really like it here.”
During the Covid-19 pandemic, the organisers of the group continued to keep connected with members and provide wellbeing checks.
Pete said, “During Covid, we kept in touch regularly and we also did lottery draws and gave the winners £20, £30 and £50 per month. I used to go to people’s doors and stand at a distance. Our chef, Simon, also continued to do Meals on Wheels. We were always writing cards and letters to people regularly. We had a lot of calls at the start from people wanting to know when it was going to start again. When it started up again it was brilliant.”
In the next couple of months, a Buddy Holly tribute band will perform for the members on Monday 13th February for Valentine’s Day, followed by an in-door street party to celebrate the King’s coronation in May.
Membership costs £10 a year and £8 for the meals at the meeting. The group is open to anyone aged 55+ in Frome and the surrounding places. Transport is available for people in Frome if they struggle to get to the group by themselves.
For more information or to let Pete know you would like to attend a session call 07974 702 642.
