Home›Trusted Trader News›Trusted Trader teams up with Alzheimer Scotland

Trusted Trader teams up with Alzheimer Scotland

16th March 2016

A new partnership aimed at helping people with dementia has been set up by Edinburgh Trusted Trader and Alzheimer Scotland.

Trusted Trader, which offers a safe and reliable directory of services such as home repairs, has joined forces with the charity to train members who provide these services in how to recognise and help people who have the condition.

The City of Edinburgh Council Trading Standards team launched Edinburgh Trusted Trader last year to provide a directory of local businesses that have been closely vetted. Around 80 traders are now members of the scheme, offering services such as home and car repairs.

Health, Social Care and Housing Convener, Councillor Ricky Henderson, said:

"This new partnership complements our anti-stigma initiative, which aims to encourage people to be more aware of people who live with dementia. With increasing numbers of people living with it, I welcome this training and believe that it will really help traders to provide vulnerable people with the best service possible."

Community Safety Leader, Councillor Cammy Day, said:

"Edinburgh Trusted Trader is an excellent resource for people who need work carried out on their home and want to make sure they are hiring reputable, reliable contractors. We have been working with Alzheimer Scotland over the past few months to ensure that our staff are sensitive to those suffering from dementia. It is great that we can now offer the training to our Trusted Trader members."

Teresa Straczynski, Dementia Advisor from Alzheimer Scotland, said:

"We are delighted to be working in partnership with Trading Standards to extend the opportunity to offer dementia friends training to Edinburgh Trusted Trader members. It’s positive to see that some traders have already taken up the opportunity to become dementia-friendly and I look forward to more coming on-board. Together we can make a positive difference to people living with dementia across the Capital."

Edinburgh Trusted Trader has a potential reach of around 225,000 households, and members can use the scheme’s logo on materials and vehicles. Residents who use the services can rate them afterwards and leave comments on the site for others to read. The scheme also includes a dispute resolution process should there be any disagreements between customers and member businesses.