“We just want our daughter to have a home she can live in safely”- Tameside family’s heartfelt appeal after home adaptation project collapses

A Tameside family has spoken of their heartbreak after their long-awaited home adaptation project for their disabled daughter fell apart, leaving them without a working wet room, without heating and without the funds to put things right.

For Nichola and Paul Galley, every day revolves around caring for their daughter Ava, a bright, loving 15-year-old who lives with complex physical and mental needs. Their home, in theory, should be her safe haven. In reality, it has become a daily challenge full of barriers that make even basic care difficult.

“We just want Ava to have a home she can live in safely,” said Nichola. “A space where she can move freely in her frame or wheelchair, and where we can care for her with dignity.”

Like many families in similar situations, the Galleys have spent years trying to navigate the system, applying for support through the Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) to adapt their home to meet Ava’s needs. But despite her clear eligibility, progress has been agonisingly slow.

“We’ve been told we’re now 96th on the waiting list,” Nichola explained. “Ava’s needs can’t wait. She needs an accessible wet room and a safe space for daily care now, not in months or years.”

After years of waiting and hoping, the family decided to act. Around four years ago, luck seemed finally on their side when they won £55,000 on the Postcode Lottery. They set aside half of that money specifically for Ava’s future home adaptations.

“We knew that one day we’d need to make changes for her,” Nichola said. “So, we did what we thought was sensible, we saved half of our winnings to make that possible.”

When it became clear that funding wouldn’t come anytime soon, the family made the brave decision to use their savings and start the work themselves. The project began in August this year, with the hope that it would be completed before Christmas.

But instead of bringing relief, the project turned into a nightmare.

“The work has completely collapsed and is now in dispute with the builder,” Nichola explained. “We’re left with no functioning wet room, no heating, and no savings. Everything we put aside for Ava’s future is gone.”

What Ava's wet room currently looks like

The emotional impact has been devastating. “We thought we were finally doing something positive for Ava, something that would change her life,” said Nichola. “Now we’re back to square one, but worse off. The stress has been unbelievable.”

The situation has also affected the wider family. Paul’s mum, who has Motor Neurone Disease (MND), has been unable to visit the house since her diagnosis. “We’d hoped to have the work finished before Christmas so she could finally come over,” Nichola said. “But without a suitable toilet or accessible space, it’s just not possible.”

The Galleys are no strangers to the kindness of others. When Ava was younger, friends and the local community fundraised to help buy a specialist trike and later a new car seat, making a huge difference to her independence and safety.

“It’s something we’ve always been so grateful for,” said Nichola. “But we’ve always tried to manage ourselves. Paul continues to work to support us, and I gave up my career in design to be Ava’s full-time carer. We don’t like asking for help but right now, we just don’t have a choice.”

“This isn’t about asking for handouts,” Nichola emphasised. “It’s about asking for a second chance to put things right after doing everything we could on our own. Ava deserves a home that meets her needs, one where she can be safe, comfortable, and part of family life again.”

The family has now set up a GoFundMe page to help raise funds to restart and rebuild Ava’s wet room project. They’re asking for help in any form, whether that’s donations, professional advice, or simply sharing their story to spread awareness.

The Galleys are appealing to the Tameside community to come together and help them rebuild what’s been lost.

If you’d like to support Ava’s Wet Room Project, you can visit their official GoFundMe page here: https://gofund.me/0daa08bde

“Thank you for reading our story,” Nichola said. “And thank you to everyone who helps us give Ava the home she deserves.”