MORE funding has been awarded to help older people and those with disabilities live safely and independently in their own homes.

Test Valley Borough Council has received £120,026 from the Government which will be given out as grants to homeowners, private renters and people in social housing, and can be used for making adaptations to their home.

Cllr Nick Adams-King, portfolio holder for housing and environmental health, said: “This government funding will top up the existing funds we receive under the Better Care Fund which enables us to provide Disabled Facilities Grants. These additional funds will be added to our current grant pot and be used in the same way. The grants are available to disabled Test Valley residents to help make their home more suitable for their needs. Residents can find out more about the grant by visiting testvalley.gov.uk/disabledfacilitiesgrant.”

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The funding is part of £540m distributed to local authorities across the country.

Delivered jointly by the Department of Health and Social Care and the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC), eligible disabled people of all ages will be able to apply to their local authority for a grant to adapt their home to better meet their needs.

The funding has been welcomed by Andover's MP, Kit Malthouse, who said: "If you’re a disabled local resident and experiencing difficulties at home, be it getting in and out of your bath or climbing the stairs, then get in touch with your local authority. These grants can be used to made adaptations to homes such as installing wheelchair ramps, handrails or stairlifts. This is a very important investment — it will improve quality of life and free up hospital beds. I’m pleased we can make this funding available.”

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Since 2010, there have been almost half a million home adaptations across the country, backed by £4.8 billion in funding. 

Minister for Adult Social Care, Helen Whately, added: "If you’re older or living with a disability, a well-adapted home gives you independence and safety.

"Living in your own home can be impossible after illness or injury without changes like wheelchair ramps, handrails or a stairlift.

"This new funding will help thousands more people have homes fit for their needs - and faster. When time is of the essence, this fund will help local authorities do urgent and smaller-scale adaptations more quickly.

"Sometimes all that stands in the way of a patient going home from hospital is a simple home adaptation - so this is good news for patients and hospitals too. It’ll mean more people can recover from a hospital stay at home, and more NHS beds for patients who need them."