Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service will be undertaking ‘Safe and Well’ visits to homes in the Timperley area thanks to a £12,000 grant from the South Trafford Locality Partnership.
The funding success follows an invitation from the partnership for local groups to submit bids for projects aimed at tackling social isolation in the area. Timperley had previously been identified as a hot spot for social isolation, thanks to statistics from Info Trafford – Trafford’s data observatory.
Replacing previous Home Safety Checks, ‘Safe and Well’, visits will be carried out by fire service volunteers. While covering fire safety, crime prevention and health and wellbeing, the trained volunteers will also be able to identify if someone is suffering as a result of their isolation.
The importance of this effort is clear, with the fire service already becoming aware of many residents, of all ages, who are seeking help and assistance with problems related to their social isolation. They are then helping them by referring to a range of organisations and voluntary sector charities, including Age UK Trafford.
Councillor Laura Evans, chair of the South Trafford Locality Partnership, said: “Social isolation is something which the Council recognises as a barrier to people living healthy, happy and fulfilled lives as part of their local community.
“Through close partnership working with other public, private and voluntary sector organisations and agencies, we are committed to helping make a difference. Providing grants such as this are an excellent example of us enabling others who are in the best position to support people, to do just that.”
