Cambridgeshire Hear

In case of an emergency, you can press the lifeline button. This can be worn around your neck or on your wrist. When pressed, the button sends a signal to a small base unit that is connected to your telephone. This dials the monitoring centre who, after a few moments, will speak to you through the loudspeaker on the unit. You can then speak out loud and ask for the help you need.

Everyone using the lifeline service needs to have a local emergency contact – a friend, neighbour or family member – who lives locally and has a key (or access via a key safe) to your home. In the case of an emergency you can ask the monitoring centre for one of your emergency contacts or the emergency services. How much it costs

The Community Lifeline Service costs £4.47 per week. This is payable every three months in advance by a £58.11 direct debit. (Whilst direct debit is the preferred payment method, it is possible to pay online or by payment card at the Post Office).

The installation charge is £30. Additional buttons are available for £50.

For tenants living on a South Cambridgeshire District Council Sheltered Scheme the cost is £3 per week charged separately to the rent account.

How to apply

If you are interested in speaking with someone regarding the Lifeline Service, you can contact us by telephone on 01954 713470, email lifelines@scambs.gov.uk or online at www.scambs.gov.uk/lifelines

If you live on a Sheltered Scheme, please contact your Sheltered Estate Officer or email alarm.calls@scambs.gov.uk.

After applying, one of our local experienced staff will contact you to arrange a convenient time for installation. Here is a selection of what some of our customers say about the Lifeline Service:

“I feel more relaxed about being at home – peace of mind is very important”. Lifeline user living in Melbourn

“Very surprised at how quickly it was installed. Lifeline provides a link to people that can help me in an emergency”. Lifeline user living in Meldreth.

“The Lifeline Service has enabled me to live comfortably and independently in my own home knowing that I can call on someone in an emergency” Lifeline user living in Willingham.

“The Lifeline Service has given me and my family great peace of mind” Lifeline user living in Sawston

“A wonderful service to give help and peace of mind. An efficient and well-run service”. Lifeline user living in Impington.

“Without a doubt the Lifeline Service has saved my mum at least three times” A quote from the son of a Lifeline user living in Histon.

“Very friendly service. Took extra time to explain the service to ensure the service user understood”. Occupational therapist for lifeline customer living in Longstanton

For more information and to apply for a lifeline, please call 01954 713470, email lifelines@scambs.gov.uk or look online at www.scambs.govuk/lifelines

Do you use a hearing aid or find yourself hard-of-hearing … or does someone in your family? If so, please join the new ‘Cambridgeshire Hear for You community’ group. This is a new way of keeping in touch and to exchange views and ideas, whether it’s about hearing loss, or just your news, ideas and messages about literally anything!

The group has been set up by local charity, Cambridgeshire Hearing Help, which maintains hearing aids, runs workshops on hearing loss and teaches lipreading. The charity also runs ‘Hear for You’ social groups, which are suspended because of current restrictions – so they’re going online for members old and new!

The drop-in Hearing Help session at Vicarage Close Community Room, Melbourn, has been cancelled until further notice. For help and information: Telephone: 01223 416141 Text: 07852 699196 enquiries@cambridgeshirehearinghelp.org.uk or visit www.cambridgeshirehearinghelp.org.uk