Easy Bathrooms Partners with Help Harry Help Others for a Life-Changing 'Respite Renovation'

At Easy Bathrooms, we firmly believe that a bathroom is much more than just a functional room - it is a sanctuary of comfort, privacy, and dignity. For most of us, we start our day with a refreshing shower and wind down in the evening to wash away our stresses. However when mobility and health are compromised, a bathroom can quickly become a daunting obstacle.

That is why we are incredibly proud to announce our recent partnership with the phenomenal Birmingham-based charity, Help Harry Help Others (HHHO), to deliver a life-changing “Respite Renovation”.

We are stepping in to provide a completely free, newly designed bathroom including full installation, for Andy and Donna, a wonderful couple who are currently facing unimaginable physical and emotional challenges.

A Well-Deserved Respite for Andy and Donna

Every home has a story, and Andy and Donna had a beautiful vision for theirs. As an ex-builder, Andy is a hard-working, proud tradesman. Like many in the trade, his own home was his ultimate passion project. He poured every spare penny, every weekend, and every ounce of energy into meticulously renovating their house to create a forever home for his family.

Tragically, their lives were turned upside down in an instant. Andy received a devastating cancer diagnosis, bringing his livelihood and their renovation plans to a grinding halt. If that wasn’t enough for one family to bear, his diagnosis was later followed by a severe forklift accident.

Today, Andy is physically trapped downstairs, living entirely between his lounge and kitchen. The cruelest part for a man who spent his life building and fixing things is the loss of his independence. To simply wash and clean himself, he currently has to navigate his way into an unfinished house extension. Instead of a warm, comforting bathroom, he is faced with a cold, dusty building site - a constant visual reminder of the projects he was forced to leave unfinished.

We knew we had to help. Recently, we invited Andy and Donna into their local Easy Bathrooms showroom so they could personally select their own fixtures and fittings. Our goal isn't just to give them an accessible, functional space; it is to give them a beautiful bathroom that perfectly matches the home they so lovingly started renovating together. The Easy Bathrooms team will be providing all the products and the full installation, completely on us.

Blending Accessibility with Beautiful Design

When people think of "accessible bathrooms," they often picture clinical, hospital-like spaces. But at Easy Bathrooms, we know that safety and style can go hand-in-hand. During their showroom visit, Andy and Donna were able to browse our collections to find solutions that restore Andy’s dignity without compromising on their home’s aesthetic.

Some of the key elements that can make a profound difference in a respite renovation include:

• Level-Access Walk-In Showers: Removing the need to step up over a shower tray minimizes trip hazards and accommodates mobility aids.

• Anti-Slip Flooring: Specially textured tiles that provide essential grip, giving complete peace of mind, especially when the floor is wet.

• Stylish Support Rails: Modern grab rails now come in sleek finishes like matte black, brushed brass, and chrome, blending seamlessly with standard bathroom accessories.

• Comfort Height Toilets: Designed to sit a few inches higher than standard toilets, taking the strain off the knees and lower back for easier use.

By choosing these elements themselves, Andy and Donna are reclaiming a sense of control over their home. They aren't just receiving a charity donation; they are finishing the dream they started.

A Conversation with Georgie, CEO of Help Harry Help Others

To shed more light on this incredible charity and the impact of this project, we sat down with Georgie, the CEO and founder of Help Harry Help Others.

For those learning about Help Harry Help Others for the first time, could you share a little about the charity's core mission and the community you serve?

"Help Harry Help Others is charity born through lived experience of cancer. Started by my son Harry, who raised over £750k in the last two years of his life before we lost him to a brain tumour aged just 11 years old, I made it a registered charity in 2012 due to the personal dismay at the lack of support in the community. Fast-forward fourteen years and we now run a drop-in cancer support centre supporting over 1700 adults and children affected by cancer. We pride ourselves on our values of immediacy, urgency and empathy and that no referrals are needed, we support the patient, relative, carer and friends and regardless of postcode - anyone can access us."

Could you tell us a bit about the couple receiving this support and what this respite renovation means to them?

"Words can hardly do it justice, but you can see Andy and Donna's full story in their own words right here: Watch their story on YouTube."

How will having a newly designed, accessible bathroom impact Andy's daily comfort, independence, and overall wellbeing?

"Currently, as you see in the video, Andy has use of a toilet, but to clean himself, he has to go into the extension, which is a building site. Andy is trapped within the lounge and kitchen currently, so for him to retain his independence and to be able to have the downstairs facilities will open his world back up. He is a proud man, and being an ex-builder, he is a bloke's bloke who wants to be able to do things for himself. It will literally change his life."

How does visiting a showroom and personally choosing their own fixtures help bring them peace of mind (and perhaps a bit of excitement!)?

"Both Andy and Donna had a dream. They have a lovely house, and it's clear to see when Andy was working, every penny went into their home. To be able to select a bathroom that's in keeping with the rest of the house they had renovated prior to Andy's cancer diagnosis and then forklift accident really does mean the world."

What does community support mean to HHHO, and why are material donations particularly vital for delivering these transformations?

"Community support is the very reason for our existence. Despite receiving daily referrals from hospitals, we receive no government or NHS funding. It is my job to raise every single penny to keep the centre going. Without community support from individuals and businesses, we cannot do what we do. I also care very passionately about the cancer community, and to be able to help pull this project together is the least I can do."

Supporting a Brilliant Cause

Working alongside Help Harry Help Others on this Respite Renovation has been a deeply humbling experience for the Easy Bathrooms team. Knowing that this new space will restore Andy’s independence and bring this lovely couple some much-needed comfort is exactly why we do what we do.

If you would like to learn more about the incredible work Georgie and her team do, or if you'd like to make a donation to help them keep their Birmingham drop-in centre running, please visit hhho.org.uk.

See how the showroom visit went - https://youtu.be/9AB3VyQhqQA?si=4P9_8g0v5Hn6Uin6

Donna & Andy's story - https://youtu.be/9AB3VyQhqQA