Somerset Arts Well present Alive and Singing. A friendly, relaxed and informal singing group open to all. The choir takes place in the Old Court Room at the Town Hall in Wells which is well ventilated. Wednesdays 11am at Wells Town Hall £5 per session

The Old Stores Studio is an art studio, workshop and events space, based in the heart of Evercreech. We run a host of diverse activities throughout the year, including weekly art, craft & creative groups, and one off workshops.  Most group workshops have a suggested donation of £4; refreshments are available to purchase. Please see our online programme to book a place or join a waiting list or visit our website for further details.

This is a space for adults to bring their own creative projects to work on aside one another, colouring in and other crafty ideas will be available if you would like to do something, but are not sure what to bring, or you can just pop in for a cuppa and a chat, £2 entry, with free hot drinks.

Every Wednesday from 3pm-5pm at The Good Heart, 7 Palmer Street, Frome, BA11 1DS.

A Creative Space for All is an art group run by the community. A weekly group, open to all.

Wednesdays, 11am-2pm at Yeast Scrapstore, 7 Dyehouse Lane, Glastonbury, BA6 9LZ.

Cookery Course that meets every other Wednesday 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm. Based at Mind In Somerset, 57C High Street, Shepton Mallet, BA4 5AQ.

You will be shown how food can impact your mental health, and how to give you the knowledge needed to cook great meals for yourself.

The course is free of charge and open to everyone to attend.

Please contact Alison direct on the details below;

Free guided sketching for well-being meets every Tuesday at 10am in the “mosaic shelter” in Collet Park, Park Rd, Shepton Mallet, BA4 5 TT. Bring a mug along as we finish the group at 11am with coffee and cake. There’s an opportunity to offer a donation for refreshments but there’s no obligation, no other cost involved as all materials are provided for you.

The community Djembe group Mendip (All) Drummers, meet each Wednesday from 10.00 – 1.00 at the Croscombe village hall to learn & practice mainly West African rhythms on dundun & djembe hand drums. New members are always welcome, whether experienced or beginners. The class is run by teacher Charles Johnson. Cost is £4 per week.

The Health Hub is available to all farming or agricultural workers and their families, no matter where you live. Come and see us for: Health and wellbeing checks, advice on lifestyle and concerns affecting your emotional wellbeing. Guidance towards any support you may require in the future No appointments necessary, just call in and speak to one of our volunteers. Supported by Somerset NHS and The Farming Community Network.

2nd and 4th Wednesday of each month. Frome Livestock Market Standerwick, Frome, BA11 2QB

Monthly low cost day retreats in Frome with Insight Meditation Teachers.

Welcoming people of all ages, ethnicity, cultural and religious heritage, socio-economic, ability, sexual orientation and gender identity.  The days are suitable for both beginners and experienced practitioners.

Frome Town Band welcomes all players and beginners whatever ability or standard. If you would like to join a fun and friendly band, please contact them using the details below or go along to a rehearsal. For more information, visit the website below.

When: The band practices on Wednesday evenings, term times only:
Beginners 6.00pm – 6.45pm
Intermediate 6.45pm – 8.00pm
Main Band 7.15pm – 9.00pm

Where: The Old Media Centre at Frome College (attached to the Leisure Centre)
Cost: £9.00 per month for membership

Glastonbury Mental Health Network (GMHN) is a charity that aims to connect local people with projects, practitioners, services and events that can support and improve mental health and wellbeing. The charity will also deliver its own projects and services, including local safe spaces and training courses.

GMHN runs a monthly Snug at the Red Brick Building, BA6 9FT – usually on the last Thursday of the month, 11am – 3pm. This is a safe space, open to all, with lots of creative activities available, gentle music, free refreshments and volunteer listeners. The event is free. Please visit the website (see link below) or Facebook page (facebook.com/glastonburymentalhealth) for further information.

A weekly wellbeing walk led by the community.

Leaves St John’s Church every Monday at 12pm, after the Talking Cafe.

Walks are around the town/local area.

Growing Food and Friendships is a free weekly session for anyone who feels that they would benefit from a regular meet up, in a safe and supported space, where we will be working together to design and grow a beautiful, edible, community market garden while enjoying the land and forming friendships.

Tuesdays 10am – 1pm

No experience necessary and COVID guidelines will of course be followed. Spaces will be limited to 10 to allow for ease of physical distancing etc. Please contact 07857437608 for more information and to reserve your place.

Do you want to move more and feel healthier? Do you want to meet others and look at topics such as sleep, exercise, healthy eating, social and emotional wellbeing? If so, join in with this rolling programme.

Coleford: On Tuesdays 2:30pm-3:30pm running for 6 weeks at a time. The Mendip Room, Mendip Country Practice, Church Street, Coleford, Radstock, BA3 5NQ. Please contact the Health Connections team to register for the next available programme.

