These pages provide all the latest news on issues affecting home improvement agencies, as well as news from Foundations and the home improvement agency sector.
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11 March 2010
A service which helps thousands of older and disabled people in Cornwall to live independently celebrated its successes with a launch at the National Maritime Museum Falmouth.
The Handyperson Service, run by Devon and Cornwall Housing Association, presented its extended programme to 60 funders, partners and supporters, including Julia Goldsworthy MP.
8 March 2010
The National Handyperson Conference is now full for delegates. To put your name on the waiting list for places, please contact Joy Atherton
There are a few exhibition stands still available. To reserve your place to exhibit at the first ever National Handyperson Conference, contact Lynne Bonnett
8 March 2010
'Warm Homes, Greener Homes' is the government’s household energy management strategy, launched on 2 March 2010. The strategy sets out plans for meeting the target of a reduction of 29% in carbon emissions from households by 2020.
2 March 2010
On Monday 1 March, the winners of the Home Improvement Agency Awards 2009 gathered at the House of Commons for a prestigious awards ceremony sponsored by Tom Levitt MP for High Peak and Stannah Stairlifts. The ceremony took place in the Members' Dining Room in the House of Commons.
24 February 2010
The government has released its response to the consultation paper ‘Building a Society for all Ages'. Early intervention and good local service delivery have both been recognised as vital in helping people live independently for longer in later life .
24 February 2010
The Audit Commission has released a new report ‘Under Pressure - tackling the financial challenge for councils of an ageing population'. The report claims that most councils do not know enough about the costs of their ageing population and that they may miss the savings that could flow from preventative services and better work with other organisations.
4 February 2010
The free security available to older and vulnerable people from the Home Office's Safer Homes Fund ends on 31 March. This is a great opportunity to get locks, chains, spyholes, mirrors and in some instances larger items like new doors or door frames installed to make people's homes safer.
27 January 2010
We are delighted to announce the winners of the Home Improvement Agency Awards 2009, sponsored by Stannah Stairlifts.
The awards provide national recognition of the commitment, vision and innovation embodied by the home improvement agency sector and promote home improvement agencies to wider stakeholders.
22 January 2010
The Trustees of the Foundations Independent Living Trust are delighted to announce that npower Health Through Warmth will be working with the Trust to help improve the levels of warmth and comfort of vulnerable people who experience cold and damp related illnesses in England.
The Trust will hold and administer a crisis fund, financed by npower Health Through Warmth, which will be used to fund heating measures for home improvement agency clients with cold and damp related illnesses. Home improvement agencies can apply to the Foundations Independent Living Trust hardship fund on behalf of their clients.
27 November 2009
Keep Warm Keep Well, a national government campaign targeting the reduction of cold-related illnesses during winter, offers tips and advice on staying healthy this winter.
The campaign offers a variety of practical help and advice such as how to keep the house effectively insulated to reduce heat loss and how to stay healthy and fit during cold spells.
27 November 2009
In the last newsletter, the Electrical Safety Council (ESC) announced that, in partnership with Foundations, it would be looking for further agencies to help roll out a hardship fund. Its Electrical Hardship Fund aims to target vulnerable, low income households with emergency electrical safety repairs or adaptations.
Based on the successful model piloted by Bristol Care & Repair, the fund is meant to provide an immediate professional response by registered electricians while the local agency facilitates a more permanent or wide-reaching solution. The ESC has now announced the extension of the Electrical Hardship Fund to four other organisations.
27 November 2009
Foundations has published a communications toolkit for home improvement agencies.
The toolkit is designed with the needs of the sector in mind, and contains tips and practical help with developing a communications strategy, speaking at events and conferences, working with the media, 'packaging' your agency and developing eye-catching leaflets and brochures. It includes practical examples that you can copy, lots of useful suggestions, and guidance on what to do and what to avoid.
27 November 2009
'Transforming Services, Transforming Lives' - the HIA Annual Conference 2009 - took place on 30 September and 1 October at the Holiday Inn in Stratford upon Avon.
This year's conference explored the potential for housing intervention services to take a lead role in delivering government strategies, local priorities, and high quality services that promote choice and independence.
27 November 2009
The Foundations Home Improvement Agency Awards 2009 were launched in November.
The HIA Awards provide national recognition of the commitment, vision and innovation embodied by the sector and provides home improvement agencies, local authorities, housing associations and health commissioners with the opportunity to showcase their achievements.
27 November 2009
After 18 years' work, Manchester Care & Repair celebrated their ‘coming of age' in October 2009 with a hot supper and speeches.
Attending the event was the Lord Mayor Councillor Alison Firth, service commissioners, Foundations, local opinion formers as well as clients who have used the agency's services.
27 November 2009
Camden and Islington Care & Repair are delighted to have been awarded the new HIA Quality Mark. It is the first agency to be awarded the new Quality Mark in London and the South East.
The agency completed the core element of the new assessment, as well as the ‘handyperson' module - one of five optional modules.
27 November 2009
Foundations has published an 'Energy efficiency and eradicating fuel poverty resource guide' to provide home improvement agencies and commissioners with an update on energy efficiency and fuel poverty policy and practice.
The guide includes a section on the policy context that home improvement agencies can use in influencing their commissioners. It also includes a section on funding, a directory of useful information, and home improvement agency case studies.
27 November 2009
Melissa Devine, Home Heat Helpline
3.6 million households are missing out on energy savings: your call to the Home Heat Helpline (0800 33 66 99) can make all the difference.
The Home Heat Helpline is urging home improvement agencies across England to help the ‘Missing Millions' who have been identified by new research as missing out on savings of over £250 a year off their home energy bills by taking advantage of free insulation.
12 November 2009
We are delighted to announce the launch of the Home Improvement Agency Awards 2009 with new categories and more opportunities for home improvement agencies to gain recognition for themselves and the sector as a whole.
