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Home , Bromsberrow, Churcham, Cinderford, Cliffords Mesne, Colesbourne, Cotswold District

Helping older people in feel more independent, secure, and have a better quality of life

May 2014

Gloucestershire Village & Community Agents

Managed by GRCC

Jointly funded by

Gloucestershire Clinical Commissioning Group

www.villageagents.org.uk Helping older people in Gloucestershire feel more independent, secure, and have a better quality of life

Gloucestershire Village & Community Agents Managed by GRCC Jointly funded by

Gloucestershire Clinical Commissioning Group

Gloucestershire Village and Key objectives: To give older people easy Community Agents is aimed 3 access to a wide range of primarily at the over 50s but also To help older people in information that will enable them offers assistance to vulnerable 1 Gloucestershire feel more to make informed choices about people in the county. independent, secure, cared for, their present and future needs. and have a better quality of life. The agents provide information To engage older people to To promote local services and support to help people stay 4 enable them to influence and groups, enabling the independent, expand their social 2 future planning and provision. Agent to provide a client with a activities, gain access to a wide community-based solution To provide support to range of services and keep where appropriate. people over the age of 18 involved with their local 5 who are affected by cancer. communities.

Partner agencies ² Gloucestershire County Council’s Adult Social Care Helpdesk ² Gloucestershire Clinical Commissioning Group ² Gloucestershire Rural Community Council ² Age UK Gloucestershire ² Carers Gloucestershire ² Healthwatch Gloucestershire ² District Councils ² Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue ² Department for Work and Pensions ² Severn Wye Energy Agency ² Gloucestershire Constabulary ² Mears Safe at Home ² Fair Shares ² Citizens Advice Bureau ² Community Transport

2 www.villageagents.org.uk May 2014

Cheltenham Agents See page 15 Agents See page 9

Gloucester Agents See page 14

Forest of Dean Agents Cotswold Agents See page 7 See page 11

Stroud Agents See page 13

Community Agents For more information call 01452 528491 See page 4 or go to www.villageagents.org.uk

www.villageagents.org.uk 3 Helping older people in Gloucestershire feel more independent, secure, and have a better quality of life

Gloucestershire Village & Community Agents Managed by GRCC Jointly funded by

Gloucestershire Clinical Commissioning Group

Case Study

A Village Agent visited a client who needed support in completing an application for housing benefit and council tax. BME Community Agents

Although the client was offered The Community Agents work There are Agents for the help by with the Black, Minority Ethnic following communities: Council in completing the and Migrant communities across ² African Caribbean application, he preferred to Gloucestershire. Community use the services of the Village ² Agent as he had a relationship Working mainly with the over Bengali Community with the Agent, built up over 50s, the Agents provide ² Chinese Community the years, with whom he felt information and support to assist ² Gujarati Community comfortable and safe in people in finding the services disclosing personal/financial they need to maintain and ² Migrant Community matters. promote their independence.

The Village Agent had also in the past secured pension Case Study credit for the client. G My client was 65 years old and had a hospital appointment Many older people are often coming up. My client spoke little English and no interpreter had intimidated by bureaucracy been arranged for the appointment. I supported my client with and therefore often fail to take arrangements for sourcing and arranging an interpreter. My client advantage of benefits that are was not aware that this service could be arranged by the NHS so available to them. However, always paid her friend to accompany her to important the presence of the Village appointments. Agent allows them to bypass G Mr K has dementia and Mrs K needs to think about support so the bureaucracy, thus ensuring that she can cope. I have given her details of various care and that the older person gets all sitting agencies. They also need smoke alarms so I have the help they are entitled to. arranged that for them as well.

4 www.villageagents.org.uk May 2014

Tewkesbury District

Gloucester

Cotswold District

Forest of Dean District

Stroud District

Community Agents

Bengali Gujarati African Community Community Caribbean Community Farhana Begum Kausar Parekh Tel: 07810 056770 Tel: 07799 255793 Venet Poyser Tel: 07799 628217

Migrant Migrant Community Community (Polish speaker) (Polish speaker) Marzena Trojanowksa Irena Rasiewicz Tel: 07785 363842 Tel: 07841 342910

www.villageagents.org.uk 5 Helping older people in Gloucestershire feel more independent, secure, and have a better quality of life

Case Study

Gloucestershire I was contacted by an Oncology nurse to see a young Village & Community couple in Churchdown and the husband has cancer of the Agents brain. He used to work in HR and his wife is a trained Managed by GRCC nurse. Jointly funded by

Gloucestershire Clinical Commissioning Group They both must be in their 30s and have one young daughter at the local school and a son who was a year old Specialist Cancer in December. They live in a maisonette now as they were Agents living in a house and the husband had to keep going up and down the stairs to the bathroom which he found really Being diagnosed with cancer has difficult. a huge impact on every area of life. It is sometimes difficult to They do not have any family living closely and rely on know where to turn for help with friends, but there is only so much you can ask of friends as issues beyond the medical they also have their lives to lead and are not always diagnosis and treatment. available when you need them.