Frome: This is known as Be Healthy, Be Happy in Frome, Tuesdays 10.30am – 11:30am, Frome Medical Practice, Enos Way, BA11 2FH. Please contact the Health Connections team to register for the next available programme.

Shepton Mallet: On Thursdays 10.30 – 11.30 running for 7 weeks at a time. The Conference Room, Shape Mendip Complex, Cannards Grave Rd, Shepton Mallet, BA4 5BT. Please contact the Health Connections team to register for the next available programme.

Wells: On Tuesdays 14:00-15:00 running for 7 weeks at a time. Please contact the Health Connections team to register for the next available programme.

To find out more about the Healthy Lifestyles Programme please ring the number below.

The Heritage Café runs every third Friday of the month from 11:00am – 12:00pm at The Cheese & Grain, Market Yard, Frome, BA11 1BE.

It’s a place to come and find out what heritage activities are going on in the local area, organisations you can become involved with, and how heritage can be beneficial for your health and well-being.

Everyone is welcome so no need to book in advance.

Dates for 2023: 16th June, 21st July, 18th August, 15th September, 20th October, 17th November & 15th December.

The In It Together Somerset womens’ project offers exercise and sports activities for women. The project aims to increase activity levels in any women of any age (16+) in Somerset through community based exercise and sports activities.

For the full programme of activities and classes please visit the website for up to date information.

Anyone who has questions and enquiries please contact Charlotte Norman, Project Lead.

This creative group supplies you with lots of free materials and a great place to explore your creativity. All abilities are welcome.

Wednesday 12pm – 2pm, Connect Centre, Wells

Every week gives an opportunity to come and create, whilst making connections with people. This might be around drawing, photography, sculpture, textiles, painting etc. The sessions are flexible, so what you do is your choice.

Each session is modular, so you don’t need to worry if you miss one. No prior experience is needed, the sessions are accessible to new beginners.

This is a chance to get creative, get connected, improve your wellbeing and take a break.

Mind in Somerset offer a range of peer support, art and gardening type groups across Somerset. Visit their website to find the closest one to you.  They also offer an online self-care focused support group.

Mindline Somerset – 24 hours a day, seven days a week emotional support helpline.

Brand new to OpenStoryTellers, we are excited to offer a Wellbeing Group for people with learning disabilities and autism aged 16+

It’s taking place on Tuesday mornings from 10am – 12 noon.

The group will be exploring healthy eating, gentle exercise, yoga, aromatherapy, creative writing and more!

Spaces are limited, so please get in touch if you’d like to book a place for someone.

Root Connections is a community ‘not for profit’ market garden to improve mental & physical health & wellbeing. based at Stratton on the Fosse, BA3 4QF. We’re open on a Tues & Fri morning from 10am until 1pm, on a Friday we share lunch together. We make gardening accessible to everyone – from all walks of life. We have different areas within the garden to work on and enjoy. A warm welcome awaits anyone who would like to get involved in the garden & join a group of like minded volunteers

Adult Wellbeing Group that meets every Wednesday 10.30-14.30. Based in Frome at Vallis Veg (a farm near to Vallis Vale – nearest postcode BA11 3EJ).

Free. Activities include: Nature connection activities, nature inspired crafts, mindfulness, drinking tea, chatting, singing, campfire cooking, gardening and more…

We run weekly Shared Reading groups at the following libraries, bringing people together through great literature to talk, laugh and share. Just drop in and enjoy listening to a story or poem – there is no pressure to talk or read.

Contact you local library for more information or give us a call on the number below.

When: Every Friday

Shepton Mallet – 11.00 – 12.30pm
Wells – 2.00 – 3.30pm

Shepton walks is run entirely by volunteers promoting walks in and around Shepton Mallet and the surrounding villages.

Become a Member of Shepton Walks. You can choose how much you’d like to pay to join. As a member you’ll be able to join in with regular walks for free and enjoy preferential booking for all of the Festival programme and other special events. Twice a year, in summer and winter, social events are arranged, including a walk, just for members.

Please visit the website below for further information where you will find details of planned walks;

Somerset Art Works online art group for health and wellbeing. The group is open to anyone who feels that their wellbeing or mental health may benefit from a period of ‘time-out’ from daily routines and stresses and build new creative skills along the way. First and third Wednesday of the month. 6.30pm – 7.30pm. Free – for more information please contact Somerset Art Works below.

The Somerset Wellbeing and Recovery College offers opportunities to learn about mental health and recovery by providing a unique curriculum designed to increase your knowledge, understanding and skills to equip you with the tools to live a meaningful, productive and fulfilling life.

Our students are people with lived experience of mental health difficulties who wish to learn to live well, for their family and friends, and the professionals who support them. We do not take referrals from clinicians and our students do not have to be using mental health services to access any of our courses.

