THE Wellington One Team has been praised for making a real difference in the area and helping some of the town’s most vulnerable residents.

One Teams have been working in Somerset since the Halcon One Team was first established in 2013 in Taunton.

They are structured on an award winning model that provides an effective means of agencies working closely together to support vulnerable communities and reduce overall demand on the public sector.

Their aim is to work in Somerset’s most vulnerable communities and provide co-ordinated front-line multi-agency working to efficiently provide sustainable solutions for families and individuals that prevent problems escalating and costs increasing to the public sector.

Peter Joint, the current co-ordinator, told Wellington Town Council that the Wellington One Team was doing some great work locally.

But he added that a priority over the next 12 months will be to make the group sustainable.

“There is a huge amount of passion in this town that will make this work,” he said. “We want to use what is already out there rather than coming back to you with cap in hand – we want to build up a bank of funds to move forward.”

The town council last month agreed to make £11,000 available to fund the One Team co-ordinator role in Wellington for 2019-20 – subject to hearing more detailed proposals from Mr Joint at the council’s February meeting.

Cllr Mark Lithgow said: “This is an absolute bargain – fantastic value for money. If we ever lost this it would be a real blow to this town.

“The list of people and agencies involved in the Wellington One Team is endless.

“I have seen people genuinely excited about getting involved and it has brought in parents and children who might otherwise be vulnerable.”

Cllr Andy Govier added: “I strongly support the One Team idea because I think it works.”

Cllr Will Brown said: “I’m often surprised at how many times the One Team pops-up and in the most unexpected of places.

“The money we give to this is probably the most important money the town council gives.”

The Mayor, Cllr Gary James, added: “The Wellington One Team keeps its finger on the pulse in the town and saves people a lot of time.”