Howard had suffered unexplained heart failure in his sleep in April 2020. Despite wife Sam and his young daughters Daisy and Tilly performing chest compressions until paramedics arrived, Howard was left with severe brain damage due to lack of oxygen to his brain.
The 55-year-old, who was put in a medically-induced coma for two weeks, has since had to relearn everything, from walking and talking to eating, at a residential brain injury unit in Leeds, more than 60 miles from his home. The work carried out by BoB was hoped to be a significant factor in helping Howard return home to his family.
In late February a 13-day project began, involving 42 tradespeople who worked to creation an extension for Howard as well as revamping the family’s garden to ensure it is a safe and enjoyable space for Howard and his needs. EMPR’s Ellen Manning also joined the team to volunteer on site as well as providing on-the-ground PR support.
The project was a huge success, making a major difference to the family, and culminating in an emotional handover from the Band of Builders team to Howard himself, wife Sam and the couple’s daughters.
The project received widespread local and national coverage, with local media covering it throughout in print and on radio. After its completion, the project was covered by the Press Association news agency, resulting in coverage across national media including Mail Online, the Evening Standard, the Mirror, the Independent, the BBC, and more.
For more information on Band of Builders, visit www.bandofbuilders.org
