Here to Help!

06 October 2008

Residents aged 50+ from across the Caerphilly county borough will have the opportunity to receive free advice and information on a series of important issues, at four events to be held this month.

The 50+ Positive Action Partnership and the Safer Caerphilly Community Safety Partnership have joined forces with various agencies throughout the Caerphilly county borough area to present a series of "Here to Help" days.

The events, which are aimed primarily at those aged over 50, will be run over 4 dates in October, with a further 3 dates also planned for March.

The events will offer FREE:

• Advice on keeping 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
• And lots more…

The events will commence with a short theatre production about bogus callers, detailing how to deal with fake officials, dodgy builders and false charity collectors.

Caerphilly council's Trading Standards department, as in previous years, will be also be offering FREE electric blanket checks to ensure they are safe for use. For people aged over 60 whose electric blanket is found to be faulty, they will be provided with a new one free of charge.

Blankets can be brought along to be tested, or they can be dropped off at any of the county borough's cash offices from the 6 October. If you have limited mobility and cannot leave the house, please call 01495 235291 and the council will organise for your blanket to be collected.

The "Here to Help" events will be held at:

• Caerphilly – Tues 14th October, 11:00am - 1:00pm, St Martins Church Hall
• Risca – Wed 15th October, 1:00pm - 3:00pm, Moriah Chapel
• Blackwood – Thurs 16th October, 11:00am - 1:00pm, Blackwood Police Station
• Ystrad Mynach – Fri 17th October, 10:00am - 2:00pm, New Cottage Dance Centre

Cabinet member for the environment, Cllr Lyn Ackerman said, "We are delighted to be able to provide these excellent events for our local residents – I would really encourage people to come along and make use of the wealth of advice and information that will be available, particularly with the winter months just around the corner."

Cabinet Member for Social Services, Cllr Judith Pritchard is also the Older Person's Champion for Caerphilly. She said, "It's great to see Safer Caerphilly and the 50+ Partnership working together to safeguard older people in the county borough. In light of the recent rise in energy costs, the practical advice and checks available will, I'm sure, help our older residents to have a safe, healthy winter."

Crime and Disorder Reduction Officer, Sergeant Rob Davies said, "These "Here to Help" events have been developed to protect the more vulnerable members of our community. There are a series of multi agency events taking place in a week of initiatives, and I would encourage as many people as possible to get involved".

So why not come along and make use of the advice and information available, enjoy the theatre production and have a cuppa and a piece of cake, and even better, why not bring along a friend too!

Also, for those needing transport to and from the events, minibuses will be available, so keep and eye out for the posters in your local area for details, or contact 01443 865 518.

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, Gwent Police Authority and South Wales Fire and Rescue Authority. It works to reduce levels of crime and disorder, anti social behaviour, substance misuse and fear of crime in our local area.