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About Us

Anchor Staying Put was established in 1994 in Worthing and in Arun the following year.  Initially there were two separate agencies, however due to funding issues, in April 2003 the Arun and Worthing Anchor Staying Put Agencies were merged into one. In May 2005 the two agencies moved into a new office that accommodated both teams.  The new office is based in Rustington a thriving village located centrally within the two districts.

The agency’s business partners are Supporting People Commissioners, Arun District Council, Worthing Borough Council and West Sussex County Council Social Services Departments based in Bognor Regis, Littlehampton and Worthing.

The aim of the agency is to carry out repairs, improvements and adaptations to disabled and older people who are owner-occupiers or live in privately rented property.  The agency works within Arun District and the Borough of Worthing.

Staying Put Core Service

Technical Service

Our customers are able to use the service to the level they require. Some people just need us to draw up a specification of work and are able to carry on without further help. The majority prefers the full service whereby we take on the work from the initial discussion right through to final inspection. Organising building work is a difficult and stressful process and our objective is to make it as pain-free as possible for our customers. We work closely with local Occupational Therapists drawing up schedules of work according to their recommendations, liaising with Environmental Services to achieve the appropriate specification to suit the customer. The range of work we facilitate to be carried out is as follows.

• Large scale renovations (e.g. roof, rewire, structural repairs).
• Minor works (e.g. leaking taps, new sink, or kitchen cupboard).
• Adaptations (when recommended by an O.T.).
• Security work.
• Central heating & other heating.
• Insulation work fees are only charged for technical services, we do not charge for any advice given to customers. We generally charge 10% of the net cost of work. Where a job is grant funded, our fee is paid as part of the grant.

Benefits Service

Our experienced Caseworker carries out a full benefits check for all new customers. We have frequently found that people are not getting the benefits they are entitled to and a key target for us is to address this inequality. All information given is confidential and we can assist in completing forms when necessary.

Signposting

The agency operates as a storehouse of local and national knowledge referring customers on to appropriate agencies and services. We are well known locally and receive many enquiries for information, which we can usually answer, or we are able to contact someone who can. Access to services can be confusing and complex; therefore, we perceive this process as a vital part of the services that we are offering.

We regularly refer on to Dorset Social Care and Health and other statutory agencies.

Private and Charitable Finance

If finance isn’t available from the local council to carry out repairs to homes we can help in other ways. Many charities including the British Legion/Civil Service Benevolent Fund can help, and for larger jobs we can advise on releasing equity from the property to help pay for the work.

The Staying Put team can assist with medium scale repairs aimed at making your property safe, warm and watertight. In many cases these jobs can be funded by a local authority grant. If there is no grant available, the staff will tell you about the different options, which are available to pay for the work, including charitable money and private finance. The type of work with which we help includes:

• Doors and windows repairs/replacement.
• Roof repairs and re-roofing.
• Gutters and rainwater goods.
• Pathways.
• Damp proof courses.
• Electrical rewiring.

We can also assist with large-scale repairs to properties, which do not currently meet the government fitness standard. This type of work is generally carried out in conjunction with the local authority grant department.

Handyperson Service

The Handyperson Service is a locally based and locally funded not-for-profit service operated by Anchor Staying Put. We help older and disabled homeowners or private tenants and live in Arun District and Worthing Borough council areas. We work in partnership with Arun District and Worthing Borough Councils and West Sussex Adult Services.

The Handyperson Service is for all those little jobs that are sometimes too difficult to do yourself, or too costly to to call an independent tradesperson such as a plumber to fix a dripping tap.

The type of work covered includes:

• Door/window adjustments.
• Minor joinery.
• Minor plumbing.
• Fitting door and window locks, spy holes and security chains.
• Repairing gates.
• Draught proofing.

• Grab rails or extra handrails.
• Curtain track/rai.l

We charge £20 for the first hour and then £10 per hour or any part hour thereafter, plus material.

Other small repairs will be considered on an individual basis.

For more information and contact details please view the Small Repairs PDF leaflet by clicking here.