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Housing Association News
Record Breaking Year for Care and Repair
Hillcrest Housing Association has had a record breaking year through their Care and Repair scheme. 2006/07 saw a record number of grants being accessed, clients assisted and finances spent. Hillcrest manages the scheme run in Strathearn and Kinross with funding from Perth and Kinross Council and Communities Scotland. Care and Repair offers advice and support to elderly and disabled home owners and private tenants to enable them to maintain, improve or adapt their homes.
An increase of staffing levels within the Council’s Occupational Therapy department resulted in a record number of referrals being made. John Mulloy, Hillcrest Group Chief Executive said “the continuing increase in the number of referrals highlights how worthwhile the Care and Repair scheme is. Because of a successful and trusting relationship being built between our Hillcrest Care and Repair staff and the Council’s Social Work department, people in Strathearn and Kinross are being able to access money to carry out much needed work that they may otherwise not have got done.”
As well as the Care and Repair Scheme, Hillcrest Housing Association manages the Small Repair Scheme for people in Strathearn and Kinross. The Scheme is funded by Perth and Kinross Council and provides free advice and assistance to the elderly and the disabled about repairs and improvements to their own homes. 2006/07 has been hugely popular for this scheme and at times has proved too popular. Sally McGillvary, Care and Repair Officer, Hillcrest, Commented that “at the start of the year the demand for the service was higher than the funding we had available. Luckily Perth and Kinross Council made £10 000 more available and I was able to arrange jobs for people that would have otherwise had to be put on a waiting list. ”
Both schemes are a free service offering advice and support. The total spend over 2006/07 on the Care and Repair Scheme was £755,147 which was an increase on the £553,448 spent the year before. The figures highlight that the scheme is growing from strength to strength.
For further Information on either of the services contact Sally McGillvary, Hillcrest Care and Repair Officer on 01764 655865.