Father forced to carry disabled son up to first floor flat in Widnes to move into new adapted home
Stephen Murray was living with four sons in his one bedroom flat where they are all had to sleep in the same room.
After his story was featured on ITV Granada Reports, the family were moved into hotel accommodation and told there was a property they could move into that is being adapted to their needs.
It is a four-bedroomed house and assessments will be carried out on whether seven-year-old Harry, who has cerebral palsy, will be able to use the stairlift to access a wet room or if an adapted lift will be needed.
Stephen said he had been "despairing" living in the cramped flat in Widnes, Cheshire, and worried about how long he would be able to carry Harry upstairs.
"Within 24 hours our situation had changed", Stephen said. "We were moved to a hotel and told the property we had wanted, was going to be ours and was being adapted.
"It is close to the children's school and we can start moving forwards with our lives'.
A Halton Housing spokesperson said: "Since the change in Mr Murray's circumstances we have continued to work tirelessly alongside other agencies to find an alternative home for Mr Murray and his family.
"We are pleased to confirm that a suitable property has now been identified and is currently being adapted to meet this family's specific needs.
"We anticipate that Mr Murray and his family will be able to move into their new home this week and we will continue to support them in any way we can."
For seven months, Mr Murray had been searching every night on the Housing Association's property pool.
Speaking last week, Stephen said he'd felt like was getting no support, adding: "I had to take my children away from the situation they were in to give them a better life, but I feel like they've gone backwards.
"They're frozen in time because there's so much they should be getting but they're not. There's no light at the end of the tunnel, it's just getting dimmer and dimmer."
Stephen was concerned his son's health was being affected by the limited space and not being able to use his son's specialist wheelchair, leg braces and upright stand in the flat.
Most people with cerebral palsy have mobility issues, but regular exercise and play are crucial for maintaining and improving their physical strength.
Stephen said: "The physio said it's getting worse and it could get to a point where he won't be able to stretch his legs out.
"He gets in the bath, but he's bruising his legs. With a wet room he'd be in his wheelchair and have a proper shower. It'd be so much easier."
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
BBC News
24-07-2025
- BBC News
Woman says rats 'ruined everything' in her Launceston home
A woman says she has been driven out of her Cornwall home after an 18-month fight to tackle a rat infestation that has destroyed parts of her house. Merrily Sanders, of Launceston, said the rats had "ruined everything" in her home on Moorland Road, forcing her to move in with her son. She said the rats had gnawed through her garden fence, walls, flooring, bathroom and feels let down by her housing association and said the stress had affected her mental Guinness Partnership apologised and said the condition of the gardens of neighbouring properties had attracted the rats. It said contractors had attended to carry out pest control and further visits had been arranged. It added the neighbouring gardens had also now been cleared, and potential access points to Ms Sanders property had been blocked. Ms Sanders explained there were droppings everywhere, her electricity was tripping and her kitchen completely ruined. She said the infestation had prevented her from having her grandchildren visit and left her feeling like the housing association "don't care" and "don't take it seriously". Ms Sanders says she first reported the issue to the Guinness Partnership a year ago. "I've been on out-of-hours emergency calls but nobody has been out to me, they don't care."She added: "I should not have to live and rely on living in other peoples houses. I want to be safe in my own house." The Guinness Partnership said: "We are sorry Ms Sanders has had problems with rats in her home."We recognise the impact this situation has had on Ms Sanders and did offer her hotel accommodation while the problem was being treated, which she declined."It added: "As some of Ms Sanders' belongings were damaged when the rats were in her home, we have also made a payment to Ms Sanders as a goodwill gesture."It said the situation would be kept under review.
