Frome grief network

The Frome Grief Network is a Good Heart initiative, founded by Mel Dalton and Neil Croom, who run a free, monthly Dying Matters group at The Good Heart.  Mel, the Project Lead, is a qualified Art Psychotherapist who co-facilitates Frome Birth Talk's Babyloss group.  Neil is supporting the project on a specialist consultancy basis.  He works locally as a Therapeutic Coach, with specialised grief training and many years of experience as a former Mental Health Nurse.

The Frome Grief Network was established in 2024 thanks to support from Frome Town Council's Community Fund. Here are some of the things we have achieved so far:

• We have built connections with over 60 people in the local area who work with grief and loss, through emails, phone calls and meetings.  This has included charities and organisations, support group leaders, therapeutic practitioners, funeral directors and those who practically and creatively have found their own unique ways to support people around the time of death, and the period after.

• We have hosted 4 meetings at The Good Heart, which have brought together organisations, businesses and individuals

• We have researched local groups and support offerings- to find out what is currently out there for people who are experiencing grief.  This iinformation s being used to update Frome Town Council’s FIND IT database database of the free and low-cost support available locally.  We have also identified gaps in support. 

• We have set up communication channels, including a Facebook page, as well as a Facebook group that anyone can use to publicly share information about what they do (please do make use of this!). 

• We also have a WhatsApp group, which is another space to introduce yourself, or to ask for information about local support.  (Please email fromegriefnetwork@gmail.com if you work with grief and loss and would like to be added to the group/ )

• We have hosted a Frome Grief Network Day as part of the 2025 Frome Kindness Festival, for which we have received excellent feedback on the sense of safety, the warm welcome, the delicious food and the quality of the sessions throughout the day. We hope to host a similar event at the 2026 Kindness Festival.

The funding for the establishment of the Frome Grief Network has now come to an end.  Mel and Neil are continuing the project for the time-being on a voluntary basis, whilst further funding is sought.  If you can help with this, please do get in touch.

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Quarterly meet-ups

We hold quarterly warm and welcoming meetings for Network members at the Good Heart Cafe.

Meet-ups include:

• Check-ins and updates on latest developments, events, and funding opportunities.

• Sharing from members about their work in grief and loss

• Discussions around gaps in services, emerging needs and future activities

These meetings are aimed towards those who work with grief and loss in Frome and surrounding areas. They are also open to members of the community who are interested and would like to offer their help. Gentle reminder that whilst we welcome and very much appreciate people bringing their own stories, these meet-ups are not grief support groups. If you are a member of the public looking for personal support, we would be happy to signpost you to local offerings along these lines, such as The Good Heart's monthly Dying Matters group.

Thanks to St Johns Church, who are supporting the venue hire costs of four Frome Grief Network meet-ups through their fundraising activities.

Upcoming 2025 meeting dates:

Date: Thursday 25th September 2025

Time: 7.30-9pm

Venue: The Good Heart Cafe, 7 Palmer Street

Date: Thursday 27th November 2025

Time: 7.30-9pm

Venue: The Good Heart Cafe, 7 Palmer Street

Contact

If you are interested in getting involved, please email Mel at fromegriefnetwork@gmail.com.  Please be aware that Mel supports this project on a voluntary, part-time basis amongst other work commitments- she will aim to get back to you asap and is grateful for your patience if there is a short delay in responding to email enquiries.

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