Andrew ‘full of smiles’ in his new Helping Hands garden

Andrew and his family desperately needed a garden where they could all be together and create happy memories. Thanks to WellChild’s Helping Hands team and volunteers from St James’s Place we were able to make the family’s dreams come true.

 Six-year-old Andrew has cerebral palsy, global development delay and epilepsy. He is unable to talk and is a full-time wheelchair user who requires support for all his care. Andrew’s older brothers both have complex needs so going out and home life can be difficult.

 The family, from Birmingham, had a garden which was just not suitable for Andrew’s needs. He loves spending time outdoors with his brothers but could only get into a small patio area at the top of the garden. We knew the whole family would benefit from having a garden that is safe and stimulating.

The St James’s Place volunteers worked tirelessly on the project over two days in December when the rain poured down and Storm Arwen brought freezing conditions, but it failed to dampen their spirits.

 Thanks to their hard work we were able to give Andrew a garden that is accessible and inviting for him to spend quality time in. It has a secure and level area extending off a ramp with decking and artificial grass to allow Andrew access in his wheelchair and give the family space for their hot tub. We were able to add some sensory elements to the garden including colourful lights to make it an inviting and pleasant place for him to play.

The family was delighted with the finished garden. Mum Hayley said: “We took Andrew out and he absolutely loved it. He was full of smiles; he loved the lights. The garden looks completely different, they’ve done an amazing job.”

 News of Andrew’s Helping Hands project spread through the local media and BBC Radio West Midlands interviewed Hayley about her new garden. The Birmingham Mail ran an article on the project which you can read here.