Two of the UKs leading companies working within the social housing sector have joined forces to support injured soldiers returning from Afghanistan.

Rixonway Kitchens and Kier Building Maintenance have partnered to show their support by donating and installing an adapted kitchen for Tyler Christopher and John Le Galloudec, known as ‘Frenchie’, who both face mobility problems following injuries sustained in duty. The project has been filmed for the UKTV’s Home channel and is called “Ty Pennington’s Homes for the Brave”.

The concept for the programme was developed to support British soldiers, who’ve returned from the front line and have a home that needs to be redesigned to fit in with a new way of life. Frenchie was shot in the spine and has had to learn to walk again, whilst Tyler lost both his legs in an IED blast in Afghanistan.

Kier Building Maintenance, a subsidiary of the Kier Group and one of the UK’s leading social housing repair and maintenance companies, provided a team from its south regional division to install the kitchen, donated by Rixonway, and included a complete electrical rewire to ensure all equipment and fittings were installed to specification.

Prior to the installation Rixonway Kitchens sent one of its dedicated designers, Andy Gritt, to visit the home in Wiltshire for a detailed consultation, allowing the soldiers to discuss their requirements and a full design to be created. The design stage is crucial to Rixonway for creating a ‘retail experience’ for every tenant. Rixonway’s 40 designers and project managers visit each home to understand the resident’s requirements before producing a full computer aided design (CAD) drawing showing how the finished kitchen will look. Currently Rixonway produces in excess of 1,000 designs a week for tenants and residents all over the UK.

Kier Building Maintenance south regional director, James O’Donnell, said: “At Kier we focus strongly on engaging with the local communities in which we are located, aligning our business service needs to the wider needs of the area. Kier works with the community to implement equality and diversity practices, support local social enterprise and undertake business mentoring with local SMEs.”

Rixonway operations director, Nick Greenall added: “Rixonway was delighted to get involved with this project for Homes for the Brave. Our new accessible kitchens range is designed for less abled tenants. We understand how important it is to offer residents the opportunity to stay in their own homes by providing small adaptations that make their lives so much easier without any compromise on the finishes, colour and pattern options available to other residents.”

The show’s energetic US presenter Ty Pennington joined Rixonway’s Andy and the team from Kier Building Maintenance at the property to film segments for the UKTV’s Ty Pennington’s Homes For the Brave, which airs tonight (21st September) on Home.

The Rixonway Monza range includes lowered work surfaces and sinks; ease of access to the unit due to the 180 degree hinges; a wheel-mounted mobile trolley/shelf unit that can be moved easily around; lever taps; carousels for corner units and pull-out/pull-down baskets.

Kier Building Maintenance is the leading repair and maintenance company working in the fundamental area of social housing in the UK.