Council plans to cut handyperson service funding

Funding for a service which helps older and disabled people with independent living in their home is set to be scrapped by a council.

Cambridgeshire Handyperson Services is delivered by Age UK Cambridgeshire and Peterborough and so far this year has helped about 2,000 households in Cambridgeshire alone.

Cambridgeshire County Council said not renewing the Handyperson Services contract would save it £88,000 a year and suggested other services and advice groups - like Trust a Trader - could be used instead.

Age UK said the decision would come at a cost to the older population.

Melanie Pittock, chief executive of Age UK Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, said the charity was not aware its funding was being cut until it was contacted by the BBC.

She shared statements sent by grateful service users, including one person who was very pleased with her newly-installed bathroom grabrail, and another who said she felt "much happier and safe".

Pittock said about 47% of the households that the service helps in Cambridgeshire are for free-of-charge grabrails.

Handyperson Services cost about £163,000 a year in total, which includes the money that district councils contribute.

"We are going to do everything in our power to keep the service going... naturally that's likely to be at the cost of our local older population," said Pittock, speaking to BBC Radio Cambridgeshire presenter Dotty McLeod.

"They are going to probably have to pay more to enable it to continue."

The Conservative leader of East Cambridgeshire District Council, Anna Bailey, has opposed her own local authority's proposal.

"I implore the county council to rethink this decision in their £1.2bn budget," she said.

"This is a really backwards step. They need to keep investing in this service. It helps people enormously."

Richard Howitt, a Labour county councillor who previously chaired the adults and health committee at the council, described the funding cut as "completely absurd".

"It was only in June of last year that we agreed to extend this service because for every £1 spent, it saves the county council £7.50," he said.

"This is such a practical service that makes a real difference to people's lives."

A council spokesperson said the service would not end immediately and "to enable a safe transition" it proposes running it into the 2026-27 financial year.

"If approved, this reduction will deliver an annual saving of £88,000 for the council," they added.

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