Community News for Yeovil & S Somerset

The latest news, ideas and information from our Community.

All you need to know

Community News – Covid Transport

Somerset County Council is joining forces with transport providers to help vulnerable residents get to their Covid vaccination appointments. There are now more than 20 vaccination sites across Somerset including community-based locations, hospital hubs and large vaccination centres. In Yeovil, the vaccination sites are at the Gateway in Addlewell Lane and at Morrisons supermarket car park on Lysander Road. While many older and more vulnerable people will be able to attend a location close to their home, some will be relying on public transport. Somerset County Council is working with bus operators and community transport providers to make it as easy as possible for those people to get to appointments by suspending current concessionary bus pass rules so these can be used on all public services before 9.30 am and by working with Community Transport providers to allow free travel for bus pass holders when attending vaccination appointments.

Programme Director for the Somerset Vaccination Programme, Karen Prosser, says it’s very important that people come forward for a vaccination when they are invited and that the special transport measures have been put in place to support this further. 

If you have not yet had your vaccination, it might be worth preparing in advance how you will get there. If you aren’t able to drive yourself, but you have a family member or friend who might be able to support you, it’s always worth having that conversation now. If you are concerned about accessing an appointment, call the Somerset Coronavirus helpline on 0300 790 6275

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Community News – Abuse

Young people experiencing relationships that cause them to feel scared, controlled or, who are harmed can find local help through the Safer Somerset Partnership. For many, experiences of domestic abuse begin in the childhood home. It’s estimated that 1 in 5 children are exposed to domestic abuse. This means that for many young people, their experience of domestic violence does not begin in their own relationships, but in the childhood home from witnessing adult relatives in abusive relationships. According to the Safe Lives report “Safe Young Lives” 6.6% of men and 12.6% of women aged 16 to 19 have experienced domestic abuse in the past year. In Somerset, the number of 16 to 17-year-olds receiving support through the Domestic Abuse Service has increased significantly indicating the need to address teenage abuse and unhealthy relationship. Cabinet Member for Public Health and Well-Being at Somerset County Council, Cllr Clare Paul, says young people can experience all forms of domestic abuse and the likelihood of experiencing high severity abuse is no different to adults. Domestic abuse, be it physical, psychological or coercive is wrong. If someone is hurting you or making you do something you don’t want to, contact the website  www.somersetsurvivors.org.uk  or call 0800 694 9999

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