The Village Agents pilot project offers free face to face access to information and signposting directed at a vast range of services and activities for Mid Essex residents.
The Mid Essex pilot project was launched in October 2009 and is operating very successfully, working with the local community to identify their current and future needs and providing a personal guide to a whole range of services and organisations that can offer help, advice and support. The initial promotion of the pilot project has resulted in significant interest in the service and the individual case studies have highlighted a trusting and positive response from people. The Village Agents have enabled people to remain supported in their own homes, improved access to health and wellbeing services and provided improved levels of independence and quality of life.
The service was initially promoted in 48 parishes so that a strong foundation could be established for the new concept. Alongside training, new procedures and systems have been developed to ensure an efficient signposting of people to over 60 formal referral partners and many other services and activities. The case studies show that Village Agents have strengthened individuals’ connection to existing community networks and services in the rural parts of Essex.
Now the project has been established, the 12 Village Agents are able to extend the promotion of the service to more people in the surrounding parishes of Mid Essex. The level of service established in the original areas will be maintained and the continued promotion will be covered through a reallocation of the setting up time.
The local Village Agent will be contacting the Parish Councils and local groups shortly to discuss how we can work together to develop and promote the service in their area. The project looks forward to supporting more people, providing easier access to services and information, face to face in their own villages.
The following link contains a table showing the existing and additional parishes for promotion of the service.
Village Agents parishes v3.doc