The recent spell of dry, sunny weather has certainly helped our supported building projects get underway at an impressive pace.
One such project is for a new applicant to the charity: Tilly – whose project will ensure ‘Tilly's independence at home’ by building a wet room, bedroom and creating level access to the garden for teenager Tilly.
Impressively, the £13,000 needed to bridge the gap between the council grants awarded and the total cost of the works has been raised by Tilly and her family in just six weeks. Through a combination of fundraising activities and generous donations, they secured the funding required to begin work on Tilly’s new suite.
As Tilly’s mum tells us:
“When complete Tilly will be able to have a shower at home for the first time in six years, she will be able to sleep and move around in a bedroom that is suitable for her large wheelchair and best of all she will be able to access the garden which she loves. This isn’t just a bathroom, bedroom and garden – it’s dignity, autonomy and liberation.”
Another new applicant to introduce to you is Connie, who’s just celebrated her 5th birthday. ‘Connie's New Room’ will build a small extension on the ground floor of the family home to create a bedroom, wet room and entrance for Connie. Disabled Facilities Grant and top-up funding has been awarded through the council, but costs of the works leave a shortfall of £32,000 to meet the cost of the works required.
As Connie’s parents explain:
“Connie has multiple medical conditions, hearing and visual impairments and is disabled and relies on a wheelchair and postural support at all times. She is a happy and beautiful little girl who is loved by many.”
“We need this room desperately now as she is getting so heavy and it is becoming a danger to her to continue carrying her up and down the stairs. Bathing her is almost impossible and it is such a shame as she loves having a bath. Any support to help us finish this valuable project would be greatly appreciated.”
Meanwhile, other building works are in full swing with their building works. The adaptations to secure ‘Noah's independence and dignity’ by creation of a wheelchair accessible ground floor, including downstairs bedroom and wetroom, plus garden access has commenced – helped along the way by both DTD Charity and Hospital Saturday Fund, together with a substantial award from a local benefactor.
‘Funding Abdul's Bedroom and washroom’ has seen the conversion of the loft of the family home begin to take shape, to create a bedroom and level access wet room for the 7-year-old. Recent support from Independence at Home has been gratefully received towards the £3,500 shortfall for the works.
‘Margot's Big Build’ secured additional support towards meeting their £45,000 shortfall for a downstairs bedroom and a fully accessible kitchen for Margot from Make Them Smile – with the works now nearing completion.
Whilst the substantial works at ‘Fox & Lili's Home’ to extend and reconfigure the ground floor for wheelchair access, along with the creation of two wheelchair-accessible bedrooms and a shared bathroom for the twins, have resulted in significant alterations to the family home.
The considerable £120,000 shortfall for these works has been generously aided by the Florence Nightingale Aid In Sickness Trust.
‘Time for Thomas Wet room and Bedroom’ received support from local educational establishments towards the £60,000 needed to reconfigure the family home, creating accessible ground-floor living space along with a bedroom and wet room extension for 15-year-old Thomas.
The local community also rallied together to support ‘Penny’s bedroom padding and window’ – allowing works to commence. A recent Caribbean Carnival event raised funds towards the £20,500 required to extend and restructure the family home to provide level access, a padded bedroom and wetroom with changing bed for Penny, plus various safety adaptations to prevent climbing and serious injury to Penny.
We’re delighted to sign off with the exciting news that B&Q Foundation has awarded Sullivan's Heroes a generous £10,000 grant.
With funding shortfalls for the projects we support now averaging £46,000 per child, this much-valued contribution will significantly strengthen our ability to ensure vital home adaptations for children with disabilities can be completed successfully.
Please do get in touch if you have any fundraising events, activities and ideas you’d like to share with us; or if you would like to apply for a grant or to fundraise through Sullivan’s Heroes.
Thank you for your ongoing support, it is greatly appreciated.
