My thoughts about Frome are embedded in the Southern African concept of Ubuntu – “I am because we are”. This is ultimately the foundation of being human. And, having grown up in a deeply divided South Africa, Ubuntu has driven me to bring people together.
The Vision on the Frome Town Strategy is exactly who I am. If you replace the word Frome with Dawn, it is me.
Here are some examples of how my vision aligns with Frome’s vision.
Dawn looks for and tries out new ideas and ways of doing things.
When I moved to Frome in 2011, I was very lonely. I did not have children as the school, which is an instant community. I was working away as a tour guide so did not have the connection one gets from colleagues. And, when I was home, my partner was often off guiding. I felt so isolated and alone. I knew there were amazing things going on in Frome. But I just did not know what or where they were. So, I set up the Frome Diary website. It became the go-to website in town for events and it brought communities together. Young mothers, older men and women, charities, children, teens, the arts, business, and everything in-between found value in the site. There were over 400 events posted on the site per month, which was amazing!
But, over 7 years (ish) the website costed me almost £20,000. I either needed sponsorship or extra hands as I was still working away as a tour guide.
Neither happened and sadly I had to close the website down. But it gave me the community I needed when I arrived in town. I got a real sense of the soul of Frome. And I entrenched myself in town life: from crochet classes to the Frome Writers Collective and networking events. I joined the Frome Chamber of Commerce committee. As part of the Chamber, I realised women weren’t participating in the Chamber as they could be. So I set up the Frome Women’s group. We met for ‘Coffee Connect’ on Friday mornings and this led to many collaborations and opportunities for those who attended.
The first Frome Calendar came from this community as I collaborated with Mark Brooks and Postscript.
She is proudly independent and puts local solutions first.
“If there’s a book that you want to read, but it hasn’t been written yet, then you must write it”.
Toni Morrison
I tend to create what I need. – and bring others along.
The Pandemic has changed our working life. Many are either working from home or have left full time employment to start up a new business. There are also many newbies in Frome who feel as I did when I first arrived. They also want to meet new people. I have set up a regular ‘Drinks After Work Network’ (DAWN) for regular Friday evening drinks for those who want to feel connected.
She is outward looking, building, and maintaining connections both nationally and internationally.
There is a large community of Southern Africans in Frome and the surrounding areas. I wanted to introduce the culture I am so very proud of, to our British friends and family. I set up an annual market (Celebrate Southern Africa) to support Southern Africans who have left the world they know and have bravely set up businesses and side-hustles. And to share what makes our country so special. I ran the market at the Cheese & Grain for 2 years but have moved it to the Trowbridge Civic centre. I get between 1,500 and 3,000 people through the door. This has led to a sponsor from the South African government and many more opportunities to bring people to Frome and the surrounding areas.
As part of the South African Chamber of Commerce in the UK, I set up a West Country Chapter. I also met with the Somerset Chamber of Commerce to explore opportunities and links between South Africa and the UK (and specifically the South West).
Guiding
From these solid foundations, she wants to build:
- A positive and inclusive community where no-one gets left behind
I have no children and I often struggle knowing I may be alone with no family support. I also know that there are many older members of our community who are in the same position. But, I am acutely aware that loneliness is not only an ‘old’ person’s thing. I have also at times not felt fully accepted as an outsider in Frome, and this has made me feel even more isolated. I would love to be able to do more for those who are new to Frome (from the UK or from outside the UK) and for those who feel alone as I often still do.
- A clean, healthy and happy town
I have started a small role at Edventure in a hope to make a difference in this area. Human beings need to belong to be healthy and happy, and by creating opportunities for people to connect, this happens naturally.
- A thriving and resilient community and local economy
I realised in 2020 that many of my Southern African community had not been able to sell their products and services as markets, so I set up a Virtual Market with interviews on Facebook Live, YouTube and on podcast. This helped them stay ‘top of mind’ and we have a Facebook group for small traders to showcase their goods. I also set up a Christmas market in the Masonic Hall on the evening of the switching on of the lights, which was a huge success, especially as the outside market had been cancelled.
- Dawn actively encourages local people to participate in and feel ownership over ideas, spaces and assets
I have run many free and affordable social media courses for those who have ideas and want to reach more people. These have been online or in-person at the library. And my role at Edventure may give me more opportunity to grow this aspect of Frome.
I have started ‘Lightning Talks’ which is an opportunity for anyone in the community to share their ideas in only 5 minute talks under the heading of ‘Simply Story’.
For International Women’s Day 2022, this was my Lightning Talk:
I am always very happy to step back and let others ‘shine’. What I create is seldom for me, but more for what others need, but may not know how to go about it. I have the confidence to create it and they run with it.
- Dawn embraces innovation, takes risks, celebrates successes, and learns from experiences
The Pandemic meant that my tour guiding halted completely. I created an online membership community to help small businesses create content with Michelle Cheyne of Instinctive Living. There was no option but to try something new. My goal with Content College is to help small businesses grow in confidence and understand the impact they have on the world. I have brought all my knowledge, experience and passion from my teaching career, customer service manager, tour guide in London, tour director in Europe, the Balkans, Russia and north Africa together to learn and create new things.
My time on FromeFM and Warminster Community Radio gave me and opportunity to celebrate those in the community doing amazing things. I adore community radio!
I also have the TEDxFrome licence and will be celebrating our town’s ‘ideas worth spreading’ in September 2022 at the live event (venue TBA)
If I had a personal motto for Frome it would be:
We make the town, and the town makes us.
I am a ‘multipotentialite’ and thus have a wide range of skills or am happy to learn. I am a PE teacher, worked in tourism customer service managing a team of 16, led tour groups of up to 50 people in the UK, Ireland, Europe and on cruise ships in Russia and the Mediterranean. Enjoy (and train) public speaking, marketing and strategy, social media, writing (creative and non-fiction), websites and motivate others to start new things.
Working for and with Frome
I completed my second degree (correspondence) in International Relations and Diplomacy in 2018. I was utterly inspired by the diplomacy part of the degree – how to navigate through tough situations of disagreement. But, my personal focus is always on relationships. When I listen and hear what others have to say, I understand them better and know why they feel the way they do. I firmly believe that we are all aiming for the same outcome, we only have a different way of getting there. There is never a right or a wrong, only a different way of doing it.
I am deeply principled (but flexible), disciplined (yet spontaneous) and measured (yet creative). Working with others is thus an extension of who I am. I also know that ‘like attracts like’ and that a community creates its own culture.
