ACTIVE and In Touch Frome spread some festive cheer at a Christmas party last month, complete with a visit from Mayor of Frome, councillor Toby Eliot.
On Monday 19th December cllr Eliot volunteers and members at their special Christmas get-together at Trinity Church Hall. The event was part funded by donations from Frome’s Nunney Road Co-op, as well as a personal donation by fellow volunteer, Jo Dismore.
Cllr Eliot said, “It was a really lovely event. We sang carols together and were entertained by the amazing African Xylophone Ensemble. It was fantastic to see people making new friends, over a delicious hot dinner.”
Charles Wood, chairman of Active and In Touch added, “Our annual Christmas party is a wonderful opportunity to bring people together to enjoy each other’s company with some delicious food, mulled wine, carols and other entertainment.
“Thank you to all our amazing volunteers whose hard work created a little Christmas magic to so many lovely people. Around 70 people came along to the event to join in the festivities.
“Our volunteer befriending service provides people with a chance to just chat about things and connect with others.
“Our befrienders can introduce them to other things happening locally, help beneficiaries get around, and to enjoy specific visits to places of interest; all aimed at bringing some missing colour into their lives. Our services are not complex, but such simple pleasures are big factors in sustaining both mental and physical wellbeing.”
Active and In Touch Frome is a charity run in partnership with Somerset You Can Do, which employs the project co-ordinator, registers all the project’s volunteers and provides training and induction. Over the last three years many different people have been helped by the befrienders, in many different ways and for many different reasons. Currently the project’s youngest member is 28 and the oldest member is 101.
Anyone who would like to volunteer or knows someone who might benefit from this support can call Lucia Chadwick 07572 854029 or Di Roberts on 07468 859453, call Somerset You Can Do on 01278 664180, or email lucia.chadwick@somersetyoucando.org or activeandintouch@gmail.com
The group shares an office space with Fair Frome at Frome Town Council, 5, Palmer Street, The office is now manned between 10am and 3pm, Monday to Thursday.
