The Village Agents service has been key to providing help and support to many individuals and couples in and around the Chew Valley. Now in their tenth year, Village Agents has earned a reputation for ensuring that local residents, many elderly and sometimes vulnerable, feel less isolated or alone in the community. Until recently, Village Agents held their Wellness Wednesdays in Pensford as part of their Rural Links project.

Denise Perrin, Village Agent project manager said: ‘For this Spring and Summer we had planned new activities and events in Pensford, Farmborough, Paulton and Timsbury.

‘Sadly, due to the COVID-19 outbreak, we have had to suspend everything. However, the Village Agents team has been making sure that we keep in touch by telephone with everyone that we usually see at our social groups. Since March we have been in contact with over 200 people.’

Denise adds: ‘It’s our job to ensure that everyone who we are in contact with is made aware of the many statutory, professional and fantastic voluntary organisations that are still very much out there ready and able to help. We are currently working with a new toolkit of resources. Lockdown has brought new challenges with imposed isolation and restricted travel.’

Midsomer Norton based solicitors Thatcher and Hallam were due to hold free legal advice surgeries once a month as part of the Village Agents’ Wellness Wednesdays. They are instead supporting people over the phone after being referred by a Village Agent. These short confidential conversations have helped reassure a number of people previously unsure and quite distressed about how to proceed on a matter. Collaboration such as this has become invaluable and much appreciated.’

If you would like to contact Village Agents, or are aware of someone who may benefit from their help, Denise Perrin and her team can be contacted on 01275 333700 or by email at [email protected].

Photo of Village Agents & Rural Links team on top (l to r) Alison Farrar, Denise Perrin and Julie Bragg; on bottom (l to r) Aly Akroyd and Ketyn Jepson