Success of Village Agent scheme illustrated as 21 new parishes join

The free Village Agent scheme, run by the Volunteer Centre West Berkshire, trains volunteers to put elderly and vulnerable residents in touch with relevant agencies and charities to make them aware of services, groups and clubs in the area in which they live.
There are currently volunteers operating in 14 parishes across West Berkshire, including in Compton, Hungerford, Thatcham and Donnington, and more volunteers are to be trained in September.
Village Agent project co-ordinator Gill Comley said that volunteers were now being sought for Midgeham, Woolhampton, Beenham, Brimpton, Wasing, Aldermaston, Pangbourne, Tidmarsh and Sulham, Englefield, Bradfield, Stanford Dingley, Hermitage, Frilsham, Yattendon, Ashampstead, Basildon, Streatley, West Ilsley, Catmore, Farnborough and Brightwalton.
Ms Comley said: “Although this is still a relatively new scheme, I am really pleased with the progress we are making.
“The village agents are already starting to make a difference, by referring older or socially isolated residents to the relevant agencies that can them with help with all sorts of problems; this in turn helps residents to feel less isolated and allows them to be independent within their own homes for longer.”
She added an appeal for more people to refer elderly friends and relatives to the Village Agents in the parishes in which they are already operating.
Residents can be referred to the scheme, with their permission, by anyone - including doctor’s surgeries, family members, neighbours and parish councils.
Anyone interested in becoming a volunteer should contact village agent co-ordinator Gill Comley by calling (01635) 49004, 07775 366812 or emailing gillian@vcwb.org.uk