House, garden and pet care

 

Lincolnshire Home Independence Agency helps older people and people with disabilities to make sure your home is in good repair, to improve security and to do repairs and improvements for you. The agency runs a Handy Person scheme to tackle small jobs around your home, and a Trusted Tradesman scheme where every member is vetted to ensure they operate in a legal, decent, honest and fair way. If you can’t afford the cost of repairs and improvements, the agency will help you to look at other options.

If you are aged 50 years and over, Age UK can give you information about local tradespeople who can help you. They can also arrange a minor repair service, for example to help with fitting door bells, locks and safety devices, replace light bulbs, smoke alarm batteries, etc. There is a charge for this service

If you are an older person who wants support to maintain your home and you live in the Stamford or Bourne area, the Evergreen Care Trust may be able to help you through their home support service

 

There are services available to assist you with care for your pet from walking your dog to providing a temporary or permanent home for your pet.

Canine Care Card by the Dog's trust. The Canine Care Card Service is available nationwide and totally free-of-charge. As a Canine Care Card holder, if you become seriously ill or pass away and can no longer look after your dog, we will look after your canine companion, help them get back on their paws, and find them a new, loving, forever home

The Cinnamon Trust is the national charity for elderly and terminally ill people and their pets. We seek to keep owner and pet together for as long as possible with the help of a national network of volunteers who assist when day to day care poses a problem.

Horncastle Cats Protection helps where we can to give cats and kittens in need a safe and secure home. 

The RSPCA offer information and advice about responsible pet ownership and some low cost veterinary care such as microchipping, neutering and vaccinations.

The PDSA offer information and advice about keeping pets healthy and may help with veterinary costs for pet owners who are in receipt of some means tested benefits.

Petmatey offer help with pet care, dog walking and boarding.

 

The Priority Services Register (PSR) is a free and voluntary system that your supplier uses to ensure the correct support is given to its most vulnerable customers. It is designed and overseen by Ofgem for energy and Ofwat for water suppliers, and ensures individuals with special requirements have access to additional support as and when they require it.

Support may vary by supplier and by an individual’s circumstances, but can include:

• Advanced notices of planned service interruption
• Priority service support during emergencies and unexpected service interruption
• Nominee scheme – to nominate someone to receive communications and bills from your supplier
• Quarterly meter readings and assistance with billing including large format, Braille and audio letters
• Identification and password scheme

You may be eligible to register for free, if you or someone in your household:

• Have reached pension age
• Have children aged 5 and under
• Have a disability or long-term medical condition
• Rely on medical equipment that requires a power supply or refrigerated medicines
• Would struggle to answer the door to get help in an emergency
• Are recovering from an injury and need short term support
• Have extra communication needs
• Living with dementia

For example, by signing up to Anglian Water's Priority Services Register they will then know you or your loved one's situation, so you won’t need to repeat yourself every time you speak to them, and you may access a range of priority services, including: 

• Being proactively contacted if there’s a planned interruption to your water supply.
• The password scheme - add a password to your account to help protect you against bogus callers (remember, Anglian Water will NEVER say they’re from the “Water Board”).
• Help reading your meter, if you find this difficult.
• You can communicate in your preferred language, using the translation services. This includes British Sign Language.
• Be supported to better understand your bills. Anglian Water can call or visit your property to talk through bills when they’re produced.
• “Knock and wait” and “call and wait” so if you need a bit longer to get to your phone or door, Anglian Water will wait.

                                                                          

To sign up to your current supplier's free Priority Services Register and confirm eligibility, we have provided some links below:

anglianwater.co.uk/priority or telephone 0800 232 1951 to find out more

British Gas - Priority Services Register

EDF - Priority Services Register

National Grid - Priority Services Register

Octopus Energy  - Priority Services Register

OVO Energy - Priority Services Register

Scottish Power - Priority Services Register

South East Water - Priority Services Register