VIDEO: Seven thousand vulnerable, older and disabled households helped by Peterborough's Care and Repair service

The service helps vulnerable, older and disabled people to stay independent in their own home and keep warm and safe.

This can help to ease the burden on social care and health services by reducing GP and hospital visits as well as lessening the need for long-term residential care.

The Care and Repair team aims to prevent falls, accidents and improve the home environment. Much of this work involves adapting people’s homes, for example installing grab rails, ramps, stair lifts and even building extensions.

The team also offers support for vulnerable householders to keep warm, safe and dry during the winter months by installing insulation, new boilers or central heating.

Russ Carr, manager of the council’s Care and Repair service, said: “All the work we do is prevention-based, for example we want to stop people falling in their own home and ending up in hospital or in care.

“Our work helps to maintain people’s independence and in so doing reduces the size of the care package that they may require.”

The team works with householders to access means-tested grants to help meet some or all of the costs including Disabled Facilities Grants, Repair Assistance Grants and Warm at Home funding.

The Care and Repair service accounts for the largest portion of the council’s Renewal Policy budget which aims to help ensure that as many houses as possible are available to be lived in by residents.

Councillor Irene Walsh, cabinet member for communities and environment, said: “Our Care and Repair service makes such a difference to so many people in Peterborough - more than 7,000 people last year alone.

“From mending a cupboard door to fixing a boiler, every piece of work helps our elderly and vulnerable residents live a better, more stress free life and feel safer in their homes.

“The impact the team has on so many people across the city cannot be underestimated and that is why they have a string of awards recognising their success in improving the lives of residents.”

More information can found on the council’s website, or you can call 01733 863895 or email [email protected] to find out more.

The service has a satisfaction rate of well over 90 per cent.