Handypersons 'left with no option but to charge'

A charity that helps older and disabled people with independent living said it was left with "no alternative" but to charge for grab rails after a council cut funding.

Handyperson Services is delivered by Age UK Cambridgeshire and Peterborough and helps about 2,000 households a year in the county to do jobs such as fitting grab rails to prevent falls and key safes for carers.

But in February, Cambridgeshire County Council said not renewing the contract would save £88,000 a year.

The charity said introducing a £25 charge was "not a decision we've taken lightly".

Cambridgeshire County Council said it "had to make a number of difficult decisions during this year's business planning process".

Melanie Pittock, chief executive of the charity - which does receive money from district councils for the service - said: "The reality is that cuts to local authority funding have left us with no alternative.

"But we are determined that cost should never be a barrier to safety, and at £25 we believe we're offering real value for a service that can genuinely change lives."

Roger Hewish, one of the handypersons, previously told the BBC the service did jobs that no-one else would, adding that builders "wouldn't be able to charge you enough money to make it worthwhile" for them.

He said he took a "holistic approach" to helping service users and has referred people to council services over issues such as hoarding, and checks on people's physical and mental health.

In June 2025, when the council retendered the contract, it said "through the Handyperson Service, £7.50 of potential future spending is saved".

Graham Wilson, the Liberal Democrat chairman of the Adults and Health Committee, said the service "doesn't just improve residents' quality of life, it is also an extremely prudent use of council funds – delivering early interventions that keep people out of hospital and delay the need for costly formal care and support".

The council has now said: "We fully recognise that the handyperson service has provided valuable support to some residents, and we do not take this decision lightly.

"However, we have decided that we will not be renewing the current contract.

"We remain committed to supporting those residents who draw on our services. Where someone has an assessed need which may previously have been met via the handyperson service, we will ensure this continues to be met through alternative support."

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