Praise for Community Agents and the difference they make to local people’s lives

Community Agents across Wrexham have been praised for their work and the difference they make to local people’s lives.

The agents, which operate across the county borough, work with those over the age of 50 – offering easy access to a wide range of information to help them to “make informed choices about their present and future needs”.

Their aim is to help older people across the county borough to feel more “independent, secure, and cared for, and to have a better quality of life”.

The work has helped benefit a number of lives across Wrexham, including a local man, who along with recovering from substance misuse and alcohol dependency, had various health problems and rarely left his home.

As a result of his condition he became frustrated and disputes with neighbours started to occur.

To help a Community Agent started to visit him, which gave him someone to talk to.

The visits helped relieve his boredom and loneliness and led to him engaging with other services who could help, they also visited local cafes, country parks and shops which helped him regain his confidence.

As a result he’s now involved with a specialist support group and has been discharged by the Mental Health Outpatients Department. He’s more optimistic too. He hopes to do some voluntary work and wants to book a coach-trip holiday this year – a big step from not leaving the house.

The dispute with neighbours has stopped and he’s secured a permanent housing tenancy. He’s also admitted to hospital less frequently and is taking much better care of himself.

The Community Agent will continue to visit for the next couple of months and will gradually decrease the frequency of their calls.

Cllr Joan Lowe, lead member for adult social care, said: “This is such an uplifting story and one that shows the contribution Community Agents can make in our communities.

“I wish him luck and would like to thank all the community agents throughout the county borough for their hard work and commitment to those more vulnerable among us.”

More information about Community Agents and the work they carry out across Wrexham can be found on the council website.