Care and Repair Edinburgh assisted over 5,000 older and disabled people to continue to live safely at home in the Capital during 2015 – a 17 per cent rise in demand for its services from the previous year.

The charity, which is celebrating its 30th anniversary, saw the number of people assisted in the past year rise from 4314 in 2014 to 5031 in 2015.

From arranging a home-from-hospital adaptation by a trusted tradesman to offering a helping hand and a listening ear to often lonely older people, Care and Repair Edinburgh’s dedicated, hardworking and experienced team of staff and volunteers provides a one-stop-shop to provide assistance to older and disabled people.

The charity’s team of volunteers carried out 1,370 small DIY handyperson jobs in 2015. The charity organised 1,779 trade referral jobs and 143 people were assisted with advice and referral to a trusted trader list. Fifty nine people received assistance with a home adaption and 368 people had small joinery work undertaken at reduced rates by the charity’s dedicated joiners. The charity extended its activities in 2015 with the addition of funded gas repairs and the appointment of a full time dedicated key safe fitter.

Care and Repair Edinburgh is now working closely with NHS Lothian and the City of Edinburgh Council to assist with hospital discharges and enable people to make a quick, smooth and lasting transition from hospital care to their own homes. The charity has embarked on a new pilot programme undertaking DIY work at the homes of hospital patients to meet their needs and help speed up discharges. The pilot, which began in September 2015, has assisted twenty two patients return home from hospital so far. During 2015, 1,290 patients were also assisted to leave hospital through the installation of a keysafe at their home.

During the year, Care and Repair Edinburgh entered into a partnership with McClure Solicitors to offer Edinburgh residents the chance to make a Will for free in return for a future charitable donation. McClure Solicitors are providing the service under its Free Wills for Charity Scheme where the company prepares a Will free of charge and suggests to the client that they may wish to make a donation to the charity.

Graham Harper, chief executive Officer of Care and Repair Edinburgh, said: “Marking our 30th anniversary, 2015 has been Care and Repair Edinburgh’s busiest year so far. Our joinery service and the handyperson volunteers have assisted 17 percent more older and disabled people in Edinburgh stay safely in their homes. Our services have extended to exciting new initiatives such as our pilot discharges programme with NHS Lothian and providing a free Will service through our partnership with one of the UK’s largest legal firms.”