All our courses are free and are listed on our website. They take place across Somerset.

Practical conservation groups carrying out seasonal outdoor tasks in the countryside. Suitable for those who are reasonably physically fit, no training required. See link for Somerset area programmes and contact details.

Tai Chi for Wellbeing can be done seated if required. It is suitable for all ages and health issues. Although a regular class it welcomes newcomers and visitors who may only want one or two classes.

Every Thursday at 11 -12 at the Bishops Palace Wells, outside when possible. Cost is a suggested £5 donation to St Margaret’s Hospice.

2nd & 4th Monday every month 10.30-11.30 at Wells Library. Free taster

Mondays 2-3 pm  at Henton Village Hall. Pay as you go £5

Online class every Tuesday at 11 – 12. £4. Please see website for details.

The Nelson Trust Support people with multiple and complex needs whose lives have been impacted by addiction or are in contact with the criminal justice system.

They accept referrals from any professional or women may refer themselves. Every woman is offered a detailed individual assessment of their needs across “pathways” such as mental health, family and relationships, addiction issues, domestic abuse. Each client has their own Keyworker who works with them to co-create a support plan to address their needs.

People who would benefit from extra social contact can now self-refer for free ‘Check In and Chat’ phone calls. The volunteers provide short-term telephone support to people in need of a friendly phone call and encouragement to improve their mental health and wellbeing.

Check In and Chat: An individual requires a telephone chat and some encouragement to reduce loneliness and improve their wellbeing (these will be from a number of different volunteers).

Check In and Chat Plus: An individual requires regular telephone calls and encouragement to reduce loneliness and improve their wellbeing and these should be from the same volunteer because of significant vulnerabilities such as dementia. (3 calls per week for 4 weeks from a volunteer).

Grow with Us: Open to a mixed age group with light and gentle gardening and growing activities adaptive to physical challenges. The session has a strong socialising component to it with tea and cake. Held on a Friday 10am-12noon.

Would you like to learn to garden?  Grow vegetables and herbs and be with other people in a safe place?  Improve exercise levels, learn new skills and keep your brain active?

Let nature improve your mood with free weekly gardening sessions in Shepton Mallet.  All abilities are welcome and tools are provided. Sessions are run weekly by an experienced therapist.

Wednesdays 11am-1pm Shepton Mallet

Free to attend. Nature and wildlife activities in Frome, for people with dementia or memory loss. Learn about wildlife together.  Activities include arts & crafts, wildlife gardening, nature walks and more. Open and inclusive to suit all abilities and interests. Please call ahead to book your space and check location. Carers and family members welcome too. Free to attend, transport available.

Mells, Walled Garden – Mondays 2pm – 4pm

The Growing for Wellbeing Project is a small weekly group that welcomes people who want to get outdoors and learn new skills. It is a beautiful rural location easily accessible by public transport. It can cater for any weather with large areas under cover.

Mondays 10.30-1pm, Catsham, Baltonsborough, BA6 8PQ. Please use to the contact information below to book. Booking essential.

Autism Friendly Growing for Wellbeing Group is a small weekly group that welcomes people who want to get outdoors and learn new skills. It is a beautiful rural location easily accessible by public transport. It can cater for any weather with large areas under cover.

It offers quiet, calm working spaces and a small supportive group with lived experience in autism. Its main emphasis is horticulture, wildlife gardening and rural craft skills. There is no requirement to attend every week or the whole session. Its very much about what is right for the individual on the day.

Thursdays 10am-2pm, Catsham, Baltonsborough, BA6 8PQ

Windsor Hill Wood is a small family based woodland community close to Shepton Mallet. The project offers refuge to people who are finding life difficult and may be experiencing depression or addiction issues. Some have been homeless; others have lost confidence and need respite to regain self worth, learn new skills and feel able to contribute to the community and the wider world. As a Christian home offering hospitality, part of rhythm of life includes the opportunity to pray silently together once a day in a small chapel – however attendance is optional. Please get in touch using the details below if you or someone you know could benefit from staying at Windsor Hill Wood.

Words for Wellbeing and Read, Write and Recharge Courses –  These relaxed and supportive groups are free of charge.​ Everyone is welcome.  ​

Words For Wellbeing at the Connect Centre, Wells. Wednesdays: 3.30pm – 5.30pm

Read Write Recharge at Coxley Village Hall, Wells. Wednesdays: 11am – 1pm

Words For Wellbeing at the Crispin Community Centre. Thursdays: 10am – 12pm & Read Write Recharge at the Crispin Community Centre. Thursdays: 1pm – 3pm

These courses are provided by Somerset Wellbeing and Recovery College. Please email Laura or telephone the college to register your interest.