Local News

An innovative project set up to improve the quality of life for the elderly and vulnerable in Redcar and Cleveland has taken on two new members of staff.

Tracy Lean and Jayne Anderton, who are both local, have just joined the Community Agents Service which was established two years ago and since then has solved problems for more than 900 elderly and vulnerable people, helping them to continue living independently in their own homes.

Funded by Redcar and Cleveland Council, with additional national Better Care Funding, the service is managed by the Tees Valley Rural Community Council (TVRCC), and supported by health social care professionals.

As Community Agents, they will be part of the ground-breaking service as a single point of contact linking those who need support with access community resources and other services. The Community Agents are at the end of the phone for referrals involving any elderly or vulnerable person in the area who is struggling to manage. Referrals come mainly from community health staff, social workers, GPs, James Cook University Hospital and council officers, as well as from voluntary groups and members of the public. The Community Agents have a database of all the voluntary organisations in the area to help them find the right support -  a volunteer driver, someone to do gardening and DIY or a group that runs a befriending service or lunch club.

Tracy and Jayne will be working part time and will join established full time Community Agent Liz Toon who has been a problem solver with the service from the beginning. They will all be based at the Old Co-op building in Loftus and will cover the whole of the borough.
 “Sometimes it is simple situation with an easy solution. For other people with complex needs, it takes more time. These are people with non-medical needs who otherwise might fall through the gap,” said Liz.

Doff Pollard, TVRCC Chief Officer, said: “We are very pleased to welcome Tracy and Jayne to this service which has been a great success.  Supporting people in their own homes is really important for their wellbeing particularly those isolated by living in outlying rural communities. TVRCC is delighted to be working with partners from the wider voluntary sector, Redcar and Cleveland Council and South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and to bring some joined up working which will support this."

Community Agents are available 10am 4pm, Monday to Friday and can be contacted on 01642 201096. If you would like to be a volunteer, ring TVRCC on 01642 213852.

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