Home Safety Pilot Scheme

In January 2003, the Northern Neighbourhoods Health Action Zone brought together a range of organisations to form a Steering Group for a home safety check scheme. Two neighbourhoods were selected for inclusion in the scheme - Linn Road in Larne and Rathenraw in Antrim.

Steering Group members and volunteers involved with the Home Safety Pilot Project from Linn Road, Larne.

The Steering Group outlined that the Scheme should include three key elements: training of local Volunteer Home Safety Advisors, local awareness raising events and provision of appropriate safety equipment where required.

Steering Group members, volunteers and residents involved with the Home Safety Pilot Project from Rathenraw, Antrim.

Through the scheme, local volunteers accessed a comprehensive training programme to enable them to carry out home safety checks on a voluntary basis. The volunteers were trained and supported by the Child Accident Prevention Trust and accessed information and support from a range of health professionals from Homefirst Community Health and Social Services Trust.

Home safety checks were targeted at the homes of families with children under the age of five, and older people. The householder was provided with appropriate safety equipment as required to meet their needs.

The Home Safety Pilot Scheme aimed to:

1. Identify home safety needs in two NNHAZ neighbourhoods

2. Train a panel of local volunteer home safety advisors in each pilot area to undertake the home safety checks

3. Hold one awareness raising event in each pilot neighbourhood to inform local residents about issues relating to home safety

4. Supply appropriate home safety equipment to householders to meet their identified needs

The project was funded through the Northern Health & Social Services Board and the Northern Investing for Health Partnership.

Click on this link to read the end evaluation report of the Home Safety Pilot Scheme.