A WILTSHIRE charity will appear on BBC One's Crimewatch Live to talk about its work keeping elderly and vulnerable people safe from crime.
The Bobby Van Trust will be appearing on Crimewatch Live in the morning of Tuesday, March 19.
The charity’s chief executive, Jennie Shaw, and home security operator, Mick Leighfield, will be in the show’s Cardiff studio to talk with presenters Michelle Ackerley and Ray Wilding.
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They will explain how the charity's two vans, both staffed by former police officers, visit homes across Wiltshire to offer free practical home security measures, fire safety assessments and online safety guidance for people over 60 or over 18 with a registered disability.
Jennie Shaw said: "Our aim is simply to make sure our clients are as safe as they can be at home, for many, their one and only safe space."
She describes the charity as "Wiltshire and Swindon’s best-kept secret."
Mick Leighfield, who has been with the charity for 17 years, will showcase some of the help he and his colleague Doug Batchelor give to people who have either been victims of burglaries or domestic abuse, or are thought to be at risk, as well as passing on some useful crime prevention advice.
The charity works in partnership with Wiltshire Police and other organisations including Victim Support, Age UK, housing associations and Wiltshire Council’s trading standards department to identify people who need help and reassurance.
Mrs Shaw will also talk about the increasing need of the charity’s Stay Safe Online service, which has nine volunteers visiting people who have been victims of online scams to improve their cyber security awareness, give prevention advice and provide support and reassurance.
The charity’s new dementia wristbands, offered in association with Wiltshire Police, will also get a mention. Mrs Shaw will be telling how the bands contain a chip that can be scanned by a smart phone to reveal the wearer’s next of kin and contact details.
The charity, formed in 1998 and based at Wiltshire Police Headquarters in Devizes, has Lady Lansdowne, Annette Mason, the wife of Pink Floyd drummer Nick Mason and Wiltshire Chief Constable Catherine Roper among its trustees.
Mrs Shaw said: "We are absolutely delighted to be taking part in the show and being able to talk about our work, and explain that we are self-funding. We need to raise £275,000 each year to continue to offer our services.
"I must admit I am a little nervous at going on live TV but it is just too good an opportunity to miss. It’s also a chance to acknowledge the wonderful support of our staff, trustees, volunteers, supporters and donors."
She and Mr Leighfield will be in the studios at 6am for rehearsals before the show goes out at 9.30am. It will be available for six days after transmission on BBC iPlayer.
Readers can find out more about the show at www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00ss27z and about the work of the charity at wiltshirebobbyvan.co.uk.
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