Brunelcare has supported one of its employees to return to Jamaica and help rebuild his father’s home following the devastating impact of Hurricane Melissa that left his father looking up at the sky when in bed.  

 

Brian, who has worked for Brunelcare since 2008 as part of the Repairs and Maintenance team, travelled from Bristol to Jamaica from 17 July to 4 August, after his family’s home in St Elizabeth was very badly damaged by Hurricane Melissa. 

 

Melissa struck Jamaica on 28 October 2025 and was a Category 5 hurricane, with St Elizabeth and Westmoreland among the areas worst affected. More than 156,000 homes were damaged across the six most severely affected parishes, while Black River in St Elizabeth suffered extensive damage. 

 

When Brian heard about the damage to his father’s home, he wanted to travel out to help. With electricity and water disrupted and the roof badly damaged, his family needed practical support. 

 

While Brian was at work, his colleague Oona, Brunelcare’s previous CEO, asked him whether he was planning to go to Jamaica. When he explained that he wanted to help his family but was worried about the cost of travelling, Oona and the repairs and maintenance team stepped in. 

 

Oona, alongside the repairs and maintenance team, helped Brian pay for his flight, allowing him to make the journey and use his skills to support his family when they needed him most.  

 

Brian said: “Oona called me and said the repairs and maintenance team had banded together and would pay for my flight. It made me cry. It meant I could go and help my family.” 

 

During his time in Jamaica, Brian spent more than a week repairing his father’s home. He removed collapsed ceilings, took out damaged nails and repaired and resealed four bedrooms and four bathrooms, having initially expected to work on just two rooms. He also helped replace the roof and repaired a light outside the property, installing a new light post. 

 

Justin Daniells, Housing and Repairs Manager said: “We are so thrilled we could help Brian, he’s such a key member of staff within the team and is loved by everyone across the charity. We knew how much he wanted to visit the family and how expensive the flights can be, so we all banded together and chipped in for his ticket.”  

 

As well as carrying out repairs, Brian was able to spend time with around 15 family members, including his sisters, aunties and cousins. He also spent two days in Kingston with his sister, helping her after she was unable to stay at their father’s damaged home. 

 

Brian also received support from two Bristol-based electrical wholesalers used by Brunelcare, City Electrical Factors and Edmundson Electrical, who donated solar lights for his family. With power supplies badly affected by the hurricane, the lights made a real difference. 

 

For Brian, Brunelcare’s support meant he could do more than send money home, he could physically be there for his family, put his skills to use and help his father return to a safe home.