Case Study: bath donation to DIY SOS

To date, the DIY SOS Big Build ‘Homes for Veterans’ Special was the most ambitious construction challenge to be undertaken by this building renovation TV programme. It involved the redevelopment of a whole dilapidated terraced street in Manchester so homes could be provided for injured servicemen and women. Lamin Mennah, disabled ex-Guardsman and his family were grateful recipients of one of these new accessible homes which included an assistive Windsor 2 bath donated by Gainsborough Specialist Bathing.

This two-part special DIY SOS received significant press coverage as the extensive two-week build was visited by HRH The Duke of Cambridge and HRH Prince Henry of Wales. BBC production, in association with the charity Walking with the Wounded, aimed to provide 62 new homes for injured military veterans and their families.

The majority of the structural renovations for the whole street were completed during September 2015 and several residents, including Lamin, were presented with their new homes at the end of the filming. The Mennah family was a major focus throughout the show and when Lamin met the two Princes, he was also able to explain the huge difference his new accessible home would make to him, his wife and five children.

Lamin was originally from Gambia however he decided to move to Britain in 2005 so he could join the British Army. As Gambia is a Commonwealth country, residents are allowed to join the British Armed Forces hence Lamin served in the Irish Guards for five years. He was severely injured by an exploding IED in Afghanistan on New Year’s Eve 2010 which resulted in the loss of both his legs and one arm. Lamin was able to survive this horrific ordeal and now continues to rebuild his life – made easier with a new home that is fully accessible.

A key feature of LaminÂ’s new home is the installation of a Windsor 2 assistive bath with powered bather transfer seat. This specialist bath allows him to bathe independently and reduce lower back discomfort which can be common when regularly using prosthetic legs.

Now superseded by the new Gainsborough range, the Windsor 2 is a proven and popular power assisted bath that delivers safe and comfortable accessible bathing to semi-ambulant users. It encompasses a powered traverse seat that effortlessly transfers a bather in and out the bath so manual lifting and lowering by a carer is not required.