Even with Covid 19 restrictions around social distancing and isolating, elderly charity LEAP is still managing to help people with emergency handyperson work.

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Peter McLafferty from Rutherglen phoned LEAP after his new washing machine had been delivered but not plumbed in.

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Father and son Stuart and Calum McGregor were soon at Ian’s home to carry out the work.

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Stuart, LEAP’s executive director, and Calum had both been working and living at home so were able to work together - taking the appropriate safety measures – when two people were needed for any of LEAP’s handyperson emergency work.

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Stuart and Calum soon made light work of removing the broken, old washing machine and plumbing in the new one.

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And when that sprung a leak, LEAP’s handyperson co-ordinatorKevin Key was quickly able to fix the problem and let Peter deal with

his pile of dirty washing.

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Peter said: “I hadn’t heard about LEAP but one of the wardens where I live gave me their number.

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“I phoned and told LEAP the company supplying my new machine couldn’t plumb it in because of the social restrictions, and a courier had just delivered the machine and left it.

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“Stuart and Calum soon had the new machine plumbed in, and Kevin quickly fixed the leak.

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“Everyone was great, and I’ll be using LEAP again. I have a new TV stand and Kevin has said he can get that built once they are taking on non-emergency work again.

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“It’s a great service.”

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However, there are some jobs the LEAP team can’t take on – and that’s where its professional contacts come in handy.

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Zandra Hamilton, of Springhall, called LEAP when she had no electricity and talked to Kevin, who said: “I was sitting in my van when I was talking to Zandra. She was really upset, and it took a long time for me to get enough information to figure out what might be wrong.

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“We got there though, and I passed the job onto Danny McGeever, one of the electricians we use in cases such as this. I then phoned Zandra back after Danny told me he had restored her electricity.

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“She was delighted.”

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Zandra said: “I was really quite upset by the time I spoke to Kevin as I wasn’t getting any help from anyone else, although the council had given me LEAP’s number.

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“Kevin was great though, and Danny was brilliant – he had things working again quickly.

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“I can’t thank everyone enough – I don’t know what I would have done without you all.”

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Zandra’s daughter Elaina Connell was so grateful she took to Facebook to post her appreciation.

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Elaina posted: "I just want to thank LEAP for helping my mum today. Her electrics went off and she was in a hell of a state. Isolation is hard enough but when you've no electricity would be impossible.

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The kind girl who answered the phone put her onto someone and an electrician appeared within the hour, fixed the problem and charged pennies.

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“You guys are lifesavers. Thanks so much.”