Derbyshire Handy Van service

Each Derbyshire district has its own dedicated handy van and the service is available to you if you are 60 and over. Or if you are referred by Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service, your district or borough council, Derbyshire County Council Adult Social Services or Derbyshire Constabulary because you are vulnerable or at risk.

You can phone and ask for the van to visit your home and help with:

• Home fire safety checks
• Smoke alarms checked and fitted
• Home security checks
• Energy efficiency advice
• Practical tasks for example:
  • changing light bulbs
  • securing carpets and rugs
  • removing and hanging curtains
  • checking stair rails are secure and appropriate
  • installing key safes
  • path and door access clearance

  • securing tap washers to reduce dripping taps.

Each household will be able to access this free service twice a year.

The Handy Van's are available Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm.

They can also (with your permission) make referrals to our partners for additional services and support that may benefit you, for example Telecare Installations.

The service can not offer an emergency service for plumbing or electrical problems please contact the appropriate organisations for your area.

For more information or to find out if you qualify for the service please call your local district or borough council:

• Amber Valley - 0845 850 8013

• Bolsover - 01246 345 748

• Chesterfield - 01246 345 748

• Derbyshire Dales - 0845 850 8013

• Erewash - 0115 9444 146

• High Peak - 01298 23970

• North East Derbyshire - 01246 345 748

• South Derbyshire - 01283 219 761

Funding

We are part-funding the scheme, with other money coming from the Regional Housing Board, following a successful joint bid by all the district and borough councils.

Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service has also played a crucial role, supplying all eight vans, insuring, taxing and maintaining them as well as paying for fuel.

While we will oversee the handy vans operation, agencies in each area, in partnership with district and borough councils, will run them on a day to day basis.

As well as the county council's adult social services, other partners which have been involved in developing the scheme include Derbyshire Police, Derbyshire County Primary Care Trust and groups from the voluntary sector.