27 October 2008
The 50+ Positive Action Partnership and the Safer Caerphilly Community Safety Partnership joined forces with various other local agencies to present the series of "Here to Help" days giving the 50+ an opportunity to receive free advice and information on a series of important issues.
Each event began with an impressive production by the Small World Theatre Company, entitled "Bogus", which detailed how to deal with bogus officials, dodgy builders and false charity collectors.
The production combined humour with the serious messages of how to deal with bogus callers and gave the audience a chance get involved in the performance by giving them a chance to suggest how the characters in the show might deal with the bogus callers.
More than 250 people attended the events over the four days, which illustrates how extremely popular the events were and importance of running them in local communities. There will also be an additional 3 Here to Help events, which will take place in March in Rhymney, Bargoed and Bedwas.
The events offered FREE:
- Advice on how to keep warm and well this winter
- Blood pressure checks
- Safety advice
- Advice on pensions, council tax credit, energy efficiency etc
- Practical advice on how to deal with doorstep callers
Cabinet member for the environment, Cllr Lyn Ackerman said, "I am delighted that so many people came along and made use of the services and advice available during the Here to Help events.
The feedback I gained from many people who attended was extremely positive – I was overwhelmed by the number of people who said that they now felt that much more equipped to deal with bogus callers should they ever be in that position.
Also, with energy prices as high as they currently are, the health checks and practical energy advice available during the events, I'm sure will help our older residents to have a safe, healthy winter."
Caerphilly council's Trading Standards Department also offered FREE electric blanket checks during the events. Over the four days, approximately 90 electric blankets were tested, and those that failed the safety checks were disposed of, and its owner given a brand new one free of charge.
The Safer Caerphilly Community Safety Partnership is a multi agency organisation, whose five statutory bodies are Caerphilly County Borough Council, Gwent Police, Caerphilly Teaching Local Health Board, South Wales Fire and Rescue Authority and Gwent Police Authority. It works to reduce levels of crime, disorder, anti social behaviour and fear of crime in the local area.
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