Latest news with #Frome
BBC News
3 days ago
- Health
- BBC News
Friends launch group to support new dads in Frome
Isolation, exhaustion and working out exactly how to navigate the first months of a baby's life are topics all new parents are faced with. But while maternal mental health has become more widely spoken about in recent years, some fathers say they feel left out of the picture. Four dads from Frome in Somerset who were experiencing these feelings decided to band together to do something about it and offer support to others. Their group, For Dads Sake (FDS) may only be a few months old, but dozens of men in the town who had been searching for a place to talk all things fatherhood have already joined. Ben Price, 31, is one of the group's founders. "Dad chat just seeps into conversations constantly," he said."You're unloading about the colour of your child's poo, or what they ate, what they didn't eat, and not everyone really wants to chat about that."We thought it'd be really good to get a few people together and just go deep into the dad conversation, and then the next time we're down the pub we can chat about the latest thing we've watched on Netflix or something." The idea for FDS was sparked when the four founding members, Mr Price, Max Morton, 41, Wayne Collins, 36, and Alex Thomas, 31, started meeting regularly to watch Frome Town FC at the start of the year. With all of them having young children, they soon found that many of their conversations began to revolve around fatherhood - not just sleep schedules or toothbrushing tactics - but mental health and some of parenting's bigger questions. "The more we've been speaking to dads, the more we've realised that actually, there isn't that much support for dads to ask the questions that we might have," said Mr Morton. "It's always the dads asking the mums 'what do we do here?, and then it feels like we're not doing a very good job because we're not finding the answers out [ourselves]," he added. "But this group [means] we can get advice from different people with kids of different ages... and we can bring information ourselves, which I think is quite powerful." "Having that support network of other dads who are going through the same thing [is great] because men are our own little islands and sometimes it's nice to build a little bridge and connect those islands up together," Mr Thomas said. While none of the founders are trained in mental health care, they were clear that one of the main reasons for regularly getting together a group of dads to chat about parenting was to signpost people who might be struggling to the right services. 'In the background' Mr Collins said he "really struggled" when his son was born because "there was no one really to talk to". "We'd go to all the check-ups and, rightly so, it's all about the mums - which it should be because they've had massive changes - but I found you'd be sat there sort of in the background. "There almost needs to be like a check-up for dads a month or two in to make sure you're okay as well." But while that support isn't readily available, the four dads hope FDS can ease some of the pressure. There have only been two meet-ups so far, but already there are already 40 members and more men joining all the time. While recent plans have revolved around the pub, the group hopes to expand to coffee mornings, park runs and even family fun days. "It's been life changing, really, because I'm able to be Max and dad simultaneously," said Mr Morton. "I think that's really, really important."
BBC News
4 days ago
- Health
- BBC News
Views sought on NHS cutting Somerset community hospital beds
People are being asked to share their views on reducing community hospital beds, as the NHS looks to bring care directly to people's homes Somerset has suggested reducing hospital beds at West Mendip, Crewkerne and Frome community hospitals and is asking local people to share their Bernie Marden, chief medical officer for NHS Somerset, said: "I want to emphasise that absolutely no decision has been taken, this is about engaging with local communities to see how they see things."NHS Somerset will be hosting conversations with the public on the matter, the next will take place on 17 August at the Mid Somerton Show. Dr Marden added there was medical evidence that people recovered faster in the "familiarity of their homes"."We think this is a very exciting opportunity. We're very lucky in Somerset that we have our 13 community hospitals," he average, one person could spend 37 days within a community hospital bed but the same care could be delivered in somebody's own home in just 17 days, according to Dr some people are concerned that reducing the number of community hospital beds would mean people who cannot be treated at home would be sent to general hospitals further former employee at Crewkerne Community Hospital, who wished to remain anonymous, told BBC Radio Somerset being in a general hospital on a large ward did not help recovery in the same way as a smaller community Marden added: "Of course, there will be people who have to access hospital-based care. Then, our focus should be to get them back into their communities and ideally back into their own bed at home."We've been doing things in a particular way for a long time, but like anything in medicine there's new opportunities. There's things we can do in local communities now that we couldn't have before, like chemotherapies."
BBC News
5 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
Public inquiry told 'clear need' for 1,700 homes in Frome
Developers have told an inquiry into proposals for 1,700 new homes, there is "no better Plan B". The Selwood Garden Community (SGC), planned for Frome in Somerset, would be built on the edge of the town near the the first day of a five-day hearing into the application, being held in Shepton Mallet, barristers representing the SGC consortium said there was "a clear and pressing need" for local the plans have been met with opposition from local residents, with some arguing there are "massive environmental concerns" with the site, as well as fears over infrastructure and pressure on local services. Two new care homes, a primary school and sports facilities would also be built at SGC, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Council had been due to discuss the proposal in February but the application was called in by central council has taken a neutral position at the hearing and said it could "neither endorse nor disagree with" the developers' position, but would do what it could to secure financial contributions towards local services if the development went Tucker KC made his opening statement in favour of the new development on behalf of the SGC consortium of said the scheme "offers a vast number of clear and tangible benefits" – including affordable housing to meet the needs of local people."The inquiry will conclude with a site visit on 12 August and the final decision on the plans will be made by housing secretary Angela Rayner within the next six months.
