Handyperson Service expands through the Highlands

A Handyperson Service for people aged over 65 or living with a disability was launched today Thursday 17 September at the Spectrum Centre, Inverness.

The Service which is one of six similar services provided throughput the Highlands will now benefit people in the Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey areas.

The Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey Handyperson Service is a partnership between The Highland Council, Cairn Housing Association, Care in Strathnairn and Volunteering Highland who have joined forces to offer a combined service covering an area extending from Fort Augustus in the west to Nairn in the East and from Newtonmore and Dalwhinnie in the South to Beauly in the north.

Collectively the organisations involved make a tremendous difference to the lives of elderly and disabled people by helping with minor repairs around their homes. These minor repairs cover a wide range of indoor and outdoor tasks from changing light bulbs and tap washers; securing carpets; fitting grab rails and hand rails; to grass cutting and hedge trimming.

At the launch, frontline staff from various Highland agencies attended to hear more about the Handyperson Service and how it can be of benefit to their customers and clients.

Welcoming delegates and partner agencies to the launch Councillor Margaret Davidson, Chair of The Highland Council’s Housing and Social Work Committee said: “I am very pleased with the strong partnership that we have with Cairn Housing Association, Care in Strathnairn and Volunteering Highland. Together we can make a huge difference to the quality of life of our older members the community or for those with a disability. What can often seem like simple tasks to those more able such as changing a ceiling lightbulb or securing a piece of carpet can be totally out of reach of others. Helping to put things right can bring immense peace of mind and improved wellbeing. By working together we can deliver this.”

Clive Williams, Care and Repair Manager with Cairn Housing Association said: “This new service is a fusion of separate initiatives and demonstrates the way different local agencies can work together to achieve a common objective. With the current demographic changes in society, initiatives like this that have the power to reduce the costs of health and social care and distribute resources to serve more people are welcomed especially when the outcomes improve quality of life.”