Several of the Village and They said they were having problems with transport to Community Agents have received hospital for his chemo etc, as the new rules since Aviva additional training to work with have taken over is that only one member of the family can people over the age of 18 who are accompany the patient and so that would mean leaving the affected by cancer. This can be one year old in the house on his own. the patient or their families and carers. I contacted the main office in , spoke to a lovely man who has very kindly arranged that when my client goes to The Specialist Cancer Agents future hospital appointments he can have his wife with him have a wealth of knowledge about as now he finds that he does not take in/understand all that the information and support that he is being told, due to his condition. is available to people affected by cancer. They can help by putting I am struggling to find them practical help with shopping, their clients in contact with a wide housework or staying with the husband when his wife goes range of information, support, out shopping or to pick up their daughter from school. His practical and financial help. wife did say that she was feeling very tired looking after her husband and the children with no regular break for her.

His wife cannot return to nursing as she cannot leave the children with him for long periods in case he is poorly, he will not be returning to work at all.

I have tried all the local agencies and now I am waiting for them to come back to me.

6 www.villageagents.org.uk May 2014

Forest of Dean Agents

Sallyanne Batchelor Liz Price Tel: 07810 630212 Tel: 07810 630224 Bromsberrow Corse & Kilcot Kempley Hartpury (inc Cliffords Mesne) Newent Pauntley Redmarley D’Abitot Jane Lloyd Staunton (Corse) Tel: 07810 630264 Upleadon Coleford English Bicknor Newland Staunton (Coleford)

Hilary Lyon Tel: 07810 630254 Huntley Newent Rudford & Highleadon Taynton Tibberton Helen Roberts Mike Morgan Tel: 07810 630004 Tel: 07776 245712 & Blakeney Coleford Blaisdon Littledean West Dean (inc Bream, Broadwell, Pillowell & Yorkley) Westbury on Severn

“Village Agents are a Richard Skinner smashing group of Tel: 07810 630190 people to work with. We Alvington come from a wide variety Aylburton of backgrounds, but I find Hewelsfield & Brockweir all my colleagues St Briavels Tidenham supportive and quick to Woolaston provide information, advice & support.” Forest of Dean Village Agent

www.villageagents.org.uk 7 Helping older people in Gloucestershire feel more independent, secure, and have a better quality of life

Gloucestershire Village & Community Agents Managed by GRCC Jointly funded by

Gloucestershire Clinical Commissioning Group

Case Study

A Village Agent supported a client who had ordered a pair of boots on line, paid for them in advance and they had not arrived.

The client had previously “I have been working with a to deliver the spare parts to the telephoned the mail order client who had, through ill doctor’s surgery the following company who said they had health, become virtually day. Her ‘Blue Badge’ had been despatched. However, housebound and socially expired, so I contacted the nothing materialised and client isolated. With Village Agent correct department and they was very distressed about this support, she now attends two sent out a new application form. and didn’t know where to turn. luncheon clubs where she has made new friends. It also “She will be having a rail fitted The agent was able to ring the became apparent that there to help her get out of bed, and mail order company, in the were other issues. I have now also for safety, alongside the client’s presence and with her arranged a benefits check and I steps into the house. She had permission, and was able to have helped her obtain a form been a very keen gardener establish that the boots had for receiving her building society before ill health made it never been despatched and to interest tax-free. impossible for her to do obtain a refund. anything, and watching her “On one visit I found she was garden deteriorate was very struggling with a nebuliser distressing for her. which wasn’t working properly. She had contacted the doctor’s “I have sourced a local garden surgery who didn’t have any maintenance firm who are able spare parts, and was told she to help, meaning that she will at would have to go to the hospital least be looking at a tidy garden for them – an impossibility in her as she goes in or out of the situation. I rang the nebuliser house – a great depression service department at the beater.” hospital and arranged for them Tewkesbury Village Agent

