28 August 2008


Handyvan Scheme

Help the Aged - Southern Buckinghamshire Handyvan

This scheme replaces the previous Handyvan scheme which ended in July 2003.

Handyvan provides people aged 60 and over who meet the criteria, with free home security, advice and assistance.

A fitter employed by Help the Aged will carry out a free assessment of your home security needs and install high quality mortice locks, door locks, door chains, spyholes and smoke alarms all free of charge.

SeniorLink Bogus Caller offers an older person 24-hour support. By a Door Alert Button, the older person is in contact with a SeniorLink who will help them deal with callers, make calls to confirm identity or summon the police if necessary. A weekly monitoring and maintenance fee applies.

People aged 60 and over meeting the following criteria are eligible for the Handyvan and SeniorLink Bogus Caller services:

  • Less than £16,000 in savings (includes stocks/shares/bonds, but not value of property)
  • Not paying Income Tax (except Income Tax on Private Pensions)

Financial support to the scheme is provided by:

  • Chiltern District Council 
  • Thames Valley Police
  • South Bucks District Council
  • Chiltern Hundreds Housing Association
  • Wycombe District Council 
  • Buckinghamshire County Council 
  • Chiltern and South Bucks Primary Care Trust 
  • Buckinghamshire Fire & Rescue Service
  • Wycombe Primary Care Trust  

Free advice on “Security in your Home”, “Safety in your Home”, “Fire” and “Keep out the cold” are available from Help the Aged.
For more information and to seek Handyvan assistance, telephone 01255 473999

South Bucks District Council has also setup a Safer Home Scheme which will provide free advice and quotations for home security, DIY repairs and minor adaptations and energy efficiency audits for all elderly and vulnerable people including those with disabilities.

For more information contact the Health and Housing Section on Tel: 01895 837264, Fax: 01895 837349

OR email us at : housing@southbucks.gov.uk

You can contact Help the Aged: Telephone: 01255 473999

OR visit their website on : www.helptheaged.org.uk