Here's a Hand won the IRISS
social isolation award at Social Innovation
Camp 2011. The competition is designed to
find innovative ways to use technology to
solve social issues.
The free trial service will run in Edinburgh
during Spring and Summer 2012. It is being
funded through the government initiative
Reshaping Care for Older People.
The service has the backing of City of
Edinburgh Council, and funding from the
Open Innovation Project and Scotland
UnLtd's Millennium Awards.
“
It’s the little things that
make the difference
”
For a free account please email
[email protected]
To find out more visit
www.heresahand.org.uk
or email [email protected]
or telephone 07407 617177
1. Annie has a problem...her lightbulb
has blown and it’s beginning to get dark!
...turn over to read the rest of Annie’s story
1. Annie has a problem...her
lightbulb has blown and it’s
beginning to get dark! She
calls her son Robert to see if
he can help
Everyone needs a
hand sometimes.
Especially older
people and carers
Here’s A Hand puts you in
touch with your family,
friends and neighbours so
you can help each other out.
The service sends messages
as mobile phone texts and
emails. It is free for you to
try out, if you live in
Edinburgh and are an older
person (65+) or you care for
an older person.
2. Annie’s son, Robert, would
normally help out but he is
at work. He sends a message
to Here’s A Hand via SMS.
3. Annie’s neighbour,
Fionnualagh, spots the
message in her inbox. She
pops round & fixes the light
bulb in no time!
4. Thank goodness for Here’s
A Hand!
Here’s A Hand is
clever too!
Your group is private - only
people you invite can join.
Each person chooses when
and how you can reach them.
Your message is personal you decide who you send
it to.
Your message is instant.
It goes to your group as
soon as you send it.
We are getting in touch to let you know we are running two Here's a Hand
drop in events. We want to reach people who are interested, particularly
carers / older people or their family / friends who might want to take part. The
events are drop in and take place on
Friday 18th May - anytime between 2 pm and 4 pm at City of Edinburgh
Council's Waverley Court in East Market Street.
Saturday 2nd June - anytime between 10.30 am and 12.30 pm at Edinburgh
Central Library on George IV Bridge.
We would really appreciate it if you could pass this information on to people
who may want to come along. The attached leaflet gives you more details
(we can post you hard copies) and here are some of our frequently asked
questions:
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Does the older person / carer need a computer? No, they can ask a
friend or family member to set up a group on their behalf.
How can I start a group? Phone or email us (see below) or fill in Want
to be part of our pilot? on the Here's a Hand website.
Can an ordinary mobile phone be used to send new requests and see
replies? Yes, you can run your group from your mobile phone so you
don't need to be at your computer.
Are the messages private and secure? Yes, only the people you have
been invited to join the group receive them, and you can hide more
personal messages from some of your group.
Can more than one person run the group? Yes, you can decide which
group members can invite people to join and who can send out
requests.
Best wishes,
Catherine
-Catherine Macrae from www.heresahand.org.uk
07407 617 177