A seriously ill mum to three young children has had her home transformed by a group of Manchester volunteers.
Beth is battling serious illness and struggled with her accommodation for years until a group of volunteers, Project 33, stepped in to revitalise her home.
In a video message from hospital, Beth said: “No words can describe the feeling when I found out that Grace had picked me, I burst into tears, and thought why me, out of everybody?”
Project 33 is the brainchild of Grace Marie O’Brien. Grace, XXX lives in Eccles and has always had a passion for interior design. She advertised herself on social media, with the intention of helping anybody to improve their home.
She was overwhelmed with responses, especially from people experiencing some form of domestic hardship.
Grace said: “I have lived in 33 different homes in my life and have had a little bit of an unsettled past and I have always had a love of interiors. I am not an interior designer but I would love to do it for somebody in an ordinary house who may be struggling.”
A childhood home can evoke memories of a calm, organised and safe place. That, however, is not the case for everyone.
The first benefactor of Project 33 is Beth. She has recently been in hospital for a prolonged period. At the time of her hospitalisation she had just moved into a house with her three young children.
Beth said: “I have had a rubbish start to the year. I have been in hospital since Christmas Eve. I have had two years dealing with a condition [that] I would not wish on anyone.”
Understandably, the home she created for herself, and her three children had become neglected. Her house needed a refresh as did the garden. In stepped Grace Marie and Project 33. This was to enable Beth to spend time with her family, without the pressures of fixing the neglect herself and allowed her time and peace to recover from her recent surgery.
Project 33 began helping with Beth’s case by producing an online wish list, for people to buy and donate items. From this anybody could purchase anything from a lampshade to curtains and donate to Project 33. The list was advertised on a local Facebook group, so that it was accessible to a large number of people.
All else that was needed including decorating, new furniture, bunk beds for the children and an overhaul of the garden came from an army of volunteers, giving their own time, resources and support to a stranger.
The work of Project 33 means that Beth and her children can live and grow as a happy, healthy family. Their home is a place of calm and peace, with an optimistic wish for their future.
Photographs courtesy Project-33
Grace said: “I couldn’t have imagined how this little idea could have progressed into this, I thought at most it would be a couple of friends and some members of the community.
“I was offered free flooring (Grt.flooring) , a table and chairs from( Solo Furniture )and endless amounts of local businesses gave support”
Beth was due home on Monday March 2nd. Unfortunately her health has taken a downward turn and as of today she remains in hospital.
She said:: “They have done an amazing job. I just think that is my house now. I could of never, ever done it on my own.”
Moving forward Grace has a list of candidates to be the next worthy recipient. This is both a sad indication of the current economic struggle but also highlights the huge community spirit that exists and continues to grow in Salford and Greater Manchester.
As Beth said: “Hopefully on the next Project 33 I can help if I am fit enough. I just cannot wait for my babies to see it.”