On January 29th a fire, caused by an electrical fault in the boiler control, devastated the home of Carl, Shelley Josh and Jude and their two dogs.

Jude, their 15 year old son, is Autistic and Pathological Demand Avoidance, he also has ADHD, generalised anxiety disorder and sensory disorder. Due to Jude’s needs he has many struggles including communication and processing, and needs routine and consistency. He finds social interaction difficult and attends a special school where he is the only year 11 student.

His ‘whole’ life was his bedroom, it was his ‘safe space’, the only place he could be his true self. Jude had a purpose built PC and computer set up, which was his passion and a life line to his only friends. All of which was ruined in the fire.

Following on from the fire, the family is living back at a childhood home in a space that is not big enough for everyone, making an already difficult time even harder. Jude has no sense of security or a ‘safe space’ for him to spend his time, he lost everything in the fire other than the pyjamas he left in. Replacing his PC and computer set up would give him back a sense of normality and a way to cope during this overwhelming time.

The images attached show the aftermath of the fire, however is only a small representation of what the family have lost. Any support, no matter how small, will make a huge difference in helping this family on the journey to rebuild their lives.