Ten-child family begs for bigger place to live

Now after being squeezed into a three-bedroom home for the past five years, Fabian Bland, 42, is pleading with officials to give them two adjoining houses to accommodate their growing needs.

He and his partner, Donna Harrison, 34, live in the home with 10 children and have complained to social landlord Incommunities about failing to find them a more spacious property.

The family sleep four to a bedroom because, as well as looking after seven of their own children, the couple have also been responsible for three of Miss Harrison's sister's children after their guardian, Miss Harrison's mother, died from cancer five years ago.

The huge brood of children is made up of: Daniel, 14; Sarah, 14; Chloe, 13; Megan, 12; Aaron, 12; Jack, nine; Keiran, eight; Morgan, seven; Fabienne, four; and 17-month-old Fabian Jr.

Miss Harrison, who has lived in the house in Draycott Walk, Holme Wood, Bradford, for six years and shares a bedroom with a son, daughter and her partner, said: "I can't cope, there's no room in the house for the kids.

"I'm currently on anti-depressants for the stress. I just can't cope anymore. I have got four girls in one box room. I have had to put a partition up in one bedroom so we don't have boys and girls sharing together.

"They are always fighting over the bathroom. We have taken on three extra kids and no-one's given us any help. Nobody helps at all and I don't get anything for free, not even free school meals.

"We have to pay for our own solicitors, everything. I have put my name down for a few places. When people have got 10 kids they should knock two houses through for them."

Wine and spirits delivery driver Mr Bland said: "I work full-time and I think that if you work it should provide a better standard of living for your family. I'm trying to show my kids how to live properly.

"When you get older, you should work. I work hard and pay my taxes, I think we should be helped – we are even looking after three children to keep them from going into care. If we were scrounging off the state taking all kinds of benefits, I'm sure we'd get the help."

The family were offered a choice of four four-bedroom Incommunities homes in 2008, all of which were turned down because they were not big enough.

An Incommunities spokesman said: "Since the stock transfer of homes from Bradford Council in 2003, Incommunities has not carried out any conversions of two or more homes into one to accommodate the needs of a larger family with children.

"Such a scheme would be dependent on two large adjoining homes both being available at the same time and also funding considerations.

"We are actively working with the tenant and other agencies to help best meet the family's individual housing needs. Unfortunately, larger family-sized homes of four bed and more are very limited."

Bradford Council housing officer Andy Bebbington said: "We have been to visit the tenant to offer advice and support but there is a shortage of large social housing properties."

WHERE RELAXING IS A PROBLEM

For Mr Bland, relaxing at home is easier said than done. "When the children have their friends round it's like a kindergarten in here."

And for stressed-out Miss Harrison the demands are just as great if not more so. She says she is intent on staying put until the right property comes along.

She was offered a choice of four four-bedroom Incommunities homes in 2008 all of which she turned down, saying they were not big enough. She also refused a large private sector home.