THE Together Team – East Bridgwater celebrated its third birthday on Saturday, September 15.

It is a multi-agency partnership tackling social and economic deprivation and encouraging community pride.

The Together Team East Bridgwater recently featured at an International conference in Canada and the operating model was hailed as excellent practice.

Since its official launch, the team has had real success with 31 other partner agencies signed up to deliver services offered by the umbrella agencies of Together Team – East Bridgwater as a ‘one-stop shop’ of support.

The team work in the community to meet the needs of individuals and families working with residents to reduce crime, anti-social behaviour and financial hardship whilst improving quality of life, access to work opportunities and aspiration.

So far, more than 442 cases have been helped and192 community events held, all from the community hub at Parkway, Sydenham.

More crucially, 26 volunteers have been recruited from the community to help with community activities.

Kristy Blackwell, Together Team co-ordinator said: “We said three years ago that collaborative working is cost-effective and brings together expertise and knowledge for the benefit of residents and I am really pleased that we have, and will continue to, work together to help residents."

The model has been so successful that it has been replicated in South Bridgwater and Burnham-on-Sea and Highbridge.