MORE DIY volunteers are being asked to join a successful scheme run by Age UK Bradford & District which helps older people and dementia sufferers stay safe in their homes.

Helping Hands is the name of a special service in which retired tradespeople and skilled amateurs can help with tasks such as fitting key safes, installing new grab rails, changing tap washers or fitting security lights.

Started only two years ago, the service has already helped improve the lives and safety of hundreds of local elderly people said its head of commercial operations, Suzanne Lovell.

"It's been a great success and that's why we are looking for more people to come forward and help," Mrs Lovell said.

"We've only been going a couple of years and have two parts to the service we offer.

"One part is paid for, so members of the public can use us for home improvement and maintenance work in which we use fully vetted contractors who will soon all be CRB checked.

"This is especially helpful for relatives of older people who may live out of the district and can be sure of who will be going into family members' homes.

"The other part is grant funded," Mrs Lovell said.

"For example we put in for Bradford Council's Warmer Homes scheme and improved 180 houses by putting in draft excluders, radiator foils and things like that.

"We also install automatic timers for lights, as this can be an issue for dementia sufferers who may forget to switch them on, so that makes things like trips to the toilet in the night much safer."

Another service is the provision of proper key safes to allow family members and carers to gain access to properties if the occupier is away or in hospital.

"We only fit key safes which have been approved by the police," Mrs Lovell said.

"It's all about keeping people safe and warm in their homes and so we doo rely on more volunteers coming forward as there is an increasing demand for their help."

For more information, call the Helping Hand Service on 01274 728259.