DIY SOS! Groundworks team gives back

Social value is really important to us at Community Gateway. We know and understand our tenants and their needs, and will go the extra mile to help when needed.  One of our contractors, FH Groundworks, was keen to give something back to the communities they work in, so when they heard about a little girl with multiple health problems who couldn’t easily access her garden, they were only too happy to step in and help.

Fran Horkan from FH was introduced to Monica, 5, her mum Emma and Dad Michael, by CGA Surveyor, Jim Park, who’d been helping with some adaptations to the outside of the family home. Fran noticed that the garden was uneven and difficult for Monica to use because of her mobility issues. Fran and team got on the case, with the aim of giving the garden a makeover into a practical but attractive space that the whole family can enjoy.

In just two very busy – and hot!– days, the team completely levelled out the garden, replanted it with new grass, replaced fence panels, built new planters which they filled with flowers, added decorative stones to the sides of the path as well as adding ramps and handrails so Monica can easily get into the garden from both the front and back doors using her walker.

“I was struck by the dedication shown to Monica by her parents, so I really wanted to help,” says Jim “Fran is a brilliant contractor, and the perfect person to give the family that little bit extra. He went above and beyond – for him it wasn’t about profits, it was about people.”

“It was a pleasure to do this for the family,” Fran told us. “The best part was seeing how happy they were and how excited Monica was to see the garden. It’s made a big difference to them.”

The family is over the moon with the transformation. Monica’s mum and dad told us: “We’re so grateful and excited, especially for Monica. It’s let her have her independence and she’s coming on leaps and bounds already with her walking.

“The garden is somewhere for us to get together as a family, we can all come and relax. I catch myself looking out of the window and smiling – thank you isn’t enough. We’re so grateful to Fran and the team – they went above and beyond and did a full DIY SOS!”