Dr Alan Billings, the South Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner, has presented Yorkshire Housing with a cheque for £15,432 to fund work on making homes more secure across the county.

Yorkshire Housing’s Home Improvement Agencies in Barnsley, Rotherham and Sheffield have received over £5,000 per area to complete home security checks and fit preventative measures such as window locks and door chains. They will be working with South Yorkshire police officers to target burglary hotspots in a bid to reduce break-ins.

The funding is from the Commissioner’s 2015/16 Community Grant Scheme to help local community groups tackle crime.

Dr Billings said: “The funding will boost the work already being done to improve security and will go a long way to helping people feel safer in their homes.”

“I am pleased Yorkshire Housing are working closely with vulnerable people in their communities.  By encouraging them to make changes they are making it more difficult for criminals.”

The Yorkshire Housing Home Improvement agency helps older or vulnerable people live at home safely by fitting adaptations and offering a handyperson service.

Senior home improvement agency manager Kate Haley said:  “We will be working with crime reduction officers to target areas where people are most at risk from burglary. Often simple measures such as fitting door chains or window locks can make a big difference. This funding will mean we can help people increase their feeling of wellbeing and give them peace of mind.”

Further information about the Home Improvement Agency can be found at http://www.yorkshirehousing.co.uk/home-improvement or by calling 0114 256 4270.