We want to ensure all blind and partially sighted people can live the life they want to lead, without limits, so we were delighted to be able to donate half a dozen products to the Grove Park build, featured on BBC One’s DIY SOS. The products – an RNIB PenFriend 3 audio labeller and pack of Tactile PenFriend labels, Orange BumperStops, the Mythological creatures colouring book pack, a copy of Bertie the very blind bat in uncontracted UEB, and a set of tactile dominoes – were used to help create a new home for the Scott family to live in together.
In February 2023 the family’s lives changed forever when their mum, Zoe suffered a tragic accident at home and died.
Eldest daughter Somer (30) and her younger brother Samuel (25) immediately became responsible for their younger siblings Shay (19), Sadie (13) and Seth (9) who is registered blind, severely autistic and has renal failure. Somer is studying in Liverpool to become a doctor, with the intention of supporting the family when she graduates. In the meantime, Samuel takes on all caring duties during the week with Somer returning every weekend to help.
The family are very close and staying together is an absolute priority, but their home was in urgent need of renovation and repair with the five siblings and their pets in cramped, cluttered and impractical conditions. The house’s electrics were failing and the layout was becoming dangerous for Seth’s increasing medical needs. You can watch the DIY SOS team tackle the build on iPlayer (programme available until at least October 2025).
