A paralysed Surrey man – who has been sleeping in the dining room of his Addlestone home with only a curtain for privacy (and no toilet or washing facilities) – says he’s now getting the best night’s sleep he’s had in years after volunteer tradespeople rallied round to build him a
ground-floor bedroom and bathroom extension.
National construction charity Band of Builders (BoB) answered a call for help from Paul Kitterman, who was left paralysed from the waist down in 2021 because of a spinal abscess. He had returned home – and was also back to work at a dedicated builders’ merchant that serves the world-famous Pinewood and Shepperton film and TV studios – but had been sleeping in the dining room for three years.
More than 25 tradespeople from across the UK volunteered their time for free to build the extension in three weeks for Paul, who says having his own bedroom for the first time in years has been a life-changing experience that means he can finally get a good night’s sleep again.
Speaking about the new extension, Paul and wife Sasha said they can’t thank enough all the BoB volunteers and the companies that donated materials for the extension: “This project has changed our lives,” said Paul. “This extension gives me my dignity and privacy back, as I now have shower and toilet facilities, as well as my own bed I’ve had a great night’s sleep every night since the project was completed, and it’s all down to the incredible, selfless tradespeople who gave their time for free to help change our lives.”
Paul’s story
In October 2021, Paul went to his local A&E with what he thought was a bad back that was getting worse – and he collapsed upon arrival. Doctors conducted a battery of tests and diagnosed a spinal abscess. He was immediately transferred to a specialist hospital in London, where he was put into an induced coma, as he had also contracted pneumonia and sepsis.
The spinal abscess was not diagnosed in time, and it has left Paul paralysed from the waist down. He spent the next six months in hospital at five different specialist spinal and rehabilitation units.
Paul has made remarkable progress and has been supported every step of the way by wife Sasha. He has been able to return to work in an administrative role at solution and managed service provider Jewson Partnership Solutions (JPS) – which is a dedicated branch that serves the Pinewood and Shepperton film and TV studios and supplies materials for use on the various sets and stages. He is full of praise for JPS, who have integrated him back into the branch so he can continue to work, and he travels to and from the branch in a Motability vehicle.
BoB steps in to help
Paul and Sasha called on BoB for help, as it is a registered charity that completes practical projects to help members of the UK construction industry and their families who are battling illness or injury.
The team at BoB put out a call for volunteers for the project to its 50,000-strong community of supporters, as well as its corporate supporters, including DEWALT – the market-leading manufacturer of premium power tools, accessories, landscaping products, and anchors and fixings that provide an all-in-one total jobsite solution – which was the headline sponsor.
The charity also approached its corporate partners for materials for the project from suppliers including Jewson, Ibstock and Forterra, for what was the charity’s 43rd project. Other suppliers included: Reconomy, SIG Roofing, CTD Tiles, Ideal Bathrooms, Minster, Catnic, PowerCor and Ralph Plastering.
Tim Winstanley, DEWALT’s Senior Brand Manager – UK + ROI, said: “When we heard about Paul’s situation through our partners at Band of Builders, we knew this was a project that we wanted to help with. Our team donated their time to the project, alongside the tools required to complete the build, as we all knew it would make a real difference to Paul’s life and that of his family. It’s important the trade community stick together when times get tough, and we’re keen to play our part alongside the incredible volunteers at Band of Builders.”
One of the coordinators of the project, Andrew Pell, said that the project took three weeks to complete: “As soon as the planning permission was granted, we got the ball rolling on this project, as Paul was desperate to regain his dignity and privacy in having a bedroom and wet room – instead of having to live in his dining room,” said Andrew. This is another in a long line of projects delivered by the volunteers from Band of Builders that is life-changing for a member of the construction industry.”
To get involved in the work of Band of Builders click here
Band of Builders also organises the Big Brew, an annual event to raise awareness of the mental health crisis in the construction industry – where the suicide rate is estimated to be as high as two people every day. UK construction workers are also nearly three times as likely to die by suicide than their counterparts in other industries.
