Practical Support at Home and In the Community

Housing

There are many housing related issues to consider when caring for a person with an illness or a disability, such as suitability of the home, proximity to the person being cared for and claiming benefits.

Home maintenance

District Councils Offer services for minor repairs and adaptations, such as grab rails or half- steps, but no gardening, decorating, electrical (except plugs and bulbs etc) or first floor work • Cherwell Tel 0844 833 0310 • City Tel 0800 227 676 • West Tel 01993 861 000 • Vale of White Horse 01235 520 202 • South Oxfordshire 01491 823 000

Anchor Staying Put A not-for-profit home improvement agency providing a small repairs service to older and disabled residents in Oxfordshire Website: http://www.anchor.org.uk Tel: 0854 140 20 20 (for services in your area)

Local housing related support services

Oxford City

Agnes Smith Advice Centre Free Independent and Impartial advice available for residents of Website: www.blackbirdleysnss.co.uk Address: Agnes Smith Advice Centre, 96 Blackbird Leys Road, Blackbird Leys, Oxford, OX4 6HS Tel: 01865 770206 Email: [email protected]

Barton Advice Centre An independent community advice and information centre available for the residents of Barton, and Website: www.bartonadvicecentre.org.uk Address: Barton Advice Centre, Underhill Circus, Oxford OX3 9LS Tel: 01865 744152

1

Rosehill and Donnington Advice Centre For confidential and independent advice about a whole range of issues - Available for the residents of Rose Hill, , , New , Cowley and Donnington Address: Rosehill and Donnington Advice Centre, The Cabin, The Oval, Rose Hill, Oxford OX4 4SF Tel: 01865 438634 Email: [email protected]

Citizens Advice Oxford Community Legal Services – Specialist Debt and Benefit advice Website: www.caox.org.uk/oxford Address: Oxford Citizens Advice Bureau, 95 St Aldates, Oxford, OX1 1DA Tel: 08444 111 444

Age UK An independent local charity with experience working with well-being of older people and promoting their well-being throughout the county of Oxfordshire Website: http://www.ageconcernoxon.org.uk Address: Age UK, The Clockhouse, Long Ground, Blackbird Leys, Oxford, OX4 7FX This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Tel: 01865 717615 (Footcare) 01865 717614 (Day Centres)

North Oxfordshire

Citizens Advice Banbury Community Legal Services – Specialist Debt and Benefit advice Website: www.caox.org.uk/banbury Address: Banbury Citizens Advice Bureau, Cornhill House, 26 Cornhill, Banbury OX16 5NG Tel: 08444 111 444

Citizens Advice Bicester Community Legal Services – Specialist Debt and Benefit advice Website: www.caox.org.uk/bicester Address: The Garth Launton Road, Bicester, Oxfordshire, OX26 6PS Tel: 08444 111 444

Age UK An independent local charity with experience working with well-being of older people and promoting their well-being throughout the county of Oxfordshire Website: http://www.ageconcernoxon.org.uk Address: Age UK, 5 White Lion Walk, Banbury, Oxon, OX16 5UD Tel: 01295 278040 Email: [email protected]

2

South Oxfordshire

Citizens Advice Didcot Community Legal Services – Specialist Debt and Benefit advice Website: www.caox.org.uk/didcot Address: Dales, 9-15 High Street, Didcot, Oxfordshire, OX11 8EQ Tel: 08444 111 444

Citizens Advice Abingdon Community Legal Services – Specialist Debt and Benefit advice Website: www.caox.org.uk/abingdon Address: The Old Abbey House, Abbey Close, Abingdon, Oxfordshire, OX14 3JD Tel: 08444 111 444

Citizens Advice Henley Community Legal Services – Specialist Debt and Benefit advice Website: www.caox.org.uk/Henley Address: Henley & District CAB, 32 Market Place, Henley on Thames, RG9 2AH Tel: 08444 111 444

Citizens Advice Thame Community Legal Services – Specialist Debt and Benefit advice Website: www.caox.org.uk/thame Address: Market House, North Street, Thame, Oxfordshire, OX9 3HH Tel: 08444 111 444

Berinsfield Information & Volunteer Centre Offers debt and welfare advice, advocacy and other services Address: Berinsfield Information & Volunteer Centre, 39 Fane Drive, Berinsfield, Oxon, OX10 7NL Tel: 01865 340313

Age UK An independent local charity with experience working with well-being of older people and promoting their well-being throughout the county of Oxfordshire Website: http://www.ageconcernoxon.org.uk Address: Age UK Oxfordshire, St Edmund House, 39 West St Helen Street, Abingdon, OX14 5BW Tel: 01235 849400 Email: [email protected]

Listings for Oxfordshire solicitors town by town www.solicitors-.co.uk/England/Oxfordshire

3 National

Shelter Independent free housing advice including mortgage arrears, housing rights and benefits Tel: 0808 800 4444

Major equipment and adaptations – Disabled Facilities Grant

A Disabled Facilities Grant can be used for adaptations to give you better freedom of movement into and around your home and/or to provide essential facilities within it.

If you are disabled, acceptable types of work include: widening doors and installing ramps providing or improving access to rooms and facilities - for example, by installing a stair lift or providing a downstairs bathroom improving or providing a heating system which is suitable for your needs adapting heating or lighting controls to make them easier to use improving access to and movement around the home to enable you to care for another person who lives in the property, such as a child. An occupational therapist will look at your circumstances and can recommend the type of adaptation(s) needed.

Who should I contact for an assessment or further advice?

If you wish to be assessed for this service or ask for more information, you can telephone Social & Community Services on 0845 050 7666.

Please note: The organisations listed on this page are not endorsed or recommended by Oxfordshire County Council and the contact details are provided for information only. Please feel free to contact any of the organisations on this fact sheet yourself. If required, Carers Oxfordshire can also help you further. You can contact them on 0845 050 7666, Monday to Thursday 08:30-17:00, Friday 08:30-16:00

4