City-based charity Care and Repair Edinburgh continues to ramp up its activities by extending the services it provides to enable older people and the disabled in the Edinburgh area to continue to live independently and safely in their own homes. The charity has secured a new agreement to carry out free gas safety inspections and repair work for eligible clients. The contract has been awarded through the Foundations Independent Living Trust and will initially run for one year.

Care and Repair Edinburgh provides a wide variety of services including a volunteer handyperson service, a home from hospital service, small repairs service, adaptations/home improvement service and trades referral service. Now with the new gas services contract, the organisation will be able to assist eligible clients with problems with a gas appliance or water heater.  The work will be carried out by a gas registered plumber from the charity’s trades referral service. Eligible clients are those who receive state pension only (and no other income); receive DLA (are registered disabled and are 21 and over or 60 years of age and over); who receive means tested benefit.  They can be assisted with work up to a maximum of £500.

Work can be carried out on gas appliances such as boilers, cookers, fires, gas meters, water heaters and gas pipework. Gas safety checks, servicing and combustion boiler analysis are also included. Commenting on the introduction of the new service, Graham Harper, Care and Repair Edinburgh CEO, said: “Care and Repair Edinburgh has an important role assisting the public sector to cope with an aging population and shrinking budgets. I am delighted that we have been offered this opportunity to extend the valuable services we can provide to assist older and disabled people to repair, adapt or maintain their home so they can remain there safely and independently for as long as possible.”

For further information see www.careandrepairedinburgh.org.uk