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Somerset Village Agents
Advice information and suport for people in rural areas of SomersetWhat does it do?
Our Work - Somerset Village Agents
Village Agents are local people employed on a part-time basis to become trusted members of their communities and a valuable resource. They network extensively with Parish Councillors, Police Community Support Officers, social group organisers, transport providers, church groups, youth workers and others within their community. They receive ‘referrals’ from agencies and members of the community about people needing information or support.
Village Agents make home visits when necessary and provide high-quality information. They enable direct access to a wide range of services and use a secure electronic referral system. They may informally carry out a series of practical checks related to safety in the home (e.g. smoke alarms, falls prevention), benefit entitlement and energy efficiency. Visits are followed up when necessary by experts who will provide specialist information, advice and services, e.g. the fire service and social care. Village Agents identify unmet needs within their community and respond by initiating and supporting new social and healthy activities.
Objectives:
Village Agents are local people employed on a part-time basis to become trusted members of their communities and a valuable resource. They network extensively with Parish Councillors, Police Community Support Officers, social group organisers, transport providers, church groups, youth workers and others within their community. They receive ‘referrals’ from agencies and members of the community about people needing information or support.
Village Agents make home visits when necessary and provide high-quality information. They enable direct access to a wide range of services and use a secure electronic referral system. They may informally carry out a series of practical checks related to safety in the home (e.g. smoke alarms, falls prevention), benefit entitlement and energy efficiency. Visits are followed up when necessary by experts who will provide specialist information, advice and services, e.g. the fire service and social care. Village Agents identify unmet needs within their community and respond by initiating and supporting new social and healthy activities.
Objectives:
- To build a trusted relationship within a community particularly with those who are vulnerable to help improve their quality of life by helping them to feel more secure, more cared for and more informed and empowered.
- To help people to have easy access to a wide range of information that will enable them to make informed decisions about their own well-being.
- To identify gaps in service and feed back this information in order to influence future service provision.
- To support a community to respond to an identified need where appropriate. This may include using the skills of CCS colleagues.
Who it is for?
People in rural areas of Somerset
Where it is available?
Local service (Mendip, South Somerset, Taunton Deane, West Somerset, Bath & North East Somerset, Bristol, North Somerset, Sedgemoor).
What it costs:
The service is free of charge
How to access or apply for it:
Who are your village agents?
In South Somerset:
Serving Corton Denham, Marston Magna, Mudford, Queen Camel and Rimpton:
Andrea de Berker
email: adeberkerva@somersetrcc.org.uk
Telephone: 07852 961839
Serving Chilthorne Domer, Montacute, Norton sub Hamdon, Odcombe, Stoke sub Hamdon and Tintinhull:
Sarah Hunt
email: shuntva@somersetrcc.org.uk
Telephone: 07968 521746
In Taunton Deane/Sedgemoor:Serving Burrowbridge, Durston, Lyng, North Curry, Othery and Stoke St Gregory:
Val Hunt
email: vhuntva@somersetrcc.org.uk
Telephone: 07970 935756
Serving Creech St Michael, Ruishton, Thornfalcon and West Monkton:
Carol Parker
email: cparkerva@somersetrcc.org.uk
Telephone: 07870 577925
In Mendip:Serving Binegar, Chewton Mendip, Emborough, Litton, Priddy, Rodney Stoke and Ston Easton:
Jacky Smith
email: jsmithva@somersetrcc.org.uk
Telephone: 07950 782436
Serving Godney, Meare, Sharpham and Wookey:
Diana Romrig
email: dromrigva@somersetrcc.org.uk
Telephone: 07950 783069
In South Somerset:
Serving Corton Denham, Marston Magna, Mudford, Queen Camel and Rimpton:
Andrea de Berker
email: adeberkerva@somersetrcc.org.uk
Telephone: 07852 961839
Serving Chilthorne Domer, Montacute, Norton sub Hamdon, Odcombe, Stoke sub Hamdon and Tintinhull:
Sarah Hunt
email: shuntva@somersetrcc.org.uk
Telephone: 07968 521746
In Taunton Deane/Sedgemoor:Serving Burrowbridge, Durston, Lyng, North Curry, Othery and Stoke St Gregory:
Val Hunt
email: vhuntva@somersetrcc.org.uk
Telephone: 07970 935756
Serving Creech St Michael, Ruishton, Thornfalcon and West Monkton:
Carol Parker
email: cparkerva@somersetrcc.org.uk
Telephone: 07870 577925
In Mendip:Serving Binegar, Chewton Mendip, Emborough, Litton, Priddy, Rodney Stoke and Ston Easton:
Jacky Smith
email: jsmithva@somersetrcc.org.uk
Telephone: 07950 782436
Serving Godney, Meare, Sharpham and Wookey:
Diana Romrig
email: dromrigva@somersetrcc.org.uk
Telephone: 07950 783069
Classification(s):
Info last updated:
22/02/2013
Provider
Victoria House, Victoria Street, Taunton, Somerset, TA1 3JZ