Edinburgh charity helps keep over 5,000 older and disabled people safe at home in the Capital
Care and Repair Edinburgh, celebrating its 30th anniversary, saw the number of people assisted in the past year rise from 4314 in 2014 to 5031 in 2015 –a 17 per cent rise in demand for its services from the previous year. 
Care and Repair Edinburgh CEO Graham Harper (left), Yvonne Georgeson (Volunteer Officer) and Louise Love (Head of Operations) on the right.
From arranging a home-from-hospital adaptation by a trusted tradesman to offering a helping hand and a listening ear to often lonely older people, The dedicated, hardworking and experienced team of staff and volunteers provides a one-stop-shop to provide assistance to older and disabled people.
Volunteers carried out 1,370 small DIY jobs in 2015. The charity organised 1,779 trade referral jobs and 143 people were assisted with advice and referral to a trusted trader list. Fifty nine people received assistance with a home adaption and 368 people had small joinery work undertaken at reduced rates. The charity extended its activities in 2015 with the addition of funded gas repairs and key safe fitting.
Care and Repair Edinburgh is now working closely with NHS Lothian and the City of Edinburgh Council to assist with hospital discharges, enabling people to make a quick, smooth and lasting transition to their home. In September 2015, a pilot DIY work program was launched in the homes of hospital patients to meet their needs and help speed up discharges, assisting 22 patients return home from hospital and 1,290 patients through the installation of a key safe fitting.
The company’s partner, McClure Solicitors is providing a ‘Free Wills for Charity’ scheme where the company prepares the will free of charge in return for a future charitable donation.
Graham Harper, CEO of Care and Repair Edinburgh, said: “Marking our 30th anniversary, 2015 has been Care and Repair Edinburgh’s busiest year so far. Our joinery service and the handyperson volunteers have assisted 17 percent more older and disabled people in Edinburgh stay safely in their homes. Our services have extended to exciting new initiatives such as our pilot discharges programme with NHS Lothian and providing a free Will service through our partnership with one of the UK’s largest legal firms.”
