Thanks to the efforts of the local community, Paulton mum, Zoe-Mae Burlton, can now sleep soundly knowing that her son, Harry, is safe at night.

Five months ago, Paulton mum, Zoe-Mae, launched an appeal to help her family afford a custom built ‘Safespace’, a padded pen that would keep her son safe during the night. Harry is severely autistic and finds it difficult to sleep at night, with his condition also meaning that he has no sense of danger and often pulls at and eats the carpets and walls, making it impossible for the family to have a restful night’s sleep or even go on holiday.

Fundraisers in and around Paulton clubbed together to help the Burlton family after Zoe-Mae’s appeal and helped her raise the amount needed for the Safespace and a travel version to allow them to consider family holidays for the first time since six-year-old Harry was born. The custom-built padded space keeps Harry away from the dangers of the home and will allow him to travel and stay overnight with family members and carers, as well as allowing the rest of the family to finally sleep soundly, knowing he is safe.

The community fully backed the fundraising effort, with Terry and Caroline Wynne MBE, from Paulton Hospital’s League of Friends Charity Shop, raising £1,000 through the charity tombola and with the generosity of their customers. Other fundraising events included a Zumba party organised by local instructors at Chilcompton Village Hall, with the £8,000 needed being raised sooner than expected.

Earlier this month, the Safespace was installed in Harry’s bedroom by Creative Care Ltd and Zoe-Mae plans to turn the remainder of his room into a sensory light corner. She said: “I just want to thank everyone that has supported us to make Harry’s Safespace happen. It means the world to me that now he will always be safe during the night, and all because of so many amazing people who made it happen for us, and in such a short amount of time!”