Band of Builders creating inspiring stories

The beginning of Band of Builders

When Addam Smith's friend Keith Ellick was diagnosed with terminal cancer, Addam wanted to do something to make his life a little bit easier. A plan to landscape his garden captured won the support of his fellow tradesmen and saw the project grow into a full-scale renovation of Keith's house carried out by people from across the country.

From there Band of Builders has been unstoppable, uniting members of the construction industry through the simple desire to help others. The organisation provides a helping hand to other people - like Addam helped Keith - through hands-on projects to make life just that little bit easier when times get tough.

When Select Decorator Peter Whiter found out that a local tradesman had been diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumour, he decided to get involved with Band of Builders.

Creating lasting memories

Band of Builders is an organisation started by tradesmen, for tradesmen, no matter what they're going through. Tradesman Dan Mcintosh lives in Essex with his wife and two children. Six months ago, he was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumour, and was given 18 months to two years to live at the same time he found out his wife was pregnant with their third child.

When one of our Select Decorators discovered that Dan had been diagnosed with a brain tumour, he wanted to do something to help.

Peter Whiter takes up the story: "What triggered me to help Band of Builders is that I lost my niece to cancer last year. I've seen how these guys help others and Dan lives five minutes away from me; they needed a decorator to help, so I offered."

A number of local Band of Builders members teamed up to create a timber summer house for Dan and his family. As well as creating a great space where Dan could make amazing memories with his children, the project also leaves somewhere for his children to go to remember their dad.

A team decorated the inside of the room in Dulux paints, completing the job overnight (which involved drying paint using heat lamps!) in order that it was ready for the 'big reveal'.

As well as providing a brilliant space for a fellow tradesman, Peter says it has been a life-changing project: "I got in touch with Addam through the We Are Band of Builders Facebook page and offered to help. This is the first charitable work I've done and it's changed me as a person and has had a massive personal effect.

We love to hear about the work you do to support your local community and those in need. Share your own experiences for a chance to feature in a future newsletter.

Simply email us on duluxselectdecorators@diversity.agency or call us on (0333) 222 7022.