The Sun
6 days ago
- The Sun
Concerns grow for missing schoolgirl, 15, who disappeared five days ago wearing black tracksuit as cops urge ‘call 999'
COPS are urgently hunting for a missing 15-year-old school girl who disappeared five days ago. Rosie, 15, was last seen on Friday, August 1 and Avon and Somerset Police are concerned for her welfare. Rosie is described as white, 5ft 2in tall and of slim build and vanished in Somerset. She has long dark blonde hair and blue eyes, said cops. The teenager was last seen wearing a black tracksuit and white trainers. Rosie also has links to Frome, Glastonbury and Shepton Mallet, said police. Avon and Somerset Police said: "While we have no evidence of an immediate risk to Rosie's safety. "We are concerned for her welfare and need to know that she is safe and well." If you know where Rosie is, please call 999 ref 5225219880, or ring 101 with any other information.
The Guardian
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
‘No one could compete': readers remember the magic of Allan Ahlberg's stories
'I worked with kids who struggled – this one boy would listen with rapture' Thirty years ago I was a healthcare assistant working for CAMHS in a major city. It was a brilliant creative job where I worked with primary school kids who were struggling with home and school life. We had one little boy, aged seven, who was a world of chaos, he found it hard to connect with others and he had a tough exterior on show nearly all the time. However, a couple of times a week, we had story time in the library, a quiet and tiny room, and he would always, without fail, come and sit as close to me as he could, and ask very quietly for 'Bogalabol' – Burglar Bill. He would then listen with rapture and delight to the whole story, and join in with his favourite phrases. As he listened, he became a little boy again, taking pleasure in this story with its salt of the earth burglars, and the simple joy of being read to. It remains one of my favourite memories of that time. Of course I read Burglar Bill to my own kids, and I expect I'll read it to any grandchildren I have! Tanya Logan, 53, Frome, Somerset 'I used to do my best Ray Winstone growl when reading' I loved Burglar Bill. He steals such bonkers stuff, and then he finds – a baby! And eventually true love with Burglar Betty. I used to read it to my kids doing Burglar Bill in my best Ray Winstone growl. They loved it. The books were a great way to introduce my own kids to reading, and later many others when I worked as an English teacher. Esther Pocock, librarian, Sweden 'I still use the letter he wrote to me to this day' I'm a primary school teacher and about 12 years ago I wrote to Allan Ahlberg with my class. He took care to write a really individual letter back to us, addressing every child's comments (and mine), and he also shared some early drafts of Mrs Wobble the Waitress and some copies of a couple of his new books at the time (Hooray for Bread was one of them). I was really impressed by his generous spirit in replying in such detail, and I still use the letter with classes to this day to say: 'Look, real authors need to re-draft, so you should too!' Luke Stratton, 41, primary school teacher, Coalville, Leicestershire 'On a whim, I texted my 28-year-old daughter the first line and she replied with the next one – and so it went on for 10 minutes' All of them are favourites – but particularly Each Peach Pear Plum and The Jolly Postman books. On a whim I texted the first line of the former to my 28-year-old daughter the other day. She immediately texted back (while at work I may add) the following line from the book, and so it went on for 10 glorious minutes between us both, word perfect with no cheating, smiling away at our phones. Me – charmed at the way this book has resonated through the years between mother and daughter. She – thrilled with a young child's delight in being clever in remembering it all in the middle of her busy day. It is still the book I buy for all new parents I come across, as I will do for hers as and when she has children of her own. Jayne Stead, retired teacher, York 'My two girls love it' The wonder of the Ahlbergs' books span generations and they are so detailed, clever and don't talk down to children. [Allan's wife Janet Ahlberg illustrated all his books until her death in 1994.] They are among the few authors I enjoy reading night after night; I received Each Peach Pear Plum from a friend with older children, who wistfully said she could still happily recite it from memory. My two girls love the book. Caroline Haywood, 39, lawyer, Nairobi, Kenya 'My child who was non-verbal until three could still communicate by finding items in the pictures' With my own child, who was non-verbal until three, books with things to look for such as Peepo! meant they could still communicate by finding items in the pictures. The repetitive nature also meant things could be mimed or signed. Then when speech came the rhymes were fun and they were reading without noticing! Allan Ahlberg's books enriched my teaching and the lives of children I know. Isn't that a special legacy? Kathie, former teacher now works in data protection, St Helens 'No one could compete with the Ahlbergs' There are so many to choose from but I'd have to opt for Cops and Robbers as it went from mild peril to slapstick comedy and had everything in between. I loved them when I was a kid and when my daughter was little I read her every Janet and Allan Ahlberg book I could get my hands on. We read a lot of books together but no one could compete with the Ahlbergs. They are the greatest children's authors of all time, bar none. Martin Hall, 46, librarian, Frankfurt, Germany 'It helped me as a new parent' The Baby's Catalogue was introduced to me by an unemployed mother while waiting in a Berkeley unemployment line 40 years ago. Two children later, while waiting in a pediatrician's office I discovered a ratty copy of Burglar Bill on the book pile. The story was so enchanting that I am ashamed to say I nicked it. The Baby Catalogue helped me as a new parent understand that the smallest, mundane parts of a child's day could be beautiful and important to them so to accept it with patience and grace. As for Burglar Bill, my boys didn't turn to a life of crime like their mother. In my defence I've taken good care of the book. Kathy Nilsson, 67, retired, Mountain View, California 'To open his books is to feel a jolt of warmth and home again' I had all but forgotten about Ahlberg's books until I started working as a children's bookseller. To discover them again, to turn the pages 20 years on from the last time, made me ache for a time and a place long gone. That feeling never leaves me. Peepo! and Each Peach Pear Plum both sit on my son's bookshelves and even though I see the spines every single day, to open them is to feel that jolt of warmth and home again. They are perfection. Funny Bones has now become one of my son's favourite books. People complain it's too long, but how can you not relish getting to linger over those 'dark, dark' lines? Hannah Renowden, 42, page planner, Glasgow
