News - Helping reduce social isolation and loneliness in Frodsham, Helsby and nearby communities

Frodsham Bee Friends is playing an invaluable role in the local community, bringing people together, making connections and creating networks to reduce social isolation and loneliness.

Originally funded by Community Partnerships a couple of years ago, Frodsham Bee Friends has gone from strength to strength and recently secured more funding from the National Lottery.

The weekly coffee mornings at Frodsham Parish Hall now attract in excess of 80 people, many more activities are taking place on a regular basis and Bee Friends has expanded to run sessions in the Helsby area.

Bee Friends is run by a dedicated team of volunteers, who have also made many new friends and seen their own health and wellbeing improve through volunteering.

Iris Keating, Treasurer of Frodsham Bee Friends, said: “There was always social isolation in our communities before COVID but, after COVID, it really came to a head and we decided we wanted to do something.

“We always just muck in together and I like to think that, when one of our visitors comes in, they have no idea who is a Steering Group member, or who is the Chair, as we don’t stand on ceremony.

“If you’ve got a black polo shirt on with our logo, you’re one of our volunteers and you’re there to serve tea, coffee, biscuits but, most of all, friendship as that’s what we’re all about.”

A lady recently moved to Frodsham from Somerset and Bee Friends has helped her settle into a new area that she was unfamiliar with.

She said: “On my first day, I stood at the door, I hesitated and I wondered whether I could go in.

“I’m so glad I did as my Thursday mornings are now part of my life in Frodsham.

“I love the people who surround me. The volunteers wait on us hand and foot – cups of tea and biscuits – and they’re so nice. If we’ve got a problem, we know we can talk to them.”

• Find out more about Bee Friends

Frodsham Bee Friends and its Steering Group are heavily involved with Frodsham, Helsby and Elton (FHE) Together Community Partnership, which helps influence, understand and address the needs of local communities.

• Visit the FHE Together website

There are seven Community Partnerships across Cheshire West, supported by Cheshire West Voluntary Action (CWVA).

• Read more about Community Partnerships and how you could get involved