How many times do you
receive a telephone call, open your post or turn on your computer to find you
have unexpectedly won a prize in a prize draw or lottery? receive a knock at
the door from an unwanted salesman? or need advise on money matters, switching
utilities and getting the best deals?
A community focused
consumer protection campaign funded by Bradford South Area Committee is being
delivered by West Yorkshire Trading Standards in the Royds area of Bradford.
This innovative project
launched in June and is aimed at raising awareness and empowering the ward’s
older adult residents with the knowledge and skills to protect themselves
against scammers and fraudsters, rogue traders, doorstep criminals and bogus
callers.
It
will provide opportunities for individuals and groups to actively participate
in education, training and community development and will help them to develop
skills, knowledge and experience to actively protect themselves in their home
and the community.
To
build community capacity, the programme will also include delivering training
sessions to PCSOs, Neighbourhood Wardens, and community workers on doorstep crime activities, scams and
frauds, providing longer term support within the community for vulnerable
residents.
The
Trading Standards Rapid Response team will also support the programme,
providing immediate support where vulnerable residents are involved with
rogue/itinerant traders in their home.
Appropriate enforcement action will be taken against those tradespeople
found to be operating illegally.
West Yorkshire Trading Standards is also looking for community champions to take part in this project. It is aimed at anybody with an interest in protecting their neighbourhood and becoming an active neighbour. If you are already doing this we would like you to come along to some of our workshops and share your enthusiasm. Volunteers will be trained as ‘community champions’ that will be the eyes and ears of the community alerting Trading Standards to any localised issues.
For more information about the project
please contact Suzanne Kitchen on 0113 3939817 or e-mail education@wyjs.org.uk
