No More Falls meets ministers: a positive step forward for Joshua’s legacy

My sincere thanks to Baroness Blake of Leeds, Minister for Building Safety, Fire and Resilience, and Matthew Pennycook MP, Minister of State for Housing and Planning, for their time on 19 October, and to their officials for joining our discussion.

The Joshua Test: why it is needed

We talked about The Joshua Test, why it is needed, and the importance of ensuring that the railings and balustrades we rely on to protect lives remain safe throughout their lifetime.

The campaign calls for a continuing legal duty to demonstrate safety through recorded evidence, with competent inspection, investigation and appropriate testing where risk or uncertainty requires it. Families should be able to trust the structures intended to protect them.

Little Feet, Safe at Home

We also discussed Little Feet, Safe at Home, my children's picture book about windows, balconies and safe places to play. I was pleased to give them a few copies.

Written for children aged 4–8 to read with a parent or carer, the book offers a gentle way to begin conversations about living at height, particularly when a new home feels unfamiliar. It sits alongside the campaign's work to make buildings safer and my hope of developing a pilot with housing providers and family support organisations.

A positive working relationship

I left feeling encouraged that this meeting marked the start of a positive working relationship, with the shared purpose of preventing another family from experiencing the devastation ours has.

There is work ahead, and I am grateful for the opportunity to take it forward. Every conversation, every proposal and every step of this campaign comes back to Joshua, and to the families we hope to protect.

For Joshua, and for every family who deserves to feel safe at home.Fiona Garrett · No More Falls — Josh's Legacy