Cheshire East Launches Nominated Neighbour Scheme

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Cheshire East Council and its partners are offering a range of advice and support to residents on how to keep warm, well and safe this winter.

This week, we urge residents to consider joining the council’s trading standards’ ‘nominated neighbour’ scheme.

The nominated neighbour scheme has been developed to tackle bogus callers, rogue traders and other means of distraction thefts and burglaries.

The project enables people to be protected by someone they know and trust, such as a neighbour or relative.

The vulnerable person is given a card they hold up to a window or door, which advises any unidentified or unexpected caller to go to the address of a nominated neighbour or speak to them over the phone. This person will then check the caller’s identity.

If they are genuine, the nominated neighbour will return with them and supervise the visit to make sure that nothing untoward takes place and will remain there until the caller has left.

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Councillor Janet Clowes, Cheshire East Council cabinet member for adult social care and integration, which includes responsibility for safer communities, said: “This scheme helps people within our communities feel safer in dealing with unwanted or unexpected people who call at their homes. In turn, it protects our residents and reduces incidents of doorstep crime.

“When the nominated neighbour card is shown to the caller, it replaces any need for the occupant to speak with that person.

“A genuine caller will not mind following the instructions and we believe that no criminal, who preys on the elderly or vulnerable, would like this type of scrutiny.”

While it is older and vulnerable adults who are more at risk from becoming victims of doorstep crime, anyone can be targeted. That’s why all Cheshire East residents are urged to consider joining the scheme.

If you would like a nominated neighbour scheme pack sent to you, or to a vulnerable relative or resident of Cheshire East, contact the Citizens Advice consumer service on 03454 040506. By calling that number, you can also report problems with doorstep callers or traders

For further winter wellbeing advice, visit: cheshireeast.gov.uk/livewell and scroll down to the winter wellbeing section.

Advice can also be found on the council’s Facebook page at: facebook.com/cheshireeastcouncil and on Twitter at @CheshireEast

Residents can help friends and neighbours, who do not have internet access, by downloading and printing off information from the website and giving it to them.

Winter Wellbeing - Be A Good Winter Neighbour

Advice and support from Cheshire East Council on staying warm, well and safe this winter
As the weather turns colder, neighbours who are older or have health problems may need your help and support.

They may not be able to go to the shops, attend hospital appointments or pick up prescriptions when the weather is particularly bad, so please think about what you could do to help them.

Here are a few tips on how to be a good winter neighbour:
Check on elderly or vulnerable members of the community to make sure they are safe and well; Make sure they have enough food and medicines to prevent them having to go out in very cold or icy weather; Give them your telephone number so they can contact you for help; Check their home is warm enough – living rooms should be heated to 21°C and bedrooms to 18°C; and Keep drives and footpaths clear of snow and ice for your neighbours. Councillor Liz Wardlaw, cabinet member for health, said: “Checking in on friends, family members and neighbours this winter can make all the difference to them. A quick phone call or a knock at the door can prevent people from feeling lonely and helps to ease pressure on urgent and emergency health services at a critical time of the year.
“Cheshire East Council and its partners are also here to help throughout the year and there is a wealth of information and support available.”

Residents are also urged to always be on the lookout for signs that something might be wrong with a neighbour, friend or vulnerable member of the community. Warning signs include: Milk still out on the doorstep late in the day; Newspapers and post stuck in the letterbox; Curtains drawn during the day; Lights on during the day; A home in darkness when there should be someone at home; A dog barking all day or the cat scratching to be let in; and Bins not put out on collection days. More information and advice about the care and support available for adults in Cheshire East can be found by visiting: cheshireeast.gov.uk/livewell and clicking on the associated tab. The resource directory will also help you find support in your local area.

For concerns about the welfare or safety of an adult, call 0300 123 5010 (8.30am to 5pm Monday to Thursday and 8.30am to 4.30pm on Fridays) or call 0300 123 5022 at all other times, including bank holidays.

If you have concerns about the welfare or safety of a child, call 0300 123 5012 (option three) and you will be directed to the appropriate team. If it is an emergency and you need to contact someone out of hours, call our emergency duty team on 0300 123 5022.

This time of the year can sometimes lead to greater family tensions. If you are affected by domestic abuse and need assistance, or have concerns about someone else, you can call 0300 123 5101 – available 24 hours a day – email: cedap@cheshireeast.gov.uk or text on 07771 941 464.

For further winter-related advice, visit: cheshireeast.gov.uk/livewell and scroll down to the winter wellbeing section. Advice can also be found on the council’s Facebook page at: facebook.com/cheshireeastcouncil and on Twitter at: @CheshireEast.

Residents can help friends and neighbours, who do not have internet access, by downloading and printing off information from the website and giving it to them.