FROME Neighbourhood Network (FNN) is launching a new project on Friday 15th September called Transition Streets Frome which is designed to tackle environmental issues, mitigate the current cost-of-living crisis for Frome residents, and bring neighbours closer together.
The idea for this project was born in Totnes in Devon, inspired by the Transition Network and so far has been replicated all over the UK and indeed the world.
The project works by inviting neighbours to gather with six to eight households on their street and agree to hold eight group sessions (roughly two hours long) in their homes. The first and last sessions are led by a Transition Streets Frome volunteer facilitator who talks through the process and gives participants a handbook with chapters on six themes: energy, water, food, resources, biodiversity and transport.
The group then lead their own meetings – looking at a different handbook chapter each time – which gives relevant information and innovative ideas for how neighbours can do things together: from helping to lag each other’s pipes, to creating wildlife corridors between gardens.
FNN says, “It is designed to be an easily accessible and practical guide, providing a wealth of up-to-date information about how our daily habits and lifestyles can be made more green, more community-minded, and can save us all money. In the first phases of the Totnes project, around 500 households saved £570 (on average) on yearly household bills and 1.3 tonnes from their carbon footprint.
“The handbook also contains links to services, initiatives and organisations that are available to Frome residents and how they can make the best of them – from free meetings with an expert on energy saving in your home, to the free products offered by Frome water companies to help reduce your bill. It also includes excellent ideas for fun and child-friendly events and activities such as building bat and bird boxes or setting up a shared veg/herb patch on your street.
“The FNN team will be officially launching the Transition Streets Frome project on Friday 15th September. Everyone is welcome to join us at the Victoria Park Cafe anytime between 3pm to 6pm for free ice cream, kids’ activities and games (provided by SHARE:Frome), and a chat about the project. Feel free to bring the family or just come on your own – we’d love to see as many of you there as possible!”
If you decide you and your neighbours want to be involved you can email Frome Neighbourhood Network Administrator Rebecca Collins at fromeneighbourhoodnetwork@gmail.com to get the first session booked in.
FNN added, “Even if you are keen but haven’t yet approached others on your street, FNN can help spread the word and get your neighbours excited about taking part. Get in touch and we’d be happy to help get a Transition Streets Frome group up and running where you live!”
