Volunteer Builders Complete Home for Norfolk Teen with Cerebral Palsy After Father’s Suicide

More than 150 volunteer tradespeople from across the UK have come together to complete a life-changing home renovation for a Norfolk family following a tragic loss.

Electrician and father-of-six Shaun Fletcher took his own life on Christmas Eve, leaving behind an unfinished plan to convert the ground floor of the family home into a sensory bedroom and wet room for his 16-year-old son Toby, who lives with quadriplegic cerebral palsy and dystonia.

Toby’s condition means he requires 24/7 palliative care. He is deaf, JEJ fed, and housebound — and was being carried upstairs nightly by his mother, Sarah, who had no access to overnight support.

Determined to honour Shaun’s vision, Sarah turned to national construction charity Band of Builders (BoB) for help. In response, over 150 tradespeople volunteered their time and skills – transforming not only Toby’s bedroom, but the entire home in just 12 days.

40 Tradespeople On Site Each Day

Up to 40 tradespeople per day – including electricians, bathroom fitters, plumbers, landscapers, and smart home specialists – worked around the clock in July to complete the ambitious project.

Toby’s new sensory bedroom and accessible wet room were fully fitted out with specialist equipment, and the charity also renovated the rest of the house, completing bedrooms and bathrooms for his siblings and landscaping the front and back gardens.

“This means we can finally get overnight support for Toby,” said Sarah. “It’s felt like we’ve been living on a building site for years. I can’t believe how much has been done in such a short time. The house is incredible – a poignant legacy for Shaun – and now we can start to heal.”

Honouring a Father’s Legacy

The project marked Band of Builders’ 45th charitable build. CEO Gavin Crane called it the organisation’s “most ambitious project to date.”

“What happened to this family resonates deeply across the construction industry,” he said. “Mental health is a serious concern in our sector, with two tradespeople lost to suicide each day. We hope Shaun would be proud to see what’s been done in his name.”

The build was supported by headline sponsor DEWALT, along with dozens of suppliers, local businesses, and community members who provided materials, food, and refreshments.

Tim Winstanley, Senior Brand Manager at DEWALT, said: “This project embodies the spirit of our industry – compassion, community, and selflessness. We’re proud to have played a part in supporting this remarkable family.”