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Tewkesbury Agents

David Cooper Tel: 07810 630244 Alderton Boddington Down Hatherley Dumbleton Gretton The Leigh Northway Norton Oxenton Prescott (inc Tredington) Staverton Teddington Tewkesbury Toddington Ann Vaughan Marzena Uckington Tel: 07534 064169 Trojanowksa with Tel: 07785 363842 Ashleworth Churchdown Chaceley Lorraine Demir Tel: 07810 630077 Buckland (inc Laverton) Maisemore Sandhurst and Tirley Snowshill Stanton Stanway (inc Didbrook) Sudeley

Ken Haines Tel: 07810 630234 Highnam Innsworth Longford

Sally Grundy Tel: 07810 630201 Bishops Cleeve Southam Woodmancote

www.villageagents.org.uk 9 Helping older people in Gloucestershire feel more independent, secure, and have a better quality of life

“We would like to thank you so very much for coming to our PCC meeting. As you know about 30 people attended – a huge turnout for a village of our size. Everyone loved meeting you and were so Gloucestershire impressed with the service you provide... All your contacts and help Village & Community with various enquiries are much appreciated and several people are Agents already getting problems solved. And I know the ‘network’ factor will Managed by GRCC also mean you are reaching a much bigger catchment, which is of Jointly funded by course how these communities work.”

Gloucestershire Clinical Commissioning Group North Council

…offers a free volunteer befriending service for older people in , , and the surrounding villages

especially for the house-bound – and this is where the befriending scheme comes into its own. We can also help signpost clients to other services if they are needed.

A free and confidential service All our volunteers are local to their communities and come from all walks of life. They are carefully selected and are Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) checked. The service is People for You offers regular Befriending Service free and confidential. We try to social contact at a time when a We introduce clients to local, match a client with a volunteer person might be feeling cut off reliable volunteers who visits who shares a mutual interest from their community – through regularly to spend time together, upon which a trusting and ill health, bereavement or maybe reminisce about days fulfilling relationship can be built. because family and friends are gone by and share a cup of tea. scattered. It is important to have someone G People For You is managed by to rely on visit regularly, GRCC Research suggests that being isolated can be as bad for your To find out more, contact Sue Black, co-ordinator of health as smoking 15 cigarettes People For You, on 07810 630167 or email a day. [email protected]

10 www.villageagents.org.uk May 2014

Cotswold Agents

Nick Bailey Lynn Tel: 07776 Saunders 245740 Tel: 07776 245754 Hazleton (inc Sevenhampton & Perrotts Brook) Brockhampton Coates Shipton Oliffe Whittington Withington Aileen Bendall Edgeworth Tel: 07810 Kemble 630156 Sapperton (inc ) Ashley Beverstone Cynthia Carol Boxwell with Laird Stockman Cherington Tel: 07776 Tel: 07789 245780 926291 Kingscote Maureen Barnsley Aston-Sub- Griffiths (inc Edge Tel: 07785 Ablington) Rodman 763339 Brimpsfield Tetbury Barrington Mickleton Saintbury Westonbirt with Condicote Coln St Dennis Weston-Sub-Edge Compton Abdale Cowley (inc. ) Sue Black Steve Tel: 07810 Farmington 630167 Whincup Tel: 07798 (inc 827678 Calmsden) Sherborne with Eastington Coln St Aldwyn Swell Bourton on the Hill Driffield Bourton on the Water Winson Broadwell Fairford Windrush Clapton Donnington Lechlade Keynes Poulton Moreton in Marsh Preston Oddington Sezincote Siddington Stow on the Wold Somerford Keynes Westcote www.villageagents.org.uk 11 Helping older people in Gloucestershire feel more independent, secure, and have a better quality of life

Gloucestershire Village & Community Agents Managed by GRCC Jointly funded by

Gloucestershire Clinical Commissioning Group

Case Study

G A village agent is supporting a client who suffered an accident whilst at work and is making a legal claim for negligence.

The client struggles with communication and the agent is supporting the client by making telephone calls on his behalf – in the client’s presence and with his “I have grown to love my job more and more. I feel privileged to permission. be allowed into people’s lives, to be given their trust, and to be able to make a difference to their life in some way. I have seen The agent is not making any the role evolve into a respected one in the community and decisions for the client, merely amongst the other statutory and voluntary agencies. It gives me explaining what the a great sense of pride.” communications mean. Stroud Village Agent

This is an ongoing matter. Case Study G A village agent visited a client who wanted adaptation “I received a phone call asking for help finding a cleaner. During to her bathroom. the lengthy and extremely interesting conversation I had with the client, it became apparent that they had many skills they The agent also checked the currently offered on a voluntary basis. client’s eligibility for attendance allowance and “I put them in touch with Fairshares which enables them to bank generally made sure client was the hours they earn by volunteering and in return receive help accessing all the support with jobs they may find difficult or are unable to carry out e.g. networks which were available gardening or decorating – a service the client has benefitted to her. from.”

