New Handy Person Scheme launched - Tuesday 22 Oct 2024
A scheme that supports elderly or vulnerable residents with practical help around their homes is being rolled out across Westmorland and Furness.
The popular Handyperson Scheme has run for several years in the South Lakeland area, offering eligible residents assistance with small jobs around the home to help them maintain independent living and support quality of life.
The service, which is operated by Westmorland and Furness Council, can provide help with anything from changing a lightbulb to putting up shelving, hanging curtains, installing handrails and small repairs such as unblocking sinks or replacing a washer on a tap.
Fitting of minor security measures such as door and window locks is also available under the scheme, helping people feel safer in their homes and reducing the fear of crime.
All work is carried out free of charge. The resident provides the items and materials and these should be purchased prior to requesting a job. Sometimes materials may be supplied by a partner agency like the police, such as home security items.
The scheme has now been extended to cover the whole of Westmorland and Furness.
It applies to all residents, whether you rent privately, own your home or are a social housing tenant.
For tenants, the scheme covers minor works that are not normally the responsibility of the landlord. If a tenant requests a job that is the landlord's responsibility, they will be redirected to contact their landlord.
Assistance under the scheme is available to people who are unable to undertake the task themselves and have no other person available to help them with the task and reside in the Westmorland and Furness area, who:
• are aged 65 and over; or
• have a disability or are vulnerable; or
• are being discharged or have recently been discharged from hospital; or
• are at high risk of falling due to a medical condition
Gardening and decorating works are not included in the scheme and the scheme is for pre-booked jobs only – it is not an emergency call-out service.
Works are limited to a maximum of three hours on site if one handy person visits, or 1.5 hours if two handy persons visit. Eligible households are able to utilise the service up to six times in any 12-month period.
Councillor Judith Derbyshire, Westmorland and Furness Council’s Cabinet Member for Housing and Customer Services, said: “This scheme has been running successfully for a number of years in the South Lakeland area. We are delighted that under the new Westmorland and Furness Council it is now being extended to all eligible residents in the Barrow and Eden areas as well.
“It is a fantastic scheme that provides valuable help for people to carry out those little jobs or repairs that make their lives easier, safer or more secure.
“This helps to support people to live healthier, happier and more independent lives, in line with our key Council Plan priorities around helping our communities to thrive.
“We supply the labour free-of-charge with any materials being paid for by the householder.’’
For more information and to request a job under the Handyperson Scheme, visit the website: Handy person scheme | Westmorland and Furness Council
Alternatively you can call the Housing Standards Team on 0300 373 3300, email [email protected], or write to:
Housing Standards Team
Westmorland and Furness Council
South Lakeland House
Lowther Street
Kendal
LA9 4DQ
ENDS
Case Studies
A: A lady’s husband died and he usually did all the odd jobs around the house.
The lady had several jobs done under the Handyperson Scheme, including changing lightbulbs and having the guttering on the house cleared in preparation for winter.
She commented on how polite the contractors were and how, every time they came, they took their shoes off in her house so they did not make a mess - even without her asking (see comment below)!
B: The daughter of an elderly resident was having difficulty getting an external handrail installed outside her mother’s flat. The mother was on end of life care and just wanted to go outside to enjoy the garden.
The Handyperson Scheme worked with the management company to source and install an appropriate handrail and painted it to match the colour scheme on the rest of the development.
The lady was able to leave the property safely and enjoyed being able to go outside in the months before she passed away.
