Offering a helping hand

Vulnerable council tenants in Wear Valley are getting a helping hand around their home.

Under a pilot scheme launched next month by Dale & Valley Homes they will be able to receive help with small DIY jobs and some gardening.

Called Helping Hands, the scheme is an extension of the Community Caretakers scheme, which has been responsible for cleaning up estates and making them look much better.

Joanne Dunn, assistant director of housing operations for Dale & Valley Homes, said: "The estate caretakers have been helping people with their gardens and, informally, with other little jobs. This has been much appreciated by customers and we wanted to make sure everyone who is vulnerable has the chance to benefit from it.

"The type of tenants this is designed to help are; the over-60s, the visually impaired, very young tenants, those that can't get around very well and people who have recently moved home."

"We are running it as a pilot project for three months to see how it goes and will decide the long term future after that."

Small jobs such as replacing light bulbs, putting up curtain poles and shelves, building a single piece of flat pack furniture, clearing footpaths and strimming shrubs and trees are among the tasks that would fall within the scheme.

Customers can expect work to be carried out within four weeks.

Anyone wanting to know more about the scheme should contact Dale & Valley Homes on 0800 083 0333 or 0300 2000 194, or e-mail info@daleandvalleyhomes.co.uk. 

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