A couple in Great Bardfield in Essex is calling out for volunteers with building skills to help them build a sensory and therapy room at home for their young daughter who has severe disabilities.
Debbie and Ray Bowyer’s seven-year-old daughter, Olivia, requires frequent speech and language therapy as well as intensive physiotherapy. She has learning difficulties including autism and complex neurological disabilities including hypotonia and macrocephaly which affect her movement and co-ordination.
The couple have already been supported by the Saffron Walden branch of builders’ merchants Ridgeons, who have donated materials to build a dedicated space with specialist equipment to help advance Olivia’s advancement. Ridgeons has given engineering bricks to the self-build project and provided other building materials at a discounted price. The branch will continue to support the family as the project progresses.
Chris Gavin, Branch Manager of Ridgeons Saffron Walden, said: “We’re proud to be helping such as truly wonderful project. It’s fantastic to see a local family doing what they can to give their daughter the support she needs for her wellbeing and development. We wish them the very best of luck with the project and we hope they find enthusiastic volunteers.”
Debbie Bowyer added: “We’d like to thank Ridgeons Saffron Walden for their generosity. Olivia needs this room more than ever – it will be her own sanctuary as well as a place to focus on her therapies. However, as my husband is building the room alongside his full-time job, we are appealing for local volunteers to help us complete the project as quickly as possible.
“Despite the tough challenges Olivia faces, she is the sweetest, happiest girl. With the right support from us, we can give her a fighting chance in achieving a much brighter future.”
Anyone who is interested in volunteering for the family should contact Debbie Boyer at d.bowyer@btinternet.com.
The family is also fundraising to raise money to finance the build on the Tree of Hope website: www.treeofhope.org.uk/olivianeedsyou.
Ridgeons is one of the largest independently owned builders’ merchants in the UK and trades from 26 merchant branches in the East of England.
Ridgeon Group also includes PlumbStock, Anglia Tool Centre, Ridgeons Forest Products and CRS Wholesale. Turnover stands at £160 million per annum and Ridgeons Group employs around 900 people.
For more information on Ridgeons or Plumbstock please visit www.ridgeons.co.uk.
