The Green and Healthy Frome Programme is funded through the National Lottery’s Climate Action Fund. The project is a collaboration between Frome Town Council and lead partner Edventure, and Frome Medical Practice.
The premise is that healthier people make a healthier planet, and a healthier planet supports healthier people. The programme engages people who would not normally get involved for climate reasons alone. Alongside storytelling and community development activities the project will deliver a catalogue of community-led climate and health initiatives that can work sustainably in Frome.
The Green and Healthy Frome programme comprises seven work packages; each work package has produced a toolkit to enable ideas to be shared and replicated in other towns. The toolkits can be downloaded from this page, or from the Green and Healthy Frome website. If you have your own ideas that can deliver a climate/health win/win add it our vision board.
Health & Climate Conference
On 15th July 2022 the Green and Healthy team invited people to join them to learn about the project’s impact, ways to get involved and models for making change in their own community. The event told the story of the unique partnership and how it’s making a difference to health and climate change in Frome.
Guest speakers included Jonathan Higman (NHS Somerset ICB), Dr Rita Issa (climate-focussed GP and activist), Simon Roberts (CEO of Centre for Sustainable Energy), Yvonne Bignall (award-winning nature coach) and Grace Maddrell (author of Tomorrow is Too Late), as well as members of the project team including: Dr Helen Kingston, Charlotte Carson, Nikki Brain, Jo Morris, Emma Parker and Sue Palmer.
Healthy Homes & Cycle Together
Plastic Free. Period.
Plastic Free. Period. is a project launched by Frome Town Council and Frome Medical Practice in 2022. The project aims to promote more sustainable (and plastic free) menstrual products that will help save money as well as reducing waste and protecting the environment.
Did you know that plastic period products are a major contributor to microplastics in our rivers? A single pack of regular disposable pads contains as much plastic as five carrier bags! In the UK, up to 2 billion period products are flushed annually, polluting waterways.
In response, the Green and Healthy team were motivated to take action and launched ‘Plastic Free. Period.’—an initiative promoting reusable, plastic-free period products that are better for the environment and our health.
Options include period pants, washable pads and liners, menstrual cups, and organic, low-toxin disposable products. Switching reduces exposure to toxins in some of the most sensitive areas of your body, while also benefiting the planet and saving money over time.
In 2024, Frome Town Council and Frome Medical Practice fundraised towards free period packs for Year 8 and 9 students in Frome. A £15 donation pays for a whole pack which includes three pairs of period pants, a washable pad, a waterproof bag and a booklet. Find out more about Plastic Free. Period below.
Green Community Connectors
Building on their award-winning health connector programme, Frome Medical Practice have employed Charlotte Carson as their Green Health Connector who will:
- Train green community connectors, who will pass on information to residents, friends and colleagues to link them with local climate and health boosting activities. To find out about this training visit Green Community Connectors
- Educate GP practice staff and Health Connections team on local climate and health boosting activities
- Support the Healthy Homes by Prescription project and the Cycling by Prescription programme
Est. CO2 savings: 261 tonnes per year
Choosing Wisely
Choosing Wisely is a way of working at Frome Medical Practice. It is about ensuring we understand what matters most to you and adjusting your care to reflect this. It is making sure that everyone is fully aware of all the steps we can take to best support your health and wellbeing, including those living with long-term health issues.
Frome Medical Practice work to give you the right care while being as sustainable as possible including cutting carbon emissions. We know that what is good for our health is good for the planet and often saves money for the NHS too.
Future Shed
Future Shed is part of Edventure, brings together the Frome community to embrace a green lifestyle, enhance wellbeing, and to nurture the planet.
We support the launch and growth of green and healthy projects and enterprises by building networks, connecting like-minded individuals, and offering free training, coaching, and resources to turn ideas into action.
By supporting these initiatives, we’re creating opportunities for more people to join free, inclusive groups that build friendships and support a sustainable, cost-effective, healthy way of living. Together, we’re shaping a greener, healthier Frome.
Storytelling
Edventure will be sharing the projects and the story of how healthy people and a healthy planet are interlinked, and how people and communities can take the lead.
- Their communications will encourage people to take up behaviours that are good for their health and enable carbon reduction. Develop narratives that engage Frome’s diverse community, particularly people who would not normally be involved for climate reasons alone. There will be a structured approach to develop storytelling, including working with focus groups
- A new annual conference will bring all stakeholders in the Frome 2030 programme together, share what’s been learnt during the year and learn from others who are doing or want to be doing similar activities
- A website will be created and a catalogue of resources to share learning, to inspire and enable a carbon and health community of practice.
Evaluation
Frome Town Council employs a climate change and evaluation expert to:
- Measure the environmental, health and community impact of our Climate Action Fund projects
- Work with all projects to provide guidance around maximising impact
- Work closely with the Climate Action Fund and other funded projects to share best practice.
The evaluation work will be reviewed by an external expert to ensure it is robust, verified and truly reflects the programme’s impact.
