The popular BBC One property renovation show DIY SOS is heading to Swansea in September for a Children in Need-supported project, and is calling on the industry for help.
DIY SOS will head to Caswell Bay in September to take on a one-of-a-kind build that will benefit local charity Surfability UK, which offers disabled children and young people the opportunity to learn how to surf. The Children in Need special will see Nick Knowles and his trusty team, including Mark, Chris, Jules, Billy and designer Gabrielle Blackman, build a new centre and convert Surfability UK’s current base – a dilapidated out of use bus stop shelter – into a state of the art eco-friendly surf centre.
Surfability UK is the UK’s first fully-inclusive surf school, set up by Ben Clifford in 2013. Ben was determined to break down conceptions that disabled people are unable to surf and is now a world leader in new teaching methods and safety techniques. Surfability UK supports more than 500 people per year from across the UK and thanks to Ben and his team of Toby, Benedict, Nathan and Tom, disabled people now have the opportunity to take to the waves.
The DIY SOS team, with the help of kind trade volunteers, have big plans. Firstly, they will renovate Surfability’s current space – a run down, disused bus shelter, which is often flooded, with no electricity, running water or ventilation, into a dry, well designed wet suit and surf board storage unit. In addition, the team will also build a new innovative and of architectural merit Surf Centre. The new Surf Centre will provide a much needed space to provide support and surfing opportunities to disabled people from across the UK.
Nick Knowles said: “We are enormously proud and pleased to announce that we are combining with BBC Children in Need and the wonderful disability surfing charity Surfability UK to build them new facilities on the beautiful Welsh coast. We always get massive support when we build in Wales and we will need it again with this ambitious project that will give these children the thrill and excitement of surfing.
“If you feel you can help us please contact us diysoscaswellbay@bbc.co.uk.”
DIY SOS charitable builds are hugely ambitious and rely on the generosity of trade volunteers and company donations and so is appealing for tradespeople including; electricians, plumbers, carpenters, plasterers and decorators to offer support with the transformation in September.
There will be a Trades Day held in Caswell Bay on Tuesday 18th August. Those interested in volunteering as a professional trade or donating product to this charitable build must email diysoscaswellbay@bbc.co.uk before Trades Day to arrange an appointment to meet with the team. The build will commence in September.
The episode will broadcast in November 2020 as part of BBC Children in Need’s 40th celebrations.
The picture shows: (l-r) Mark Millar, Build Manager DIY SOS; Ben Clifford, Director of Surfability; Huw Griffiths, Architect at Huw Griffiths Architects Ltd.
