Community action/Frome
The aim of this page is to recognise, celebrate and encourage the self-empowerment of community agency networks (CANs) and community groups' activism for climate, environment and many other sustainability topics across Frome.
News
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Frome residents win five-year battle for community-led housing project, theguardian.com (Jan 23, 2025) — “What’s really exciting for me is that it’s not actually about the amount of commercial space or the affordable housing it will provide – it’s about the sense of confidence and agency and possibility that I think it will give us as a community.” Fiona Barrows, Frome town councillor- The Tories are tearing themselves apart over housing – but this is another crisis of their own making, John Harris, The Guardian (Nov 27, 2022)
- If we want a cosmolocal revolution, writes Benjamin Still, we must learn from how soil binds the world together, The Alternative UK (Jan 23, 2022)
- Businesses face extinction unless they protect nature, major report warns, BBC News (Feb 09, 2026)
- Enlisting hearts and minds to save Somerset’s last eels, positive.news (Aug 18, 2025)
- New national forest to see 20m trees planted, BBC News (Mar 21, 2025)
- Met Office issues rare red weather warning for Wednesday and Thursday, theguardian.com (Jun 22, 2026)
- Rights of Nature movement grows, with the Wye and Ouse subject to new protection charters, wickedleeks.riverford.co.uk (Jun 18, 2026) — Nature sits at the heart of several new sets of rights and charters; it’s even headlining a festival this summer. Is the way that we view and value Nature within our political and cultural frameworks at a turning point? asks Hannah Marsh
- This city had a flooding problem. So it turned to an animal that had been extinct there for 400 years, edition.cnn.com (Jun 18, 2026)
- Amsterdam, along with other major European cities, bans public adverts for meat and fossil fuels [BBC], Daily Alternative (May 22, 2026)
- How reindeer herds, nature and Sámi culture can thrive when forests are restored across northern Europe, theconversation.com (May 15, 2026)
- Rewilding giants: captive elephants rehomed in Europe’s first sanctuary, theguardian.com (May 07, 2026)
- Collaborative Finance (CoFi): rethinking finance for the commons, growingcommons.substack.com (Jun 07, 2026) — What finance looks like when communities build and govern it themselves, Michel Rauchs
- Radical change can lead to a fairer and greener world, says new report, positive.news (Jun 04, 2026) — A major new study argues that rising living standards, shorter working hours and a liveable climate are not competing dreams, but parts of the same future – if the world is willing to tackle extreme inequality
- Young South Africans take up sustainable agriculture for food security, climatechangenews.com (Jun 02, 2026) — Aquaponics is seeing a revival in South Africa’s schools, boosted by government support and climate concerns
Networks and sustainability initiatives
[edit | edit source]- Frome Neighbourhood Network, frometowncouncil.gov.uk, added 15:04, 14 December 2020 (UTC)
- Sustainable Frome
Each week 3 different short videos from across the UK or world.
Rural sustainability UK, Community energy UK, Community action/Argyll and Bute / ...This week's featured Global videos / ... read more about Cosmolocalism
UK and international events
[edit | edit source]UK events
Jul 1 - 14, 2026 (Wed - Tue) — Community Energy Fortnight, communityenergyengland.org- Jul 02, 2026 (Thu) — Cycle to Work Day, cyclescheme.co.uk
- Jul 17 - Aug 9, 2026 (Fri - Sun) — Big Butterfly Count, bigbutterflycount.butterfly-conservation.org
- Jul 19 - 25, 2026 (Sun - Sat), The theme for 2026 is JOY — Community Centre Week, octopuscommunities.org.uk
- Jul 24 - Aug 2, 2026 (Fri - Sun) — Love Parks Week, Keep Britain Tidy
Global or international events
- July 2026 — Plastic Free July, plasticfreejuly.org
- Jul 04, 2026 (Sat) — International Day of Cooperatives (CoopsDay), 1st Saturday of July. The celebration aims to showcase co-operatives’ role in building ‘inclusive, resilient, and sustainable communities’, coopsday.coop
- Jul 18, 2026 (Sat) — Mandela Day, global celebration 18 July annually, to honour the life and legacy of Nelson Mandela. A call to action for individuals, communities, and organisations to take time to reflect on Mandela's values and principles and to make a positive impact in their own communities, mandeladay.com
2021-2030, UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration, International community action events
Frome video
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Community involvement
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The civil parish of Frome has adopted the style of a town, and there is a Town Council of 17 members. In May 2019 all 17 council members elected were members of the Independents for Frome party (ifF). W The Town Council has been involved in a number of sustainability orientated initiatives, see subsequent sections.
- Have your say 2019 Frome Town Council
- Independents for Frome
- Breaking the Mould, One Day Conference held at Frome Town Hall, April 2018
- Participatory Budgeting Frome
- Frome Town Council
see also:
- Community involvement UK, Flatpack democracy
- Flatpack Democracy Civic Politics Revolution in Frome, wiki.p2pfoundation.net
Food activism
[edit | edit source]Food Frome, food heritage society - Frome Allotments - Incredible Edible Frome
The Town Council installed the first community fridge in the country in May 2016; 90,000 items a year have been saved from landfill. This was joined by a community larder in October 2017.
