The Band of Builders (BoB) project included the fitting out of a sensory bedroom for quadriplegic son with cerebral palsy and dystonia
- Electrician and father-of-six Shaun Fletcher took his own life on Christmas Eve – leaving his home renovation in Norfolk unfinished.
- He planned to adapt a ground-floor space into a sensory bedroom with smart technology and a wet room – so that his 16-year-old son Toby could have the facilities to support more round-the-clock palliative care amid a battle with quadriplegic cerebral palsy and dystonia.
- Shaun’s widow, Sarah, reached out to the charity Band of Builders for help to complete Toby’s room, and more than 150 tradespeople from across the UK answered the call for help.
- In just 12 days, the charity not only completed Toby’s room but also completed all the unfinished rooms in the house (including bedrooms and bathrooms for his brother and sister), as well as landscaped the front and back of the house.
- As many as 40 tradespeople (including groundworkers, electricians, bathroom fitters, plumbers, decorators and landscapers) were on site for each of the 12 days in July.
- Sarah said the volunteers – who came from as far afield as Northern Ireland – were all “superheroes” and her family “can start to heal.”
A Norfolk widow and mother of six has described a group of volunteer tradespeople as “superheroes” after they rallied round and took just 12 days to complete the renovations that her husband had started – before he took his own life on Christmas Eve.
Sarah Fletcher turned to national construction charity Band of Builders (BoB) initially for help to complete a room for her 16-year-old son Toby, who requires round-the-clock palliative care amid a battle with quadriplegic cerebral palsy and dystonia. Because Toby’s ground-floor room was an empty shell – and Sarah was unable to access overnight support – she had to carry Toby upstairs to bed and care for him alone each night.
The registered charity – which completes practical projects to help members of the UK construction industry and their families who are battling illness or injury – stepped in and asked its community for help. More than 150 tradespeople from across the UK volunteered their time for free not just to complete Toby’s room but also to complete all the renovations, as well as landscape the front and back of the house.
Speaking to the assembled crowd of volunteers and well-wishers who had gathered to cheer on Sarah and her children as they saw the completed home for the first time, she said she felt that saying “thank you” wasn’t enough. “We can’t thank you all enough; you’re all superheroes,” she said. “It’s felt like we’ve been living on a building site for a few years, and I can’t believe how much has been done to complete it in such a short space of time. Toby’s room is incredible, and this means we can finally get overnight support for him.” She added: “The house is amazing and a poignant legacy for Shaun, and we now have a home where my family can start to heal.”
About Toby
Toby was born 13 weeks premature, which resulted in a lack of oxygen to his brain, causing cerebral palsy and dystonia. His condition affects his muscle control, leading to painful involuntary movements that make it difficult for him to gain weight. Toby is also deaf and is fed directly into his bowel (JEJ fed). To help manage his dystonia, he has a deep brain stimulator, with electrodes in his brain connected to a battery pack in his abdomen.
Toby requires 24/7 care, including numerous medications throughout the day and night. He is housebound and relies on stretcher transport for all appointments. During weekdays, he receives some daytime care from continuing healthcare, but his needs are extensive.
Sarah has had to carry him up and down the stairs and hold him over the bath to wash him – both of which pose significant risks to them both. Sarah rarely gets a full night’s sleep due to the demands of caring for Toby. Toby’s care is now considered palliative. While doctors haven’t provided a specific timescale, his condition makes him extremely vulnerable – something as simple as a common cold can make him very poorly.
BoB completes project 45
In an emotional speech – after Sarah and her children had seen the house renovation for the first time – BoB CEO Gavin Crane was full of praise and pride for what the BoB community of volunteers had achieved, with as many as 40 tradespeople (including groundworkers, electricians, bathroom fitters, plumbers, decorators, landscapers, solar panel engineers and smart home specialists) on site for each of the 12 days.
“This was our most ambitious project to date and everyone who supported us – be it volunteers, businesses, suppliers of materials and the local community who provided food and refreshment – has reminded us all what kindness looks like.” He also spoke more broadly about the issue of mental health – which is a blight on the construction industry – and the fact that two tradespeople take their own lives each day.
“What happened to this family resonates with so many members of our community and across the costruction industry. Grief, pressure and mental health concerns are all things we understand too well. We hope that in finishing what Shaun started, we’ve done him proud and that wherever he is, he knows his family is now safe in a completed home surrounded by the love and empathy of some amazing people.”
The project was sponsored by DEWALT and supported by a range of national and local businesses, to whom Band of Builders is hugely grateful. Tim Winstanley, Senior Brand Manager at DEWALT, said: “As a proud sponsor of this project, everyone at DEWALT is deeply moved by the compassion and dedication shown by every volunteer. Their selfless work embodies the true spirit of our industry, coming together to support those in need. “We are proud to play our small part in that journey, helping to make a real difference to the lives of families like the Fletchers.”
For further information on Band of Builders click here
