Latest news with #SarahFletcher
Yahoo
4 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Herculean effort underway by 150 volunteers to transform Norfolk family's home
They say it takes a village, and that's exactly what happened when 150 volunteers rose to the challenge of helping a family in need. Toby Fletcher is 16 years old and lives with his mum, Sarah, and siblings in Foulden, between Swaffham and Brandon. He has quadriplegic cerebral palsy and dystonia, requiring round-the-clock care and support. And to make everyday life a little easier for him and his family, a major home renovation is underway – including the addition of a specially adapted downstairs bedroom and wet room. Tony Everett, volunteer, and Sarah Fletcher (Image: Band of Builders) Toby's dad Shaun had been completing the renovation while working at his day job as an electrical engineer. The father-of-six, who also had two grandchildren, tragically died by suicide on Christmas Eve 2024, which meant the work was unfinished. As a result, carers have only been able visit during the day and Toby's mum has had to carry him to bed and care for him alone during the night. A family friend put Sarah in contact with Band of Builders in February, who jumped on board to help the family. Completing Toby's wet room, his bedroom and updating the house will have a massive positive impact on family life, Sarah explained. Tony Everett, volunteer, and Sarah Fletcher (Image: Band of Builders) Tony Everett is one of the 150 volunteers that has signed up to get stuck into the project. He is a bricklayer and has been given the job of looking after the health and wellbeing of the volunteers. He said it's one of several projects that he has been involved with, and he loves giving back to the community. The work is set to start on July 5 and is expected to take 12 days to complete. Band of Builders began in 2016 and provides practical, financial and wellbeing support to those in need. It helps those who work in the construction industry and their families cope with life-changing circumstances. Visit for more information, to volunteer or to donate.
BBC News
4 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Mum thanks builders completing her husband's Norfolk home project
A mother-of-six whose husband died while renovating their home to help their disabled son said she was "so thankful" to volunteers who will complete the Fletcher, 46, who lives in Foulden, Norfolk, said her husband Shaun kept his mental health issues hidden before he took his own life on Christmas charity Band of Builders, based in Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, will finish the downstairs bedroom and wet room for her 16-year-old son Toby, who has cerebral palsy."I'm so thankful to them and I feel like it is Shaun's legacy. I want to finish what he started. I know that is what he would want for all of us and especially for Toby," she said. If you have been affected by the issues in this story, help and support is available via BBC Action Fletcher was an electrician and worked seven days a week to provide for his six children and two was renovating the family home in his spare time and was "stressed and very busy", his wife said. But there were no real signs of how much he was struggling, she added, and they had been Christmas shopping the night before."He seemed happy and normal. I had no idea that would happen. "I would really like to raise awareness of male suicide and encourage people to open up, don't hold it in, because I don't want any other family to go through this," she said. Her friend told her about Band of Builders, which supports construction workers and their charity, which also offers mental health support to construction workers, agreed to take on the work, as its 45th building had a record-breaking response to an appeal for volunteers, with 150 tradesmen and women coming forward to work on the house next month. Retired bricklayer Tony Everett will volunteer on the build, which is the 12th project he has helped with. He said the family's story had touched people's hearts."It means a lot knowing I can help in some way and change people's lives." Mrs Fletcher said the work would make a huge difference to her family."Toby has been sharing a room with me and I have to carry him upstairs so it will be brilliant for him to have his own downstairs room and it means I can have overnight carers," she said."The amount of people who want to help and the support is overwhelming really. It is truly amazing." Follow Norfolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
