The start of spring sees an SOS for gardeners to help the vulnerable

FEARS that vulnerable local residents could fall foul of scammers as Spring kicks in has led to an SOS for reputable gardeners to lend a hand.

Charities including Age UK are often asked by those using their services to put them in touch with reliable gardening services.

However, due to on-going fears that residents are being scammed by rogue traders who simply knock on doors touting for work, city consumer champion Eileen Le Voi, director of Safe Local Trades, has stepped in to try and help.

She said: “Unfortunately, there is no local authority funding to ensure that charities looking after the interests of the elderly and vulnerable have the budget to provide these services – and sadly, too many residents fall foul of the rogues.

“Safe Local Trades covers a core area of the PE postcode district, from Spalding to St Neots and Stamford to Wisbech.

“With regular requests for garden maintenance across all areas, we are unable to currently meet the needs of our elderly customers with their request for a recommendation. This increases their risk of becoming a victim to unscrupulous cold callers.

Eileen works alongside charities and local authorities who rely on Safe Local Trades to recommend professionals to their users.

She added: “The problem we currently have is that our Safe Local Trades recommended garden maintenance members are so busy that they are unable to take on new, urgent jobs or provide regular garden maintenance across the many areas

Eileen added: “Sadly, Age UK Cambridgeshire & Peterborough had its funding for providing gardening services withdrawn some time ago, and so heavily relies on organisations like Safe Local Trade to step in to assist residents.”

She is now appealing to PE postcode gardening businesses, who wish to join existing members to help meet the supply and demand for gardeners.

Safe Local Trades is also a partner of The Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Against Scams Partnership (CAPASP) - a partnership of organisations committed to taking a stand against scams and aims to make Cambridgeshire and Peterborough a scam-free county.

As part of her role with CAPASP, Eileen is the resident expert on doorstep crime for the past 14 years. Safe Local Trades has been showcasing tried, tested and reliable tradespeople in and around Peterborough – and some of its own members have come to the aid of vulnerable city residents who have been duped out of cash by cowboy builders and other rogue workmen.

If you are a reputable gardener, who is prepared to be vetted to join our register of reputable local tradespeoples, please go to https://www.safelocaltrades.com/become-a-member to enter your details. We will then get in touch with you.