Jockey helps Jamie construct a new life at housebuilder’s scheme

A once homeless man is helping to build new homes at Wavensmere Homes’ Friar Gate Goods Yard scheme in Derby, thanks to the efforts of a champion jockey.

Once a rough sleeper, 24-year-old Jamie Dial is now a groundworks labourer working at the housebuilder’s £80 million regeneration project as an employee of contractor M Lambe Construction.

Jamie rebuilt his life thanks to the help of homelessness charity Standing Tall – which has received backing from the Christy Lambe Foundation.

Michael Lambe, chief executive of M Lambe Construction, set up the Christy Lambe Foundation in memory of his brother Christy, who died in 2022 after a long battle with his mental health.

The foundation received a huge boost when top Irish jockey Billy Loughnane selected it as his chosen charity after winning the  UK & Ireland World Pool Jockeys’ Championship – which came with a £50,000 prize to donate to a cause of his choice.

It has allowed Standing Tall to help people like Jamie, who was collecting food parcels and sleeping on park benches before receiving help.

Recently, Billy visited Friar Gate Goods Yard to meet Jamie – and see for himself the difference his donation is making.

During the visit, Billy said: “It means the world to support the Christy Lambe Foundation, but the big paper cheque you get on the day doesn’t really mean anything to anyone, does it?

“Being here , meeting Jamie in person, and seeing how well he’s doing makes me feel very proud to be part of it. It’s great to see him back on his feet.”

Today, Jamie has a safe place to live and a permanent, real Living Wage role with M Lambe Construction.

He said: “When I was homeless, I really thought that was it for the rest of my life. But now I’ve got this opportunity, which I’m very, very thankful for. I keep saying it, but it’s just how I feel.

“The main thing for me is to keep coming to work and keep learning from the lads. So that’s what I plan to keep doing.”

Michael said: “Billy is a credit to himself and his family. Thanks to his generosity, the Christy Lambe Foundation has been able to bring Standing Tall’s proven model to Derby in my late brother Christy’s name.

“Jamie may be the first success story, but there will be many more, so the impact of Billy’s decision will be felt across Derby for years to come.”

Wavensmere Homes started work at Friar Gate Goods Yard in October 2024. Prior to this, the 11.5-acre site had lain derelict since 1967.

Alongside 276 new homes, two existing landmark Grade II listed buildings are being reanimated into over 110,000 sq ft of commercial space.

James Dickens, managing director of Wavensmere Homes, said: “We look forward to welcoming more people from Standing Tall to work on this important regeneration scheme.”