ITV News
09-07-2025
- ITV News
'Dusty' the cat travels 400 miles from home from the Isle of Man to Devon after stowing away in van
ITV Granada Reports' Isle of Man reporter Joshua Stokes meets 'Dusty' after returning safely home to the island A missing cat has returned safely to the Isle of Man, after being located 400 miles away from home in Devon. 'Dusty' had stowed away in a van during the TT races in June, before being discovered by a van driver in the south of England. Much the surprise of her owners, Dusty had travelled in the back of the van from Douglas in the Isle of Man, across the ferry to Liverpool, and south to Tavistock in Devon. Dusty's owner Liz Skillicorn said she is known for venturing out across the island, but never expected her to find her way overseas. Dusty went missing during the TT fortnight on the island, and was last seen on the dashboard of a van. After days without being seen, Liz concluded that Dusty was missing. That was until she was contacted by a man who was working on the Isle of Man during the TT races, saying he believed Dusty was in the back of his van. Liz said: "He sent me a picture and I was like oh god she's alive she's safe... I was like where are you? I'll come and collect her. He said I'm in Tavistock... I was like where the hell is Tavistock!" Tavistock is 395 miles away from Dusty's home in Douglas, situated in Devon. Liz believes Dusty jumped inside the van before it left Douglas, where she was next discovered at the end of the journey in the south of England. A fundraiser then saw islanders donate over £1,000 to fund Liz's journey to collect Dusty and bring her home. Liz said: "I couldn't believe so many people wanted her back - to us she's just a family cat - but obviously she's at the hospital all the time so a lot of people know her." Dusty is notorious on the Isle of Man for visiting Noble's Hospital and spending time with the staff and patients. Liz said: "She wanders in and eats lunch with them, loads of visitors absolutely love her - she's actually got followers in New Zealand and America who say they can't wait to come over for the TT to see the cat!" Liz collected Dusty from Kit Hill Cattery a few days later, and they started their 400-mile journey back to the Isle of Man. Since returning home, Liz said Dusty "hasn't ventured very far as yet", but they have only recently started to let her out the house again. Despite her escapade, Liz said: "I don't think it's phased her at all!".
Edinburgh Reporter
16-06-2025
- Edinburgh Reporter
Scottish Secretary gets to know The Big Noise
The Secretary of State for Scotland, the Rt Hon Ian Murray, went back to Wester Hailes to visit The Big Noise, the pioneering music and social change programme. Mr Murray grew up in Wester Hailes, and he visited the social change programme based on orchestral music to see – and hear – first-hand how its work is tackling inequality and helping children, young people and families in the area. During his visit to the project at Canal View Primary School, Mr Murray was told more about the programme, which provides music tuition, instruments and nurturing support to primary school pupils to help them fulfil their potential and reach their goals. He watched music lessons, met young people on the programme and enjoyed a performance from the pupils. He was shown around by the charity's chief executive Vicky Williams and the chair, Benny Higgins. Big Noise is a high-quality music education and social change programme, which launched in Raploch in 2008. Children and young people learn music after school, creating a community symphony orchestra which supports them in gaining vital life skills such as confidence, resilience, creativity, and aspiration. The charity works intensively with children, young people and families in targeted communities, using the symphony orchestra as a community to help children gain life skills and experiences. There are now six centres supporting almost 4,000 children and young people across Scotland, including Raploch and Fallin in Stirling, Govanhill in Glasgow, Douglas in Dundee, Torry in Aberdeen, and Wester Hailes in Edinburgh, which is its newest centre and opened in 2022. Big Noise Wester Hailes now reaches more than 550 children a week, working in partnership with Clovenstone, Canal View and Sighthill primary schools. It 'supports young people to reach their full potential by helping them develop vital life skills such as confidence, resilience, creativity, and aspiration, while also strengthening community ties through music and nurturing relationships'.. Mr Murray said: 'Returning to Wester Hailes, where I grew up, and seeing first-hand how Sistema Scotland's Big Noise programme is transforming young lives was genuinely moving. This innovative programme doesn't just teach music – it builds confidence, resilience and aspiration in children who deserve every opportunity to succeed. Tackling inequality and poverty is a key part of the UK Government's Plan for Change. 'The progress made since Big Noise launched in this area is remarkable, now reaching over 550 children each week. As someone who knows this community well, I'm particularly proud to see such positive investment in these young people's futures, equipping them with vital life skills that will serve them well beyond the classroom.' Vicky Williams, Chief Executive of Sistema Scotland, said: 'It was fantastic to welcome Ian Murray to Wester Hailes to share more how our work tackles poverty and inequality, builds confidence and resilience in young people and helps them both inside and outside the classroom. 'Our 'more than music' approach is really bearing fruit in our older programmes, where we are now seeing people who joined us as primary school pupils move into work, study and really positive lives. 'It is clear that Big Noise, through nurturing and supportive relationships, helps children and young people reach their full potential by equipping them with vital life skills and enhancing their academic skills. 'We also know that taking part in Big Noise increases confidence and self-esteem, as well as participants' creativity, aspiration and sense of belonging.' Like this: Like Related
