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Mum 'speechless' as strangers transform her home

Michelle AdamsonNorth West
BBC A woman holds her hand over her mouth gobsmacked while an older woman standing next to her places a hand on her chest in shock. A young woman films the pair from a smartphone. They are inside a newly-renovated living room. BBC
Sarah (left) and her mum Maria said they could not believe the transformation

A mother of three boys with complex needs has been left "speechless" after a group of kind strangers banded together to transform her home in just 48 hours.

Volunteers from Project 33 completely renovated Sarah Walton's home in Trafford to suit her children's needs and give her a comfortable place to live.

The community interest company was set up earlier this year to help families in need of support and has already revamped two other homes.

Sarah opened the doors to her newly-transformed property on Tuesday and told BBC Radio Manchester it was "like a dream come true".

Ten people hold their arms aloft as they celebrate outside the newly-renovated home
More than 40 volunteers from Project 33 helped transform Sarah's home

Grace O'Brien set up Project 33 to help families in need of support by transforming homes using the help of volunteers and donations from local businesses.

She said she thought the idea would "start as a couple of friends" but has since snowballed into a team of more than 40 volunteers.

They have now come together to help renovate three homes, and it is "beautiful to be part of", O'Brien said.

Three women smile while sitting on a settee indoors. One has a bob length mousey brown hair with a fringe, she is wearing a grey cardigan and has a tattoo on her arm, one is wearing black and has a gold bracelet and dark long hair. One has curly hair in an up-do with gold ear-rings - she is wearing a patterned dress with red and gold chains
Maria, Grace from Project 33 , and Sarah

Sarah was nominated for the 48-hour transformation by her mum Maria, who said her daughter had recently been through a "really bad couple of years".

Before the transformation was complete, Sarah told the BBC raising her sons, aged 8, 9, and 12, who all had complex needs had been "quite chaotic and difficult".

She said the Trafford property they lived in had felt like "a house, not a home".

Project 33 has completely overhauled each room in the property, adding new furniture, carpets, and other changes aimed at making life easier for Sarah and her children.

A bunk bed in a bedroom featuring bedding with planets on it
The boys' needs have been considered as part of the transformation

For example, the boys' bedroom has been hand-painted with a mural of the night sky.

O'Brien said the "unbelievable" design had been chosen as some children with autism preferred dark spaces.

Sarah said she wanted to be part of the next Project 33 transformation as she would "love to help another family" after her experience.

"I just can't say thank you enough to all the volunteers."

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