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About us

Anchor Staying Put South Ribble was established in 1994 in partnership with South Ribble Borough Council to provide a Home Improvement Agency service for older people and people with disabilities who are homeowners and private tenants living in the borough.   In March 2006 Anchor Staying Put successfully tendered to provide a Home Improvement Agency service across the boroughs of South Ribble and Chorley. As a result the new agency will be called:

Anchor Staying Put South Lancashire

The new agency also carries out minor works for younger residents and housing association tenants in Chorley.

Staying Put Core Service

The Staying Put team can assist you with most of the repairs and adaptations you may require.  We help with jobs as small as replacing roofing tiles to the design and build of extensions.  A major part of our work is to deliver the Disabled Facilities Budget for South Ribble Borough Council and Chorley Council.  In the past year we have helped with:

• Bathroom/toilet adaptations
• Re-roofing/roofing repairs
• Replacement windows and doors
• Extensions to provide a bedroom and shower facility on the ground floor
• Damp proof courses

Small Repairs Service

The Small Repairs Service helps older and disabled people across the boroughs of South Ribble and Chorley to have repairs carried out.  The type of job, which may be too small for a contractor to be interested in or may incur a high call out charge.  The type of work covered includes:

• Minor plumbing repairs
• Minor joinery repairs
• Putting up shelves
• Putting up curtain rails
• Cleaning paths
• Replacing light bulbs

There is a charge of £10.00 for this service plus the cost of materials at trade price. The jobs will be up to two hours duration.

Security Service

The Security Service works closely with Crime Prevention Officers in South Ribble and Chorley who helped to produce a Security Survey which we offer to our customers.  As a result of this survey the Technician will install security measures which will help to keep our customers safe and secure and alleviate the fear of crime:

• Five lever mortise locks
• Window locks
• Bolts
• Door chains
• Spy viewers

In addition to the above installations the Technician also carries out security marking. Security Surveys will be free of charge. There will be a £10.00 charge for the installation of security measures. The measures will be provided free from a funding award from the Lancashire Partnership Against Crime  

Gardening Maintenance Service

This service assists older people who are claiming a means tested benefit and people with disabilities by removing the worry of being unable to remain in their own homes due to being unable to cope with their gardens.   Properties with untidy gardens may often be recognised by bogus callers as the homes of vulnerable people.   Having a tidy garden can add to the security of a property as well as giving the occupier peace of mind and a renewed sense of pride in their surroundings.

The Garden Maintenance Service is provided by a partnership with the agency and Brothers of Charity Services (Lancashire).   The gardening work is carried out by people with learning difficulties with supervision by a support worker.   The service assists people with learning difficulties to participate in a community based therapeutic horticultural activity whilst helping to promote the independence of Anchor Staying Put customers by maintaining their gardens .

There is a £10.00 charge towards the cost of the service for up to two hours work.

How we compare with other providers

The Agency carried out a survey within South Ribble and Chorley to ascertain whether our Complementary Service charges compared favourably with other service providers in the area.

We charge:

Small Repairs

Security

Garden Maintenance

The cost of work is £10.00 for up to 2 hours work for the above services.

We approached three contractors providing Handy Man services in the area and their charges were as diverse as:

£10 to £12 per hour

£12.50 per hour but would not call to do just one job

£150 per day

Anchor Staying Put staff are also CRB checked to ensure that you can be confident that a reliable person from a respectable organisation is carrying out work for you.

Signposting

In addition to providing the above services to our customers, the Staying Put staff make referrals to other agencies which may be able to help them:

• Fire Service.
• Warm Front.
• Age concern.
• Department of Works and Pensions.
• Local Authority Council Tax Departments.

Stay Warm Safely Service

There is a charge of £20.00 per household for the Stay Warm Safely Service which will enable householders who are over 60 and claiming a means tested benefit or have a disability to have their gas fires, heaters and boilers serviced.   The servicing will be carried out by a Corgi Registered gas fitter.   This service aims to protect our customers from the dangers of using old gas appliances and the possibility of carbon monoxide poisoning.   South Ribble Council, Leyland Trucks Helping Hand Scheme and the Central Lancashire Primary Care Trust have assisted the agency in funding this new service.