Cutting the cake: (from left to right): Graham Harper, Chief Executive of Care and Repair Edinburgh, Gordon Macdonald MSP and Tim Dew, Chairman of Care and Repair Edinburgh.
An Edinburgh based charity dedicated to assisting older people and the disabled to live in their own homes and communities for as long as possible has celebrated its 30th birthday.
Care and Repair Edinburgh’s milestone anniversary was commemorated by the signing of a pledge to support the charity’s principles by Alex Neil, Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Communities and Pensioners’ Rights and local Capital MSP Gordon Macdonald.
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 has ramped up its activities in 2015 with the addition of a gas services contract and the appointment of a full time dedicated key safe fitter. Care and Repair Edinburgh is 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 transitions from hospital care to their own homes.
Gordon Macdonald MSP who hosted the event in parliament said:
This is a fantastic local charity whose aim is to assist retired people and those with disabilities with DIY repairs and in doing so helps tackle social isolation. The demand for their service is such that they need more volunteers to assist in their local area so I would urge people who can help in DIY tasks to get in touch with the charity via their website.
Graham Harper, Chief Executive Officer of Care and Repair Edinburgh, said:
We are committed to enabling older people and people with disabilities in Edinburgh to feel well-supported and secure in their own homes and have a home that is suitably adapted to fit their needs. Care and Repair Edinburgh offers a range of services from small DIY repairs carried out for free by volunteers to larger domestic improvements and home-from-hospital adaptations, arranged via its trades list of trusted professionals.
Alex Neil and Gordon Macdonald were the first people to sign the pledge which stated:
I pledge to do what I can to support Care and Repair Edinburgh principles so that more people in the capital are supported to live independently and safely in their own homes in comfort, security and with greater independence.
