In September 2018 we had the pleasure in helping improve the lives of a local Bolton family by taking part in DIY SOS:The Big Build. The Taylor-Mann’s family current house was unfit for purpose and causing a massive strain on the family. Their son suffers from severe Autism, he is extremely hypersensitive to noise and being in such close proximity to his siblings is often just too much for him to bear.
A public announcement was made by BBC, inviting all tradespeople and suppliers to assist in the transformation of this family’s home. With our offices situated just round the corner, we knew we had to help however we could.
The house needed a downstairs extension, under permitted development, with all the bespoke care provision that William and the family would need: separate bedrooms, calm space for William, a social space for the family and the safe proofing the entire ground floor and rear garden.
Members of our George Cox Foundation (a charity established by the company and run by a board of volunteers, made up of office staff and site operatives) approached the team at DIY SOS to offer our assistance. Our works involved extending the existing driveway and block paving the whole area including the walkway down the side of the house. We also extended the drop kerb at the front of the house to allow for two cars to easily access the driveway.
The BBC did not have any money to spend on this project, therefore our contribution, which totalled over £6,800 was paid for entirely by the George Cox Foundation. Our Procurement Manager, Kate Atkinson, worked closely with our supply chain to provide as much of the materials as possible for free. This allowed us to maximise our contribution to the project.
After hearing about what Kate had achieved, the BBC team leader got in contact with her and asked to help obtain various other materials for different trades involved in the project. She played a big part in the success of the build and was personally thanked by the BBC team.
The rest of the George Cox Team included Company Director John Walsh, along with Scott Parkinson, Kevin Holroyd, Paul Coombes, Jordan Timmins and Iain McDermott. The team thorough enjoyed working on the project with much of the Bolton community and their efforts were greatly appreciated, with a spokesperson from the BBC saying “On behalf on the Taylor-Mann family and the entire DIY SOS team, I would like to thank you for your unbelievable efforts and contributions in completing this build! You have been absolutely incredible, and we would not have been able to do this without your support! It means so much to the family as you have genuinely helped to transform their lives.”
