Garden Support Fund scheme
We’re delighted to announce that our popular Garden Support Fund scheme is back for 2022.
The scheme is designed to help our general needs customers who are unable to maintain their garden as they'd otherwise like, due to age, illness, disability or mobility issues or vulnerability.
Following the launch of the scheme, customers from across the Group have been given a helping hand with grass-cutting, hedge trims and the treating of path edges to keep them free from weeds.
There are four levels of support offered, including Standard, Bespoke, Intensive and Security.
Standard service offer
Included in the offer
- For 2022-23: scheme runs between April and October
- Grass cutting will happen every 21 days throughout that time frame. Front and back gardens
- Where there is one present, customers will be entitled to one hedge trim during the season
- Herbicide treatment to path edges.
It doesn’t cover:
- Pruning of shrubs
- Pruning or removal of trees
- Planting of any plants
- Any hard landscaping.
Bespoke service offer
- The new scheme wishes to provide support to those most in need and as such it recognises that some vulnerable customers may require further works in addition to the standard offer.
- All requests for work under the Garden Support Fund are dependent on the budget available at the time of the request.
Intensive service offer
- We recognise that some customers will need some bespoke work completed in addition to, or ahead of, an ongoing standard service.
- Final approval will come from the Estate Contracts Team/Garden Support Project Management Group.
The Security service offer
- This service offer includes the cutting back of perimeter hedges and privets to ensure maximum visibility for the customer and the removal of potential ‘hiding’ places
- The frequency of visits will be determined on a case-by-case basis.
The fund is open to general needs customers who consider themselves to meet one or more of the criteria in the categories below:
Category 1: The elderly and infirm
- Over 80 years of age and in receipt of state benefits
- Mobility issues/disability and on full Housing Benefit
- No one else is living with them in the property that can help maintain the garden.
The customer must not be:
- In arrears
- Outstanding on gas servicing
- Already in receipt of the existing grounds maintenance service.
Category 2: Those with mobility issues and/or a physical disability
- Mobility issues/disability and in receipt of state benefits
- No one else is living with them in the property that can help maintain the garden
- Clear rent account
- No overdue gas service.
The customer must not be:
- In arrears
- Outstanding on gas servicing
- Already in receipt of the existing grounds maintenance service.
Category 3: Vulnerable individuals
- Mental Health, learning disability, long-term illness that puts the occupant at risk of targeting or ASB due to condition of garden
- Full-time, live-in carers
- Domestic abuse survivors who require support with the cutting back of hedges to increase visibility and improve sightlines
- Other groups experiencing hate crime who require support with the cutting back of hedges to increase visibility and improve sightlines
- No one else is living with them in the property that can help maintain the garden.
The customer must not be:
- In arrears (in exceptional circumstances, the Housing Manager can approve applications where arrears may be present)
- Outstanding on gas servicing
- Already in receipt of the existing grounds maintenance service.
Customers who’d like to be considered for support from the fund are encouraged to speak to their Housing Officer, who’ll complete an application on their behalf. This'll then be assessed, and customers will be informed of the outcome in due course.