Scarborough trick or treaters urged to be mindful of vulnerable residents

Age UK is asking people to be considerate for Halloween tomorrow

Author: Karen LiuPublished 30th Oct 2021

Trick or treaters in Scarborough are being encouraged to be mindful of vulnerable people on their streets.

It is as some residents, especially the elderly, may be fearful of door knockers particularly from those they do not know.

Age UK Scarborough says they are contacted regularly about cold callers.

Chief Executive, Neil Bradbury, said:

"If people have put out signage celebrating Halloween or have made it clear they're taking part in the fun of Halloween, then I would encourage people, especially those are who trick or treating, to go to those doors and leave out the doors of people who clearly are not playing any part in it.

"There's a lot of people out there who have basically been isolated, lonely and sometimes fearful of people coming to their door but there's more of that because of Covid. People contact us regularly about cold callers and people who they don't know coming to their door.

"I think we've got to respect people in our communities who don't do Halloween and there are a lot of, especially the elderly, but all ages who are vulnerable who for whatever reason don't necessarily welcome that and we don't want to force them to take part in something they don't want to be involved in.

"As we approach Halloween and then we approach Guy Fawkes' night, the more people that can take part in the registered firework displays the better. If people can limit their own fireworks to a specific period of time because I think one of the things that upsets elderly people, and pet owners, is letting off fireworks."

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