ANOTHER 120 elderly residents in the Eden area will be feeling safer in their homes this year when they are supplied with a care alarm courtesy of Penrith-registered charity Eden Community Alarms, reports KAREN MORLEY.

ECA has just won a £10,000 sustainability grant from North West Development Agency to provide more care alarms and associated equipment to support vulnerable people within Eden District.

The grant was facilitated through Cumbria Rural Enterprise Agency at Redhills, near Penrith. Their business development adviser, David Foster, said: "We have been really pleased to help with this project, as most of their funding is raised by charity functions in the area.

"The grant will enable the charity to increase the number of clients assisted as well as maintaining the employment of their staff.

"ECA has a wonderful team, and its work is such a value to the Eden area. It provides qualified help and security at the press of a button every hour of every day, with instant access to a control centre which gets the right service to the client, often in minutes."

ECA was launched 15 years ago and has 380 alarms and other equipment out in homes in remote areas such as Alston, Stainmore and Hesket-Newmarket. It also has a back-up team of staff and volunteer visitors. A board of nine directors handles and oversees the official needs of the charity.

ECA Project manager Kath Hetherington said: "Eden is the second most remote area in England, which underlines the need. We have a turnover of £120,000 and some 30-odd volunteers who fund-raise for us with concerts and events all over the district. Some clients make a contribution, which is very helpful, and we are always looking for volunteers to join us.

"When a client presses their personal alarm button, it makes direct contact with a control centre in Rossendale, Lancashire, which is under contract to us. Staff there provide an immediate verbal response to the client, and provide instant access to a service be it a GP, ambulance, fire, or other.

"We always have one of our team available for an emergency response callout 24 hours a day."

Penrith pensioner Jimmy Chambers has had the alarm system for two years, and has had cause to activate it twice. Mr Chambers, 65, said: "I have a wrist panic button for my alarm, and one Sunday afternoon last year I began with chest pains. I pressed my alarm, and there was a doctor here within minutes.

Mr Chambers, who was a local councillor for 36 years, and sub officer at Penrith Fire Station, said: "It's the peace of mind which lets you lead a better life, and I also feel much more secure in my own home."

- For more information about receiving an alarm contact ECA on 01768 890657 or e-mail eden@community.fsnet.co.uk