12 www.villageagents.org.uk May 2014

Stroud Agents

Aileen Bendall Tel: 07810 630156

Sue Colquhoun Tel: 07810 630145 Coaley Eastington Frocester Horseley Nympsfield Owlpen Christine Lingard Uley Tel: 07810 630179 Penny French Elmore Tel: 07776 245726 Alkington with Saul Berkeley Hardwicke Cam Angela King Longney & Epney Ham & Stone Tel: 07776 245791 Moreton Valence Hamfallow Cainscross Standish Hinton Randwick Christine Sweet Brian Thrupp Tel: 07798 837582 Tel: 07534 064178 Whiteshill & Ruscombe Alderley King’s Stanley Jane Large Hillesley & Tresham Stonehouse Tel: 07534 064175 Stroud Kingswood North Nibley Lou Kemp Stinchcombe Tel: 07776 245767 Wotton-under-Edge Bisley with Lypiatt Brookthorpe with Whaddon Cranham Harescombe Miserden (inc Whiteway) (inc Edge, Sheepscombe & Slad)

www.villageagents.org.uk 13 Helping older people in Gloucestershire feel more independent, secure, and have a better quality of life

Gloucester Agents including Brockworth & Gloucestershire Village & Community Agents Managed by GRCC Jointly funded by

Gloucestershire Clinical Commissioning Group

Carol Lake Tel: 07534 064166 Gloucester (inc Brockworth & Hucclecote) Badgeworth

Ann Vaughan Tel: 07534 064169 Gloucester (inc Brockworth & Hucclecote) Case Study Badgeworth G An agent received a call from a client who suffers with a lot of Ken Haines client who wished to find a health issues. The client felt that Tel: 07810 630234 Longlevens cleaner. She is receiving her medical needs were not Attendance Allowance. The agent being met and was very was able to suggest a cleaner, aggrieved about this. with the proviso that this was not Irena Rasiewicz a recommendation as VAs could The agent listened to the client Tel: 07841 342910 not make recommendations and made suggestions as to the Gloucester best way of meeting her needs. G Our agent is supporting a This is an ongoing matter..

14 www.villageagents.org.uk May 2014

Cheltenham Agents including Shurdington

Caroline Sharp Tel: 07534 064163 Cheltenham (inc Shurdington)

Ann Blagden Tel: 07534 064181 Cheltenham (inc Shurdington)

Nick Bailey Tel: 07776 245740

Sally Grundy Tel: 07810 630201 Prestbury

Case Study Our agent had a call from a lady in who said mentioned that her friend was very deaf. When he that her elderly mother, who was very deaf, had lost was told the address, the VA recognised it as that the felt covering from her shed roof during the of the lady with the damage to the shed roof and he recent storms. Her mother lived alone in attended with the neighbour. Gloucestershire and being herself in Essex, it was The agent checked the energy bill and spoke to the difficult to help. She asked if the VA knew of energy supplier. He established that the client had someone who would repair the damage. forgotten that she had cancelled her direct debit last year in order to reclaim an overpayment The agent said he knew of someone who carried therefore bill had built up over the winter. With the out gardening and odd jobs and offered to speak permission of the client and together with the to him. The caller then remembered that her neighbour, the VA liaised with energy company to mother employed a gardener and said she would restore the direct debit and to deal with current bill. speak to him. The VA was thanked for his help. He also checked the shed roof and found that it A few weeks later the VA received a call from a lady had been repaired satisfactorily. whose friend had received a very large energy bill and could not understand it. She asked if the VA Finally, the agent spoke to client’s daughter in would visit to see if he could help. The caller Essex by phone and informed her of his actions.

www.villageagents.org.uk 15 To find out more about Gloucestershire Village & Community Agents, please contact

Kate Darch Village and & Community Agents Manager GRCC Community House 15 College Green Gloucester GL1 2LZ

T: 01452 528491 E: [email protected] W: www.villageagents.org.uk

www.villageagents.org.uk