PEOPLE are being asked to vote to recognise Somerset Village Agents.

The Community Council for Somerset is a charity based in Taunton and its Village Agents work hard over and above their normal working hours to support people in rural communities to access services and support.

The group is now hoping to bag a Community Organisation Award as part of the National Diversity Awards.

Since the Somerset Floods of December 2013, a small number of Village Agents have been working extremely hard to help those affected by the floods.

The Somerset Community Foundation, the organisation responsible for dealing with the donated money, has worked closely with the Village Agents to enable them to find those that are affected and give them support in the way of grants, services, emotional support and more.

Village Agents are responsible for more than 80% of the grant giving to victims and continue to do this on a daily basis, as the clean up continues.

Kate Symonds, Village Agent for Cluster Sedgemoor Five, said: “Village Agents are out on the ground daily giving support, listening, advising and signposting. It is a valuable third sector service and without the Village Agents victims would not have been reached so quickly and supported so well.”

To vote click here.