Town-wide programme brings month of social activities in May

A month-long programme of activities and events is set to take place across the town in May as part of an initiative encouraging residents to connect with themselves, each other and local places.

The scheme, Frome Connects, will run throughout the month and includes a mix of social activities, creative events and informal meet-ups in community spaces.

Highlights include the return of Dress Up Fridays, which began during lockdown and invites people to wear formal clothing or fancy dress and turn the town into their catwalk each Friday.

Set-piece moments include a Kate Bush-themed flashmob (Running Up That [Catherine] Hill) on 30th May, followed by a bell peal at St John’s Church where the bells will play Running Up That Hill.

There will also be a whole-town drone photo on Friday 30th May, with everyone encouraged to ‘look up’ at around 12.30pm.

New groups are being launched, including a Trains Connect social group at the Cheese and Grain, aimed at rail enthusiasts and newcomers meeting over coffee.

Other activities include free co-working sessions at Edventure Frome, dance aerobics sessions for adults with learning disabilities at Colliers Court, and museum trail activities across Cheap Street and the ‘Under Your Feet’ town exploration project.

Community venues and groups are also involved, including sessions linked to Hunting Raven Books and activities across sheltered housing schemes.

Other events across the month include a spring fair at Vallis Farm, Qi Gong sessions near Victoria Park tennis courts, a silent disco outside Frome Library and a memorial-themed aerobics session at the Cheese and Grain.

The initiative is led locally and builds on work in the town dating back to 2013, associated with what is often referred to as the Frome Model, which has been cited nationally for its approach to community-based wellbeing.

Organisers, including Jenny Hartnoll and Ginny Adams, founder of Mojo Moves, have been working on community-focused activities across the town.

Jenny Hartnoll said, “There is growing evidence that connectedness plays a critical role in health and wellbeing. People with strong social relationships have a significantly lower risk of early death, and feeling connected to community and purpose is linked to better mental health, reduced stress and greater life satisfaction.”

Ginny Adams said, “Keep an eye out this May… you might find connection in unexpected places.”

For more information and to explore events throughout May, follow Frome Connects on Facebook, visit www.weareconnectors.org or email rarespeciesuk@gmail.com or, via the Frome Connects Facebook page.

Pictured: l-r Jenny Hartnoll and Ginny Adams