Frome has an online market, the Food Hub launched in November 2018, where sustainable supplies from local farmers and food producers can be sourced, either for collection or by delivery (central Frome only). W
Housing and land
[edit | edit source]- Frome Area Community Land Trust, creating fairer housing for Frome. added 11:13, 4 February 2025 (UTC)
Towards sustainable economies
[edit | edit source]- Loop:Frome, added 09:45, 2 May 2023 (UTC)
- Edventure Frome, school for community enterprise, added 17:05, 16 March 2021 (UTC)
Community resources
[edit | edit source]SHARE: a Library of Things, Frome
In early 2015, the UK's first high street Library of Things was set up in the town. In one year (May 2018 to April 2019), use of the shop helped avoid 92 tonnes CO2e of greenhouse gas emissions, saved 117,000 kg of material usage and avoided 10 tonnes of manufacturing waste. In the same period its members collectively saved £66,800 by borrowing instead of buying items. W
Health and wellbeing
[edit | edit source]A project, Compassionate Frome, to combat loneliness in the town was established by a local GP in 2013. It is claimed that it reduced emergency hospital admissions by 17% over three years when in the rest of the county they rose by 29%. W
Reduce, reuse, repair and recycle
[edit | edit source]- Loop:Frome, new community start-up rethinking resource. "By closing Frome's food waste loop and transforming this resource into a living, nutrient-dense compost, we are contributing towards the town's goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2030. As well as creating sustainable and regenerative infrastructures." added 16:24, 27 January 2022 (UTC)
Climate action
[edit | edit source]- Imagining a better future for Frome, Oct 17, 2019 Frome Town Council
Ethical consumerism
[edit | edit source]Sustainable transport activism
[edit | edit source]The Town Council employs a resilience officer, one of only two at town council or parish level in the country; a principal task is to support the strategic priorities for transport. Initiatives include a public-access car club, operated by the social enterprise Co-wheels. Electric charging points are available at the Cheese and Grain, the Town Hall, the Football Club and Frome Medical Practice. W
Frome is an accredited Walkers are Welcome town since 2018. An extensive list of walks and guides is available. Guided walks on a range of topics are now online. W
Cycling activism
[edit | edit source]Two cycling clubs operate in the town: the Frome CTC, nicknamed the Coffee and Tea-Cake Club, and the Frome & District Wheelers. E-bikes are available for hire, courtesy of a Town Council initiative. W
Urban sustainability
[edit | edit source]- Mayday Saxonvale, "not-for-profit social enterprise, with the sole objective of delivering a sustainable plan for Saxonvale governed by the needs, priorities, and aspirations of our town." Mayday Saxonvale on youtube.com, added 16:11, 29 January 2025 (UTC)
Environment quality
[edit | edit source]On 13 December 2017 the Town Council unanimously agreed to become a 'single-use plastic'-free council. W
Open spaces
[edit | edit source]There are a number of public green spaces within the town, both formal and informal; some are substantial such as the Victoria Park or the Rodden Meadow; others may be smaller but are valued within their neighbourhoods, such as Weylands or the Dippy. Many of the public spaces have organised litter picks, arranged by local community groups. W
River action
[edit | edit source]- Friends of the River Frome, community group of volunteers, and registered charity, that works to improve, protect and celebrate the Somerset river Frome. "We do everything from river clean ups and water testing, to negotiating with developers to protect the river." added 11:27, 4 February 2025 (UTC)
About Frome
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Frome ( FROOM) is a town and civil parish in Somerset, England, on uneven high ground at the eastern end of the Mendip Hills and on the River Frome, 13 miles (21 km) south of Bath. The population of the parish was 28,559 in 2021.
Frome was one of the largest towns in Somerset until the Industrial Revolution. The town first grew due to the wool and cloth industry; it later diversified into metal-working and printing, although these have declined. The town was enlarged during the 20th century but retains a large number of listed buildings, and most of the centre falls within a conservation area.
The town has road and rail transport links and acts as an economic centre for the surrounding area. It provides a centre for cultural and sporting activities, including the annual Frome Festival and Frome Museum.
In 2014, Frome was named by The Times as the "sixth coolest town" in Britain. It was shortlisted as one of three towns in the country for the 2016 Urbanism Awards in the 'Great Town Award' category. In its 2018 and 2021 report on the "Best places to live in the UK", The Sunday Times listed Frome as the best in the South West. In April 2019, Time Out listed Frome among 15 of the best weekend breaks from London.
Frome archive
[edit | edit source]Video archive
- Edventure - What our students say, 2018, youtube.com
- Share - A library of Things by Edventure Frome, Frome Town Council and the Cheese and Grain. 2015. youtube.com
- Frome Open Homes 2014, youtube.com
Past events
- 2012, Independence Day - Frome
News archive
Local councils can be both arrogant and enabling. They chop down the trees overnight in Doncaster …and ask the citizens to plan their foliage and foresting in Frome, Nov 23, 2020...thealternative.org.uk
- If a corporation can have "legal personhood", so can a river. And not just the River Ganges... but the River Frome too...The Alternative UK, Sep 10, 2019
- The town that's found a potent cure for illness – community, George Monbiot, Feb 21, 2018...The Guardian
- From the pub to the Town Council: on how citizens took control of local politics, Peter MacFadyen, Apr 6, 2017...citiesintransition.eu
- Can Frome become UK's first fossil fuel free town? Feb 23, 2016...frometimes.co.uk
- Frome Wins The Great Town Award, November 6, 2015...Permaculture Magazine
- A Library of Things Puts Frome On the Map as a Sharing Town, June 10, 2015...Shareable
- How Flatpack Democracy beat the old parties in the People's Republic of Frome, May 22, 2015...The Guardian
- UK's first SHARE shop to open in Frome, April 21, 2015...Frome Times
- Peter MacFadyen on Independents for Frome, June 8, 2014...Transition Network
News sources
- Articles mentioning Frome from the Daily Alternative
Near you
[edit | edit source]| Authors | Phil Green |
|---|---|
| License | CC-BY-SA-3.0 |
| Cite as | Philralph (2020–2025). "Community action/Frome". Appropedia. Retrieved June 24, 2026. |