[Community Office] [Equal Opportunities] [Advice and Advocacy] [Gardening Scheme - HEA] [Home Security] [Befriending Scheme] [Hospital Visits] [Integrated Database & Networked Computer System] [Winter Warmth Campaign] [The Poverty Trap] [Security Lighting Scheme] [Contingency Fund] [Housing Support]
e. [top]
Holbeck Elderly Aid Community Office Oak House Balm Walk Holbeck Leeds LS11 9P has evolved into the centre of our operations, and all our work is carried out from here. The Community Office was created in response to many people commenting that they would like us to be more locally accessible. Many, many people have dropped in for information about a variety of topics including, accessing services in their local community, welfare benefits entitlement checks, referrals to other agencies and services, or just a chat to update us about their whereabouts.
2. Equal Opportunities [top]
Our posters advertising the services offered by HEA have been translated into several different languages. These posters have annually been distributed in the local community and to the various voluntary and statutory organisations concerned with HEA. As mentioned earlier we also provide training placements to PATH, the Job Placement Scheme, CRISP and Park Lane College.
3. Advice and Advocacy [top]
An Advice Clinic continues to operate on a Tuesday morning (10:00am – 12:00pm) and on a Friday afternoon (2:30pm – 4:00pm) at St. Matthew’s Community Centre. Home visits to housebound residents are also still available. Advice can be given on a variety of topics including welfare benefits, housing, home security and form filling. Advocacy is available in the form of mediation between our Service User’s and other agencies, this also includes applications to trust funds for grants on behalf of the Service User.
5. Gardening Scheme – HEA [top]
Due to the excess of demand over supply, every year we run our own Gardening Scheme to complement the excellent work already being carried out by Groundwork Trust. We have not been able to successfully recruit a Gardener as yet, but would welcome applications!
6. Home Security [top]
The Community Involvement Team (CIT) was funded during this period to carry out free home security checks for older people. We acted as a referral agency for this work and liased with both parties to ensure that a seamless service was provided, and older people were kept informed about the work at all stages.
7. Befriending Scheme [top]
During this year we had four Volunteer Befrienders who visited several older members of the Community on a weekly basis. Now that our Volunteer Co-ordinator is in post, we shall be further developing this service. At the time of going to press Lesley Thornton has successfully recruited two more Volunteer Befrienders. We shall continue to persevere in this area, as there clearly is a need to develop this service further.
8. Hospital Visits [top]
An additional concept to our Befriending Scheme has evolved out of need. Older people who are admitted to hospital can now be visited by one of our Volunteer Befrienders. This is a particularly important aspect of the scheme, visiting people who may often encounter feelings of loneliness, isolation and fear in an alien environment. Sadly for some, these are the last days of their lives, and a friendly, familiar face will help to relieve anxiety, look into queries and contact distant friends and relations.
9. Integrated Database & Networked Computer System [top]
We currently have 3 computers that are networked together. One of these machines is a Lap-top, allowing us to take this out when visiting isolated older people in their own homes, and carrying out assessments of need “on the spot,” without bringing back reams of paperwork to type into our office computers! The data is simply transferred to our Service User database upon return to our offices. We are currently looking at developing an integrated database, which will highlight all the particular needs of each Service User, on one record, instead of the many databases we have for each particular service, for example gardening, security lighting etc.
10. Winter Warmth Campaign [top]
The Winter Warmth Campaign formed part of an annual citywide campaign to raise awareness of the problems facing older people in the winter. Keep Warm, Keep Well packs containing information on cutting fuel bills, home insulation and preventing hypothermia were produced by HEA and distributed along with packs of ‘Cup-a-Soup’. It is to be noted that Volunteers visited the homes of all Service Users to distribute these packs, in the cold days of bitter winter! These visits are essential in order to gain an insight into possible unrealised dangers in the home, that the more vulnerable older person may never have realised or considered!
11. The Poverty Trap [top]
Many people are just above the Minimum Income Guarantee threshold, some as little as 74p! This prevented them from receiving reductions / discounts on other benefits and services. We have continued to help alleviate this problem by contacting some national organisations that are prepared to contribute quarterly grants to assist these people with their living costs. Different organisations will fund people from different occupational backgrounds.
12. Security Lighting Scheme [top]
This has been actively developed, and promoted via our quarterly Newsletter. This scheme helps older people to cultivate a sense of security in their own homes. It is intended to further enhance and complement the Home Security Scheme. The fitting of these lights is now on-going. Many thanks to Crime Prevention Officer Steve Brewer, Alan Marsden (Housing Officer) and Peter Bamforth (Builder) for their liaison in this scheme. Thanks to West Yorkshire Police for their kind donation of 100 security lights!
13. Contingency Fund [top]
When dealing with children and families, the Department of Social Services has access to funds to assist children in need. These can be used in exceptional circumstances to provide cash where an emergency occurs, for example, when there is no food or lighting. No such contingency fund exists for older people in similar circumstances. HEA has filled this gap in the provision of services for the elderly, by setting up a Contingency Fund. This fund is also available to older people who are victims of crime, such as street robbery. Payments are made at the discretion of the Project Co-ordinator, and certain criteria must be fulfilled. Several older people in desperate need have been able to access this fund.
14. Housing Support [top]
Moving home can be a very stressful time for many people. Moving home for some
older people can often be a daunting task, with fears about many different aspects
of their life and how the move will affect them. We have provided assistance
for isolated people to move home. This was done via helping them to fill in
the necessary paperwork, informing the relevant authorities, and more practically
by providing Volunteers to help them pack and unpack their personal belongings.
Being there with them on the day of the move helped to reassure them. We also
offer some support visits to ensure that they are settled in their new homes.
This type of work involves handling a multitude of different tasks, and HEA
has proved to be a flexible and responsive organisation according to needs.