The Vale of Frome covers the north-east area of Somerset taking in 18 parishes, and five electoral divisions: Frome East Frome North, Frome West, Mendip Central and East, and finally, Mendip South. Its population is approximately 37,800.

The area features many historic landmarks and buildings including Nunney Castle, and the George Inn at Norton St Philip. Also of special interest is the famed architecture of Rode and Beckington.

Central to the LCN is the market town of Frome. Bordering both Wiltshire and Bath and North East Somerset (BaNES) places this LCN and its residents in a unique position, with transport links more readily available into these counties than other parts of Somerset. This means that residents often access education, health care, employment and leisure opportunities over the borders.

However, developing the relationships within Somerset itself is also vital for the wellbeing and resilience of its residents and communities.

Yearly Report

• Local Community Network Yearly Report 2023/2024 – Vale of Frome (PDF, 83KB)

The LCN has:

• Heard about what the data tells us from colleagues in Children Services at Somerset Council

Together they have:

• Discussed the important role of Sport and Physical activity in children’s lives with Somerset Activity and Sports Partnership (SASP)
• Explored what Anti-Social Behaviour means in our parishes, to 350 young people and the police, gaining a better understanding of the issues and who is responsible
• Developed a working group which meets outside of the larger meeting to focus on the development and delivery of an action focused plan
• Supported coordination and connection of a range of partners to improve the Early Help offer for local families, including Frome Library to address issues of anti-social behaviour and enhance their offer for young people
• Enhanced detached youth work provision
• Enhanced coordination and strategic overview of:
  • Frome Children and Young People’s Mental Health forum
  • Frome Youth Network
  • Development of new Under 5’s Forum

Locally they are owning and controlling:

• A small grants program to support physical activity in all of their parishes funded by a Local Government Association Grant

They have developed new services and attracted new resources into the area:

• Secured national funding and have recruited a Frome Area Development Lead delivering new sports and activities for young people led by SASP
• Mapped the gaps and opportunities in villages surrounding Frome – funded by Public Health and Early Help Team at Somerset Council
• Further developed FIND Frome – a digital database for families and practitioners, which now includes information about services and opportunities in the wider Frome Area
• Secured external funding to be part of a pilot project in three areas across the UK to map community connections through a project called Understory
• Identified an Area Champion and secured a grant to work with Somerset Council to develop the Connect Somerset offer in the Frome Area

Their influence has included:

• The development of Connect Somerset, a county-wide project to develop a place-based approach to enhancing and building a comprehensive Early Help offer for children, young people and their families
• A better coordinated and strategic plan for the delivery of statutory and other services and opportunities in the Frome Area
• Increased information and signposting for residents and practitioners

View the full list of upcoming Local Community Network Meetings.