Every year Almond carries out checks for elderly and vulnerable customers to ensure its homes are ready for winter. This year, 239 visits were carried out between early October and mid-November.

Almond Enterprises Ltd (AEL) carried out the checks on behalf of Almond HA. AEL is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Almond HA and carries out stair cleaning, gutter cleaning, house clearance and environmental works across Livingston. The AEL team are therefore familiar faces to Almond HA customers and are well positioned to carry out these checks.

The checks include the operation of heating, windows and plumbing alongside identifying minor repairs, cleaning fans and changing lightbulbs if required. The team member also ensures there are no hazards, including damp, mould or condensation within the property. A small pack containing winter essentials is also left at each visit. Any concerns regarding the wellbeing of the customer or need for support is fed back to the Association’s housing team.

Almond HA can offer additional support through Almond Cares. This is a grant scheme which is open to Almond HA customers and local community groups to provide items that support tenants to stay in their home, support employment or volunteering, promote healthy lifestyle and wellbeing, or benefit community activities that bring people together and improve the neighbourhood.

The project has provided essentials such as warm bedding, thermal curtains, carpets for rooms that don’t have any floor coverings, air fryers, pressure cookers and more. Almond HA has also been fortunate to be able to access funding to support customers with energy costs in recent years.