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Islington Council

Practical Help

Looking for a plumber, electrician or gas installer? Regulatory authorities for the following services are able to give you lists of registered tradesman and can guarantee their work will be of a set standard.

Click the links below to go to the websites of IPHE (plumbers), NICEIC (electricians) or CORGI (gas installers).


The Mobile Repair Service provides low cost home repairs and maintenance for older and disabled people. Repairs include appliances, electrical, gas, plumbing and security.


Consumer Direct is a telephone and online consumer advice service. They provide clear, practical, impartial advice to help you sort out problems and disagreements with suppliers of goods or services. The website offers factsheets on a number of topics.

Trading Standards also produce a number of useful leaflets about your rights as a consumer.

The Citizen's Advice Bureaux can also give you advice on money and consumer problems.


Residential Care Homes

See the links below for information about how to find a care home, going into a care home and paying for care costs.


Safe And Secure In Your Home

Islington council provides a community alarm service. This provides support for vulnerable people of all ages and helps them maintain their independence at home. For more information, click on the link to the left of this page.

The Community Care Centres offer advice and information on day centres, home help, meals, residential and nursing care, social work support and home adaptations. Click the link below for further information.

The Sensory Disabilities Team provide specialist services for people who are deaf or hard of hearing, or blind or partially sighted. Click the link below for further information.


Personal Safety

Fire prevention information from the Government.


The Metropolitan Police give crime prevention advice, from securing your home to avoiding becoming the victim of bogus callers.


Bogus Callers At Your Home

Most people who call at your home are genuine. But sometimes people turn up unannounced with the intention of tricking their way in. They are known as distraction burglars or bogus callers whose only aim is to get into your home and steal cash and valuables.

Official visitors should always arrange an appointment beforehand. If you are alone and not expecting a visitor, don't be afraid to ask them to call back later when someone is with you.

When someone calls at your home, remember:

  • Put the door bar or chain on the door in case someone tries to pressure you into opening the door.

  • Don't be fooled by official-looking overalls or identity cards.

  • Check anyone's details before letting them in. Look up the number of their company in the phone book or on a recent bill - don't just check it on the card they have given you.

  • Tell them to wait while you call the company to check that their officials are in the area.

  • Bogus callers often say they need help outside urgently or ask for a glass of water. Only help if you have someone else with you - if you choose not to help, it is not rude or unfriendly.

  • Call 999 and report any suspicious callers immediately - police would rather be called to a false alarm than for someone to be robbed.

  • Try to keep in mind a good description of the person and tell someone or write it down immediately.

 


    Age Concern

    Age Concern provides information on services and support available to older people and their carers in Islington.

    The Islington centre is based at 6-9 Manor Gardens (off Holloway Road). They offer a broad range of services both at Manor Gardens and at two day centres, the Drovers Centre in North Road and Sotheby Mews Centre in Sotheby Mews.

    • They run drop in advice and information sessions at Manor Gardens on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons between 2-3pm, and monthly information sessions at both day centres

    • They offer policies for house contents and travel at special premiums for the over 55s.

    • They run the Asian project giving information and advice to older Asian people, as well as health promotion, outings, trips and cultural activities.

    • The two day centres provide social and recreational activities and health promotion activities. They also organise outings, trip and offer a good value lunch!

    • The home from hospital project offers support to people who are returning home from hospital through a team of trained volunteers.

    • The Transage Action project recruits older volunteers to help out in primary schools assisting children with activities such as reading, playing music and the arts.

    • The independent assessors project recruits volunteers who visit and inspect residential homes.

    • They can award small grants to groups run solely by volunteers and also small grants for individuals in need.

    For more information on any of the services, call 020 7281 6018 or email: ageconcernislington@ukonline.co.uk

     



    Page Last Updated: 05 August 2009