Band of Builders (BoB) has completed its 42nd project and installed a new central heating system for a former bricklayer and his family.
The new heating system replaces the one that was condemned and ripped out in 2020.
A statement said that Lee Taverner, his partner Wendy Norton and 12-year-old son Marshall have lived in freezing conditions for the last three years. They couldn’t afford to replace the boiler and radiators after Lee had to give up work when he was diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). This disease can be traced back to when he spent three weeks in a coma with pneumonia during the Covid pandemic.
Five volunteers from BoB installed the new central heating system, which was donated by Wolseley Group, at the family’s Leighton Buzzard home. The volunteers installed a new boiler, six new radiators and a heated towel rail.
Lee said: “Having a warm home is going to be a life-changer for my family and we cannot thank Band of Builders enough for what they have done for us.”
Wendy added: “The first thing I’m going to do is to take a nice long hot bath.”
Mark Harris, Wolseley Group’s area manager, said: “We are proud that we were able to play our part in making this project happen and helping Lee and his family this Christmas. Scott Oliver and his team at Luton Plumb Centre pulled out all the stops to source and deliver the products to a tight deadline so a big thank you for all their support in making a difference in our local community.”
Andrew Pell, BoB’s Project Lead, added: “I can’t thank the team of volunteers enough for giving up their time – which they could have spent with their families in the run-up to Christmas – to help a fellow tradesperson and his family who were in desperate need.
“We are all proud to be part of a charity that supports members of the construction industry and their families – and the look on the family’s faces when we turned on the central heating system will stay with me for a long time to come.”