28 Apr

“Communities are doing a Great Job” Says CCS Exec

The Village Agents

CCS Village, Community and Carers Agents are working extremely closely with both the health services and social care to broker a range of support, phoning people to check on their welfare and connecting residents with local support groups.On the 23rd of March, the start of the lockdown, CCS launched a county-wide universal referral link which within four weeks received over 32,000 enquiries. As Village Agent Julie says: “The past four weeks have been absolutely MANIC!”

Lauren Giddins , Agent team leader, engages on ZOOM with CCHB volunteers

Lauren Giddins, Agent Team Lead in Sedgemoor, says: “The support we have received from The Coronavirus Community Help Bridgwater Group over the last few weeks has been fantastic. We identify those in need and have been able to call on the coordinators of the community group to arrange a trusted volunteer to help with essential tasks – from collecting medications and shopping to cutting the grass and keeping spirits high with phone calls. We know from the people that we support in Bridgwater, that the volunteers have made a big difference to their lives during this difficult time.”

Messages of Thanks

Many messages of thanks have come flooding in from people, CCS Agents have helped with deliveries of food and medication, advice on benefits and paying bills and the provision of hot meals.

In all of this, CCS Agents recognise and applaud the incredible ‘army’ of local volunteers they work alongside who are doing a fantastic job. The level of goodwill and the number of communities coming together to support each other at such a challenging time is overwhelming. As CCS Village Agent Steve says: “Ordinary people have done extraordinary things.”

A BIG Thankyou to the Village Agents

Raj Singh, CCS Deputy Chief Executive, says: “Communities are doing a great job at looking out for each other across Somerset. Let’s dig deep now and look for those people that may have been forgotten.”

CCS is asking everyone to watch a short film they’ve made and to make some noise during Thursday’s ‘Clap For Our Carers’ for the CCS Agents and all frontline key workers who are playing a crucial role in the response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Visit www.youtube.com/CC4Somerset to view the film and you can find out more about the work of the CCS Agents by visiting: https://somersetagents.org

CCS Village, Community and Carers Agents help by providing practical, community based solutions to meet peoples basic needs and beyond. Agents have unrivalled contacts in local communities who they can mobilise to assist vulnerable and isolated people. Village, Community and Carers Agents are designated key-workers during the COVID-19 pandemic and have individual letters of authority from the County Council to verify this.

For more information visit https://ccslovesomerset.org and https://somersetagents.org

CCS (The Community Council for Somerset) is a leading local charity that works in the heart of Somerset’s communities to inspire and enable positive change. Through its wide network of passionate local experts and diverse projects, consultancy and funding, CCS brings the right people and services together to improve the lives of individuals; building community capacity and support for emerging and existing enterprises right across the county – helping Somerset to thrive.