Our house was poorly adapted via a DFG in 2003 by the local council by fitting a downstairs very small shower room, a through floor lift and a track hoist in her bedroom upstairs. We are liable to pay annual maintenance costs and call out fees for these however, unfortunately DLA does not stretch far and mobility equipment is very expensive. Our equipment is old, outdated and constantly breaking down. Furthermore Rianna still does not have access to the majority of the house; having access to only two rooms.

The council cannot fully fund the necessary renovations as the Disability Facilities Grant (DFG) is only £30,000. With your donations we hope to restructure the layout, provide necessary mobility equipment, increase Rianna's privacy and increase Rianna's independence and safety within her home.

Rianna's current home layout risks her safety, privacy and independence

Adaptations:

- extend the kitchen and provide a wide entrance so that Rianna can enter it and bake

- Install new track hoists

- Remove her through the floor lift and move her bedroom downstairs (current fire hazard)

- Build a partitioning wall

- Provide an accessible bathroom and kitchen sink

- Build a height adjustable kitchen surface

- Provide ventilation and natural light to the new bedroom

- Improve insulation in Rianna's bathroom and new bedroom

Funding:

Estimated amount needed: £100-110k

- Own funds £6k

- DFG £11,000-30,000

- GoFundMe, target 1 £20,000, target 2 £40,000

- Discretionary disability loan up to £30k (will know if we have successfully been awarded this after tenders have been sent)

A piece we recently did with Channel 4 new and the Bureau of Investigative Journalism

#Channel4 #DisablingHomes #HouseNotAHome @bureaulocal

https://www.channel4.com/news/the-long-wait-for-disabled-people-to-have-adaptations-at-home

https://www.thebureauinvestigates.com/stories/2022-04-05/disabled-people-trapped-waiting-years-for-vital-home-adaptations

An article Rianna's twin, Lauren, wrote:

https://gal-dem.com/disabled-twin-sister-trapped-home-fighting-advocating-go-fund-me/

Pictures and videos will be uploaded of work if/when it starts and all funds will be accounted for.