After three years sleeping in his dining room, Paul Kitterman now has a bedroom and bathroom of his own – all thanks to an army of volunteer tradespeople
A man left paralysed from the waist down was given his dignity back after having an extension built allowing him to sleep in his home(Image credit: Band of Builders)
A paralysed man from Surrey who spent three years sleeping in his dining room has described how a team of volunteer builders gave him his best night’s sleep in years – by building a home extension for free.
Paul Kitterman, from Addlestone, was left paralysed from the waist down in 2021 following a sudden spinal abscess. With no accessible facilities in his home, Paul had been sleeping in the dining room behind a curtain, without access to a toilet or shower.
Now, thanks to more than 25 volunteer tradespeople from the charity Band of Builders, Paul has a custom-built ground-floor bedroom and bathroom – and says he finally feels like himself again.
Paul's story
Paul’s ordeal began suddenly in October 2021, when what felt like a bad back turned into a medical emergency.
He collapsed in A&E and was later diagnosed with a spinal abscess, pneumonia, and sepsis. Doctors placed him in a coma, and although his life was saved, the damage left him paralysed from the waist down.
He spent six months in hospital and rehabilitation, and returned home to a house that wasn’t equipped for his new needs and he and his wife could not afford the cost of a new extension.
While Paul showed remarkable determination, even returning to work, he had no private space or accessible bathroom at home.
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Paul and his wife Sasha reached out to Band of Builders (BoB), a national construction charity that supports tradespeople and their families through practical projects when illness or injury strikes.
The builders and businesses who stepped up
Materials were provided by companies across the UK(Image credit: Band of Builders)
Once planning permission for the extension was approved, more than two dozen tradespeople from across the UK travelled to Surrey to complete the project in just three weeks.
Materials were donated by companies including Jewson, Ibstock, Forterra, Ideal Bathrooms and SIG Roofing, with DEWALT coming on board as the headline sponsor.
Tim Winstanley, Senior Brand Manager at DEWALT UK, said: “When we heard about Paul’s story, we knew we had to get involved. Projects like this show how powerful the trade community can be when it pulls together.”
One of the project leads, Andrew Pell, added: “This wasn’t just about bricks and mortar – it was about giving Paul the comfort, dignity, and independence he hadn’t had since 2021.”
The new extension includes a wheelchair-accessible wet room and a spacious bedroom, giving Paul a level of comfort and normality he’d been missing for years.
Paul says he's been 'given a chance to live with dignity again'
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Paul said he has had a "great night’s sleep every night" since the extension was complete(Image credit: Band of Builders)
A bedroom and wet room was built in the extension(Image credit: Band of Builders)
Paul and his wife Sasha expressed deep gratitude to the Band of Builders volunteers and the many companies that donated materials to make the project possible.
For Paul, the impact has been immediate as he stated: “I’ve had a great night’s sleep every night since the build.
“This project has changed our lives. This extension gives me my dignity and privacy back, as I now have shower and toilet facilities, as well as my own bed."
News Editor Joseph has previously written for Today’s Media and Chambers & Partners, focusing on news for conveyancers and industry professionals. Joseph has just started his own self build project, building his own home on his family’s farm with planning permission for a timber frame, three-bedroom house in a one-acre field. The foundation work has already begun and he hopes to have the home built in the next year. Prior to this he renovated his family's home as well as doing several DIY projects, including installing a shower, building sheds, and livestock fences and shelters for the farm’s animals. Outside of homebuilding, Joseph loves rugby and has written for Rugby World, the world’s largest rugby magazine.
