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Assistance for the Disabled

Mandatory Disabled Facilities Grants

The Council gives priority to mandatory Disabled Facilities Grants (DFG) that are subject to a test of resources test as laid down in legislation. The maximum grant is £30,000. These grants are available for the adaptation of a dwelling to enable it to be occupied by a person with a disability. Such grants will normally be provided following close consultation with the applicant’s Occupational Therapist.

Assistance for Owner-Occupiers

• Flexible Home Improvement Loan
• Handyperson Service
• Berkshire Bobby (Home Security) Scheme

Flexible Home Improvement Loan

This scheme is available for homeowners age 60 to improve the warmth, comfort, safety and security within their homes. For more information please see the leaflet in the download section to the right of this page.

Handyperson Service

• This service is available to home-owners over 60 years of age and the disabled for small repairs and improvements and the installation of home security items
• Users of the service are charged for the materials used and asked to make a modest voluntary donation based on the time spent

Berkshire Bobby (Home Security) Scheme

• The Berkshire Bobby Scheme is separately funded and covers the whole of the Thames Forest Police Area including the Borough of Bracknell Forest
• The scheme is aimed primarily at vulnerable people who have been the victims of crime.  Its objectives are to prevent repeat victimisation, support victims, reduce burglary, and reduce fear by providing practical support and additional security measures such as new locks and bolts

Assistance to Improve Energy Efficiency

• Home Energy Advice and Information
• Assistance to Eliminate Fuel Poverty
• Provision of Affordable Housing

Home Energy Advice and Information

Energy conservation and heating information and advice is available from the Sustainable Energy Officer about:

• Government sponsored Warm Front Grants and referrals to that scheme
• Condensing boilers
• Cavity wall and loft insulation in association with the Council's installation partners

The Council is able to provide SAP ratings (the Government's Standard Assessment Procedure for energy rating of dwellings) for each individual property following completion of the Home Energy Questionnaire. Those homes with low SAP ratings, or by customer request, are visited to give further advice having regard to individual circumstances.

The Council also provides home energy efficiency advice through its partnerships with the Home Improvement Agency (HIA), Thames Valley Energy Advice Centre and the Warm Front Team.

Assistance to Eliminate Fuel Poverty

• Joint-working with the Council's Benefits Section, the Warm Front Team and the Thames Valley Energy Advice Centre to identify potential fuel poor and advise them of the grant aid available
• Partnership working with the Primary Care Trust, and the Thames Valley Energy Advice Centre has been agreed with the aim of using front-line health workers to identify and refer potential cases of fuel poverty

Provision of Affordable Housing

Affordable housing will continue to be achieved through capital funding, the provision of sites, the use of planning powers and other enabling initiatives.

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