Frome Sheds help tackle loneliness in Korea

AN international broadcasting company from Korea is using the initiative of Frome Sheds, for men and women, as part of a documentary to help tackle the country’s increasing suicide rates due to isolation.

The Korean Broadcasting Company (KBC) visited the Frome Men’s Shed on Thursday 21st June and the newly-created Women’s Shed on Monday 25th June to create a documentary on how compassionate groups, such as the Shed initiative, can help to combat loneliness. Isolation is an increasing issue in Korea, which has led to an increasing number of suicides in the country.

The Sheds provide a welcoming, inclusive environment and company for men and women wanting to learn new skills or share existing ones by working on their own projects, or projects for the local community.

Patrick Abrahams, chairman of the Frome Men’s Shed said, “It was great to host the Korean Broadcasting Company. They chose Frome because of our recent inclusion in the national press, such as The Guardian, for the ‘Compassionate Communities’ schemes.

“They came here to learn about what we do here at the Shed to tackle loneliness and isolation, to hopefully take ideas back to Korea and help solve their increasing suicide rates.”