Partner Article

Built for all: Local housebuilder receives expert advice from Whizz-Kidz

Local housebuilder, David Wilson Homes has recently received a review from a Whizz-Kidz charity ambassador, detailing how their homes at Elba Park in Houghton-le-Spring could be adapted for those who live with disabilities.

Brandon Barker, Ambassador from Whizz-Kidz Sunderland visited Elba Park and was given a tour from David Atkinson, Barratt Homes’ Technical Manager at Elba Park, where they were given advice on how homes could be adapted to assist those with disabilities.

Whizz-Kidz has changed the lives of over 20,000 disabled children since it was founded in 1990, providing essential mobility equipment and helping young disabled people become independent.

Homes at Elba Park are “built for life” which means they have to meet stringent conditions, ranging from integration with the local community to use of local design elements.

David Atkinson, Technical Manager at Elba Park commented: “It was brilliant to have Brandon visit Elba Park and hear how we can further our development and its inclusivity to those who wish to purchase a property here. Brandon is a brilliant representative for Whizz-Kidz and we hope to be able to provide further support in the future.”

Brandon Barker, Whizz-Kidz Ambassador, said: “I really enjoyed looking around the homes at Elba Park with David Atkinson and assessing how accessible they are. It’s important to make sure homes are accessible for disabled people so we can live independently and be part of our local communities.”

Barker adds, “Everyone at Elba Park welcomed me and were interested in my ideas about how the homes could be made more accessible. I suggested the bathroom door open inwards instead of outwards, or be a sliding door, to make it easier for a wheelchair user.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Richard Savage .