Volunteer tradespeople have come together to finish a small extension at the home of a North Lanarkshire roofer who was left unable to complete the project he started after breaking his back and neck in a fall from 8 m high scaffolding at work.
Jim Gallacher had started building work at the front of his Bellshill home – and then in April 2023, he fell 8 m from scaffolding and landed on an Armco barrier in a freak accident at a retail park in Bristol.
Although the 53-year-old has confounded medical experts with his recovery, he has been told in no uncertain terms that he will never be able to lift anything heavy or work at height – and any slip or trip could result in him being in a wheelchair for the rest of his life. As a result, he has had to close his roofing business.
With the front of his house left like a building site, Jim and wife Debbie called on national construction charity Band of Builders (BoB) for help. The registered charity completes practical projects to help members of the UK construction industry and their families who are battling illness or injury – and 20 volunteers answered the call to complete the project in time for Christmas.
Jim had dug out the foundations, installed the drainage and got the brick and block work to waist height – but it had been left abandoned with materials and uneven ground. The entrance to the front door was via a sloping catwalk board to an unfinished porch floor with a gazebo above it, which was low, and anyone entering the house needed to duck down to go in the door.
The volunteers finished the porch – including rendering, plastering and adding outdoor lights. They also landscaped the garden over three weekends.
Marvelling at the finished work, an overwhelmed Debbie Gallacher said she can’t thank all the volunteers from Band of Builders enough.
“Being able to walk safely through your own front door may not mean much to most people – but to us, it’s life-changing,” she said. “We used to live with the constant worry that Jim may slip or trip outside – which meant he didn’t get out of the house much. But that’s all changing as he can get around safely. What has been most amazing has been the amount of people who don’t know us but volunteered their time to help us. We are so, so grateful.”
This is the 41st project completed by the charity, and Jim’s plight has attracted construction industry support, including from Tarmac Blue Circle and SIG Roofing, which jointly sponsored the project.
Tarmac Blue Circle is a keen supporter of BoB and has worked with the charity in a number of ways over the past few years. From being a regular project sponsor to providing product donations, Tarmac Blue Circle is living its core ‘One of the Family’ values, such as support, reliability and trust, in continuing to partner with BoB.
SIG Roofing recently became a partner of BoB with a plan to support projects, provide product donations and run fundraising events in its 100+ roofing branches across the UK.
BoB Operations Director Tony Steel said: “This is the 41st project we have completed, and along with tradespeople giving up their time, it was also supported by Jewson, Talasey, Rolawn, Reconomy Trade, Marshalls, Lee Brothers, Regatta, Vantage Windows and Doors, Langs Builders and Bellside Building Supplies.
“This is another great example of how the Band of Builders community has come together to support a fellow tradesperson who needed our help.”
