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Verity's garden makeover life-changing, says mum

Josh Tranter,in Bilstonand
Rachael Lewis,West Midlands
BBC A girl smiling. She is sitting in a wheelchair and has a blue jacket with a red top on. She has brown hair and two bows in her hair. Behind her are workmen building a new garden. BBC
Verity lives with epilepsy, visual impairment and scoliosis, is a wheelchair user and communicates using eye gaze technology.

The mum of a seven-year-old girl who has complex medical needs has described a free garden makeover for her as life-changing.

Verity lives with epilepsy, visual impairment and scoliosis, is a wheelchair user and communicates using eye gaze technology.

In just 48 hours, the charity WellChild transformed her back garden in Bilston into a sensory-rich accessible environment, with the help of 12 gas engineers.

"[Verity] loves the wind in her face, she just loves being around people, and today is all about just giving us that space for her, and for us as a family" said her mum Sarah.

WellChild A photo of a garden transformation before and afterwards. On the left hand side is a trampoline and a greenhouse. In the second photo is an accesible garden with green grass and lots of colour and a swing. WellChild
The charity WellChild has transformed Verity's back garden, left, into a sensory-rich environment

The engineers, who work for British Gas, had volunteered to help with the project.

"I'm really excited, it's quite emotional all these people giving up their time for us," Sarah explained.

"It's a mix of emotions, and it's just going to give us that quality time. We are all about giving her quality experiences and the best quality of life.

To be with her brothers and sisters as well, to just enjoy outdoors and to just play."

WellChild A photo of a group of men smiling into the camera. There are 12 men and they are all wearing work outfits. They are building a new garden. Also in the photo is a woman and a child in a wheelchair is next to her. Everyone is smiling. WellChild
Twelve local British Gas engineers volunteered each day last week to help with the project.

WellChild's Helping Hands programme delivers around 30 garden and home transformation projects each year.

Matt James, its CEO, said the "funding and people power" from partners is what makes the transformations possible.

"Together, that support makes transformations like this possible for children with complex medical needs across the UK," he said.

"It helps families like Verity's to thrive at home and create precious moments and lasting memories together." James added.

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