Published: Tuesday, 8th January 2019
Teamwork between Warrington Housing Improvement Agency (WHIA) and Warrington Council has ‘changed the life’ of a mum and her daughter thanks to adaptations in their home.
Sadly, the adaptions became necessary to their Birchwood home after the daughter lost her mobility following an accident three years ago – now her mum says they both ‘have our lives back’.
The team from WHIA and the council worked together to plan and deliver the home adaptations and we could not be happier to here how much it has helped the family. The mum, who wished to remain anonymous, said:
“Since my daughter had her accident nearly three years ago I felt I had lost my daughter – she was someone who I no longer recognised or was able to relate to, this is very hard to say, but I didn’t know her.
“During the adaptations I found my little girl again and that relationship has grown stronger and stronger. I also found who I was again, I wasn’t just a carer, I was a mum and most importantly I was who I am supposed to be.
“The building works haven’t just changed my life but also my family’s life – you have given me my children back and my life back and also the confidence to speak out if something isn’t how I like it.
“This isn’t just a place to live now, it is a sanctuary for us all, a place we think of as more than a home, we see it as a life changer as peace and as refuge from all the horror we have been through over the past few years.
“Not only has my daughter’s life improved but she now has the strength to be the young woman she should be. Through small changes to a home you have not only put a family back together you have helped it heal in more ways than you could ever imagine and I can’t say thank you as it will never be enough and seems such an inappropriate word to describe just how I feel about the whole process.”
Gerry Kiddle, director of WHIA, said: “It’s fantastic to see the difference that this project has made to the clients involved. We regularly see the impact that quality adaptations can make to people’s lives- and we’re particularly proud of working with our partners at Warrington Borough Council to change the lives of this Warrington family.
Warrington Borough Council’s executive board member for public health and wellbeing, Cllr Maureen McLaughlin, said: “This is an example of how appropriate adaptations can make such a huge impact on an individual’s life, as well as wider family life. I am so happy that this young Warrington resident can now function independently within her home environment and that the wider impact the adaptations have had on family life have been extremely positive. This is a great example of all parties working collaboratively to achieve a positive end result.”
WHIA works with individuals who are older, have disabilities or are on a low income across Warrington who are looking to make adaptations and improvements to their home – from bathroom refits to home repairs.
To find out more about the work of WHIA and how it can benefit you, visit www.wha.org.uk
You can get further details on accessing support through Warrington Borough Council here.
