COMMUNITY CONNECTOR SERVICE IN GLOUCESTERSHIRE
Gloucestershire County Council and NHS Gloucestershire Clinical Commissioning Group have been working together, with community partners, to integrate the Village and Community Agent service with the Social Prescribing service.
The Community Connectors’ Service will still be accessible in each district of Gloucestershire and within GP Practices with five providers delivering the new service. The new service will commence on 1st October 2017. It is a countywide service with local providers in each district, meaning they will be tailored to the needs of a local area and based on extensive local knowledge.
The Community Connector providers are:
Cheltenham & Tewkesbury CCP
Cotswolds District Gloucestershire Rural Community Council
Forest of Dean Forest of Dean District Council
Gloucester Home Group
Stroud District Independence Trust (Herefordshire Housing)
Anyone over the age of 16 living in Gloucestershire, or registered with a Gloucestershire GP, can access Community Connectors. Referrals can be made by a health or social care professional, a Voluntary and Community Group, members of the community as well as self-referral.
The service can offer one to one support for individuals and can also signpost or refer people to activities and groups available in their area. Community Connectors on the ground will have extensive local knowledge and will be able to facilitate local activity.
It can be helpful for people:
- in times of change, for example after redundancy, health issues or retirement
- in times of emotional hardship, such as after a bereavement
- who are worried about debt or financial issues
- who don’t know where to turn for support
- who would like to volunteer in their community
A poster and local leaflets will be available soon, with contact details for each provider. There will be a single point of contact for each district.
For more information, please contact diana.billingham@gloucestershire.gov.uk or Hannah.gorf@nhs.net