Mum ushers in new look

A decorating dream has come true for young Wolverhampton mum Carli Usher - thanks to her family and Black Country Housing Group (BCHG).

The 25-year-old from Ashmore Park is looking forward to a £500 room makeover from Wolverhampton’s Care & Repair service after her grandmother Edie Usher scooped the prize in a special draw held at her local Gala Bingo venue.

Care & Repair, run by BCHG, ran the free draw to publicise the Wolverhampton Council-backed Kick Start scheme, which provides affordable loans to homeowners who are struggling to pay for essential repairs and improvements.

As Edie had already had her home decorated, she generously gave the prize to her granddaughter who had moved into a two-bed house.

Edie, who had taken her daughter-in-law Deborah who was on holiday from Wales and her granddaughter Carli to the bingo as a treat, said: “I was thrilled to win but even happier to give the prize to my granddaughter, who was so keen for me to win that she even wrote ‘winner’ on the back of the entry ticket!”

Carli Usher, who lives with her boyfriend and their five-month old baby, said: “This couldn’t have come at a better time. We were just planning on how to redecorate our living room and now it is likely to have a bright new look for Christmas.”

Naomi Dexter, Business Improvement Manager for BCHG, said: “The free draw, which attracted more than 200 entries, drew attention to the Kick Start scheme that we support.”

She added: “Linking up with Gala Ashmore Park to publicise our services to homeowners proved to be a great success – and of course we are delighted to have been able to provide one lucky person with an early Christmas present.”

For more information on the Kick Start Scheme, call 0121 561 3845 or email care&repair@bcha.co.uk