Anchor Staying Put North and Central Herts is a not-for-profit Home Improvement Agency run by the Anchor Trust, in partnership with Hertfordshire County Council, St Albans City and District Council, Hertsmere Borough Council, North Herts District Council and Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council.

Based at 126 Great North Road Hatfield we moved into our present offices in February 2005.

We help older people, or people with a disability, to stay in their own homes by advising them on house repairs, home improvements or adaptations they may need.

We assist people to apply for any benefits due to them and to access grants for alterations, home repairs or electrical/central heating work. Our Handyman Scheme carries out security/safety checks free and small repairs for a modest charge.

Our Advisory Service is free. If major adaptations are then needed our Technical Service will charge a fee, although this is usually paid by any grant awarded.

Staying Put Core Service

The Staying Put Team can assist with the following types of work :

• Installation of level access showers.
• Stair lifts and through floor lifts.
• Installing downstairs toilets.
• Kitchen adaptation/improvements.
• Extensions for bathroom/bedroom.
• Disabled ramps.
• Window and door replacements.
• Plumbing.
• Roof repairs and re-roofing .
• Damp proof courses.
• Rewiring.
• Central heating.

The Staying Put Service includes:

Practical Advice – We can help make sure you are receiving your proper entitlement to benefits and assist you to make an application if you are not. If we can’t help directly we will try to put you in touch with someone who can. We are able to offer technical help to identify problems and to suggest appropriate solutions/repairs. We can act as your agent to obtain quotes and oversee building work. Sometimes a referral to another agency, like Adult Care Services or Warm Front, is made where appropriate.

Adaptations – From minor adaptations, such as fitting grab rails, to major works involving extensions to the property, or internal adaptations involving changes to sleeping or bathing facilities.

Our Technical Officers work closely with Adult Care Occupational Therapists to draw up approved schedules of work. They also liaise with Local Authority Environmental Health Departments to ensure the work is necessary and appropriate.

Disabled adaptations may be funded by obtaining a means tested Disabled Facilities Grant or they may be funded by the customer..

Repairs – Medium scale repairs aimed at making the property safe, warm and watertight. In many cases these jobs can be funded by a local authority grant.

Renovations – Large-scale repairs to a property aimed at reversing major disrepair and bringing it up to the Government Decent Homes Standard. Once again it may be that grants are available to assist with this.

Self-funded work – Whilst the majority of work we carry out is funded by various grants, anyone who is over 60 or who is disabled is entitled to use our service.

Handyperson scheme :

• Free fire safety check on behalf of the Herts Fire and Rescue Service including fitting of smoke alarms.
• Free security checks in co-operation with the Herts Constabulary.
  Fitting security products such as new locks to windows and doors; door chains and spy holes. These are fitted free and also supplied free to victims of crime.
• Home from hospital scheme offering minor adaptations and temporary access solutions to facilitate early discharge to home.
• Small Repairs Service – repairing dripping taps, installing washing machines, building flat packed furniture, putting up shelves or curtain rails, small electrical jobs etc.

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