Michael Auton, from Midsomer Norton, has taken on a new role as Midsomer Norton, Radstock, Westfield and Paulton’s Village Agent to connect rural areas to the wider community.

Working with the West of England Rural Network (WERN), a charity for rural communities in B&NES and further afield, Michael’s primary role as a Village Agent is to support local people, over the age of eighteen, by connecting them with information and advice services. The aim is preventing hospital admissions, increasing options for mental and physical health and helping people live independently for as long as possible.

Michael, who has been in the role for four weeks, works alongside three other Village Agents in B&NES to cover the most rural areas, providing confidential, one-to-one support with information and advice on services in the community.

Michael said: “Covid has had a huge impact on everyone, the elderly even more so and especially those of which are in the rural environments.

“At the heightof the pandemic, we could only offer our support via phone or online, but many of those we were supporting do not have access to online facilities, so it was our job to look at how we could help them overcome these issues. We became the only point of contact for food and other essential supplies for most people.

“We are now looking at how we can support people coming out of lockdown and get them feeling confident enough to get back into the community, as well as supporting them in their own homes.

“We are particularly focusing on supporting older members of the rural community who have been isolated from everything around them, to help them gain access to everyday facilities and put them in touch with services they may otherwise not know about.”

The pandemic has meant that those in the most isolated parts of the countryside have not had constant access to services they would normally have, and some may have gone weeks without seeing another person, which has understandingly had a clear impact on people’s mental and physical wellbeing.

WERN has identified the need for more inclusive activities for those suffering, which is why they are introducing ‘Rural Moves’, a group that encourages people to move more and sit less through gentle exercise and walks whilst enjoying the countryside and meeting like-minded people.

Michael continued: “I am in the process of contacting Churches, lunch clubs and local organisations in the hope of connecting people to others within the community.

“The impact of all the changes during Covid has been really major on people’s mental health, so we are here to help everyone and put them in touch with local services, whether that is clubs or booking them transport to get to places.

“The vaccine programme has been incredibly significant in making all of this happen and allowing people to feel safe again, so to give people the opportunity to start socialising and accessing more is brilliant.

“Village Agents were always needed before Covid, but now we are more important than ever.

“I want people to know that I am here to be the glue that holds the community together and connects everyone. We are here to listen to people’s issues and to try to solve them, so I am keen to know how the service can support local people and how we can help everyone.”

The charity is working in partnership with Somerset Council’s Road Safety Team to run a Route 60+ event on 20th July at the Somer Centre in Midsomer Norton.

The Road Safety Team, said: “There is no safe age to stop driving. Our Route 60+ programme is designed to help drivers continue their driving career for as long as possible. This is an opportunity to talk with members of the road safety team about any driving or road safety concerns you may have.”

Michael said: “As we start to come out of lockdown, we are slowly starting to regain confidence. This scheme, by Somerset Council, is there to provide support and advice for those getting back on the road again, in the aim that it will help people to feel safe to drive.

“We will still maintain Covid safety measures within the hall and ask that everyone wears a face mask.”

Doors open at 10 am for people to browse and meet a range of local charities and services who support older people in the community. The seminar starts at 11.30 am.

For more information on any of the above, contact Michael Auton on: 07392 700765 or email: [email protected]