Age Concern is a federation of independent organisations working with older people. They generally provide services to people over the age of fifty. Their services can include:

• Fitting security hardware free of charge, provided the client purchases the hardware
• Information and advice
• Security surveys
• Benefits advisors
• Will writing, medical directives and power of attorneys
• Social advocacy
• General insurance
• Provision of detailed fact sheets on a variety of relevant subjects.
• Safe and Secure project - practical help to older people wishing to improve their crime prevention measures

Schemes operate around the constabulary area, their contact numbers are:

• Age Concern Bristol 01179 297 537
• Age Concern Bath and North East Somerset 01225 466 135
• Age Concern South Gloucestershire 01454 858 750
• Age Concern North Somerset 01934 629 192
• Age Concern Somerset (Taunton Deane, South Somerset, and Sedgemoor) 01823 259 710

The National Age Concern Information Line is open 8am to 7pm 365 days-a-year. Calls are free on 0800 009966.

Care & Repair agencies offer assistance to older (60 years or over) and disabled home owners and those in privately rented accommodation. They are an independent, non-profit-making home improvement agency.

Their services include:

• A home visit to discuss your needs
• Advice on the required work, including drawings and specifications
• Assistance in obtaining quotes from reliable and reputable builders
• Assistance in securing finance for the work, eg. grants, charities, or private resources
• Assistance in completing all the paperwork
• Supervision of the work at your home
• Advice on other relevant local services

All advice is free and confidential. To contact your local care and repair service telephone:

• South Gloucestershire 01179 042 277
• Bath and North East Somerset 01761 413 030
• North Somerset 01275 858 518
• Bristol 01179 542 222
• Mendip 01749 345379

Bristol and Bath Care and Repair offer a Handyperson Scheme which can provide a free home safety check and install appropriate security devices. (Some restrictions apply)

Help the Aged can help with all sorts of problems concerning the elderly. The advice line is free on 0808 800 6565 (lines are open 9am to 4pm), or look in your telephone directory for local Help the Aged services.

Victim Support Schemes can help if you have been robbed, assaulted or burgled. They can also help with Criminal Injuries Compensation Claims (CICA), and provide emotional support if you are suffering after becoming a victim of crime. Your local police will put you in touch with the nearest group.

Can you help? All of the above organisations are happy to welcome more volunteers to assist them, even if for only a few hours a week. For further information, contact them direct.