The Parish Council has been asked to highlight the invaluable work and support that the Home Improvement Agency (HIA) provides.
The team is dedicated to helping older and vulnerable people live safely and independently in their own homes by providing advice, assistance and grants for home adaptations, repairs, heating, dementia and safety within the home.
It offers a handypersons scheme that will carry out small works within the home at a subsidised rate of £20 per hour if they are eligible. The service is offered to vulnerable home owners who live within South Oxfordshire and the Vale of White Horse districts. Vulnerable tenants may also use the service for jobs that are not the responsibility of the landlords.
The handyperson scheme is available to persons aged 55 or over or who have a disability or severe health problem that prevents them from carrying out the repair themselves. Here are some of the things that the team can do:
- Home safety and falls prevention
- Home security
- Keysafe Installations
- General household repairs
- Minor plumbing
The team can also provide dementia assistance. Working closely with Dementia Oxfordshire it has created a referral pathway that improves home support and quality of life within the home. Memory aids like calendars, clocks, whiteboards and safety measures such as locks, keysafes, gas checks and signage can be requested immediately then delivered and installed FREE to the client.
For more information telephone 0300 373 5663 or email hia-sv@oxford.gov.uk.
