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Volunteers revamp home for man battling sight loss

Band of Builders A group of four builders standing with Simon Taylor and Debi Richens. Simon is tall and slim with grey hair and glasses. Debi is shorter with light pink hair. The tradespeople are wearing paint-splattered clothes.Band of Builders
Simon Taylor (second right) was "miserable" after his diagnosis, according to his partner Debi Richens (third right)

A man losing his sight has been "blown away" after a group of volunteer builders renovated his home for free.

Landscaper Simon Taylor had started redecorating his house in Thatcham, Berkshire, where he lived with his fiancée Debi Richens.

But in 2023 he was registered as sight-impaired after noticing the vision in his right eye had become blurry.

Forced to give up his business and unable to continue with redecorating, construction charity Band of Builders stepped in to finish the project.

Band of Builders A tradeswoman wearing a grey t-shirt with "Band of Builders" printed on the back. She is painting yellow onto a wall by a front door.Band of Builders
Charity Band of Builders was founded in 2019

Shortly after December 2022, Mr Taylor was diagnosed with a macular hole, followed by retinal detachment.

He has since lost sight in his right eye, and the vision in his left eye is down to about 30%.

Despite a full order book and plans to expand his landscaping business, he never worked again.

The hall, stairs and landing in the couple's home was also left unfinished, with walls rubbed down and dents caked with plaster filler.

Ms Richens, his partner, said it was "breaking his heart" that it was not safe for him to carry on with the project.

He contacted Band of Builders, a charity which helps people in the construction industry that are struggling mentally or physically and can no longer work.

Band of Builders A before and after photo of the hallway. It shows a wooden door which remains unchanged. In the before photo, the wall is blue with specs of white on it where holes have been filled in. There is a toolbox on the floor. In the after photo, the wall has been painted yellow.Band of Builders
The team painted the walls and skirting boards, as seen in these before and after photos

Project manager Ben Russell met with the couple and talked through what needed doing to the house.

Mr Russell said: "We're very proud to work... but if you have to stop work for whatever reason and it's taken away from you I think mentally that can be quite challenging.

"It's basically to enable [former tradespeople] to have a more normalised life," he added.

After appealing for local builders and companies willing to donate their time or materials, the volunteers started work.

Band of Builders A before and after photo of a corner under the stairs. In the before photo, the wall is light blue with several cans of paint. In the after photo, the wall is yellow and the cans of paint are gone.Band of Builders
Simon Taylor and Debi Richens have lived in the house for 18 years

"It was extraordinary, there was joy and banter and amazing camaraderie," Ms Richens said.

The work, which involved finishing the decorating and hanging new doors upstairs, took four days, five builders and cost £2,600.

Mr Taylor had been overwhelmed by the gesture, Ms Richens added.

"He was just blown away by the sheer kindness and thoughtfulness and passion."

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