Minutes:
Peter Close, the Chairman of the Camberley Care Trust, reported that the Camberley Care Trust originated from a proposal in 1974, by the Minister of Camberley United Reform Church for local churches to set up a telephone help line. The vast majority of pleas for assistance involved transportation and a voluntary car service was formed to address this need. In October 1987, a decision was taken to form a charitable trust called the Camberley Care Trust.
The aim of the Trust is to enable elderly, vulnerable, disabled and needy to remain in their homes for as long as possible. As part of that thrust, the Trust decided, in 2000, to establish a Handyman Service. The car scheme was limited to Frimley and Camberley, as there were similar services elsewhere in the Borough, but the Handyman Service was available across the Borough.
The Trust were based in the Ian Goodchild Centre, opening 5 days a week, from 8.30 a.m. till 4.30 p.m., Monday to Thursday and from 8.30 a.m. till 3.30 p.m. on Fridays. The Trust had 10 trustees, including the Chairman and Treasurer, all volunteers with a range of professional qualifications and experience. It had one full time paid administrator and had recently appointed a further part-time administrator. They, in turn, were supported by volunteer ‘Duty Officers’. The Trust also recently appointed a social media volunteer.
The Trust had a core of 60 drivers locally, of which up to 40 were very active. They donated their cars and time free of charge, but were encouraged to claim back mileage. There is no formal charge to clients, but they are encouraged to make a donation. Equally, there are no limits to journey distances and drivers will stay with clients if they are attending the likes of medical appointments.
The Handyman Service, the only subsidised service of its type, covers the whole of the Borough and covers minor but no less critical repairs, assisting 800+ households in 2014. A small charge is levied; £15 for the first hour, with15 minute segments thereafter, and covers everything from changing lightbulbs to replacing tap washers or grab rails.
Mr Close noted that in 2004/05, the then Mayor, Councillor Paul Ilnicki had used part of his Mayor’s Charity funds to purchase a vehicle for the Handyman Service. This year, the Council had given the Trust a grant to purchase a new vehicle.
The Chairman, on behalf of the Committee and Council, thanked Peter Close and the Camberley Care Trust, for their significant contribution in the Borough, noting that the service epitomised all that is good in Surrey Heath. He noted that the Trust had capacity and could take on minor works for the likes of community centres, and pointed Members to the Trust’s Facebook site, encouraging them to visit and ‘Like’ the site.
RESOLVED, that the presentation be noted.
(Note: In accordance with the Council’s Members Code of Conduct, Councillors declared non-pecuniary interests in relation to Camberley Care Trust as set out below:
(a) Councillor Robin Perry as a Trustee of the Trust; and
(b) Councillor Paul Deach, who provided media support for the Trust.