Village Agent

The Village Agent project is a pilot scheme funded by the Department for Work and Pensions until June 2008. Gloucestershire Rural Community Council is working in partnership with Gloucestershire County Council and also has a wide range of other partnership organisations involved in training and support, including the Police, Fire and Rescue, Affordable Warmth Partnership, Care and Repair/Anchor Staying Put, Age Concern, Gloucestershire Primary Care Trust, District and Borough Councils and many more.

A Village Agent bridges the gap between the local community and statutory and voluntary organisations. Village Agents act as facilitators in the provision of high quality information, promote access to a wide range of services and identify unmet need within their community. Through training and access to appropriate information resources, the Village Agents provide a service within their communities both in the short and longer term. The service is provided primarily to older people, but other disadvantaged and isolated people are also be able to receive Village Agent support. CRB checked, they are in a position to visit older people both in their own homes. Through the use of laptops and mobile phones they are able to access and give immediate information to their client base.

Highnam's Village Agent is Ken Haines and he can be contacted on 07810 630 234 or e-mail kenh@villageagent.grcc.org.uk

Their web-site is: www.villageagents.org.uk