Blackpool carers building better future with DIY SOS and BBC Children in Need

By janarchypr.co.uk

28 Jun 2016

Ever watched BBC Children in Need - and cried at the challenges some youngsters face?

Ever watched BBC DIY SOS and shared tears of joy at a transformation of a property which extends way beyond bricks and mortar to touch on the very fabric of family life and help hold it all together?

Stand by with the hankies, folks, because a building ransacked by metal thieves is set to be transformed over coming days into a new centre for young carers in Blackpool.

The BBC DIY SOS Big Build for BBC Children in Need set to be broadcast in November.

Children in Need have long assisted Blackpool Carers Centre, a network partner of the national Carers Trust, with the quality of life of young local carers through respite and play.

But the makeover of the carers' centre-in-waiting represents support on a epic scale which will change lives of unpaid carers for the better in Blackpool.

The stately Victorian property on Newton Drive, formerly the base of NHS run child development service Blenheim House, will be made over inside and out - with an acre of grounds in a neglected state too.

The DIY SOS team - like the charity itself - have seen way past the damage to the sheer potential of the site shining through the grime, mangled metalwork, and sledgehammered walls.

On July 8 the building reverts to the care of Blackpool Carers Centre to enable the 11 year old independent charity to build a better life for carers. It will also be the charity's administrative base - with work on that side to come later.

It's a year since Beaverbrooks Charitable Trust bought the building and gave it to the charity - and the charity's Three in Five appeal has been running ever since... the message being that while one in eight (or 10 depending on which statistics you read) are unpaid carers, looking after loved ones, three in five of us will be ... at some point in our lives.

The big name designer deployed to join the DIY SOS team working on the new look carers centre was himself a young carer - Laurence Llewelyn Bowen. And the man who fronts the popular BBC programme Nick Knowles has been touched by the stories of children and young people in the resort helping looking after brothers, sisters, elderly relatives, even their own parent or parents.

The BBC team, helped by volunteers from trades across Blackpool, Lancashire and beyond, and other supplying material as well as services, rolls in like a juggernaut on Monday June 27 - and it's all systems go until the Big Reveal days later.

This a huge challenge even by this fantastic team's standards because of the size of the building, the scale of the damage, and - of course - that ever so pressing deadline.

In fact, when charity chief executive Michelle Smith first escorted producers Hamish and Charley round the building she thought they might consider converting the annexe. They left, looking thoughtful and having taken loads of photographs, and returned with the offer of the building - once two private residences built in the late 19th century for the grandees of the age.

There were a lot of tears of joy when we found out," Michelle admits. It's nothing to what's to come...

And with the shout still out for more trades to respond - any businesses who can help are urged to keep listening and watching for regular updates from project manager Mark Millar across local radio and TV, the press, and social media - the word is help them, if you can.

They need dry liners, carpenters, joiners, decorators, plasterers, gardeners, landscapers, labourers - and many more.

And as the team points out: "We can offer the experience of a lifetime and a chance to turn a lot of lives around with this truly Big Build from June 28 to July 7."

As for the young carers themselves? They can't wait. Two new young carers champions were appointed by the charity just days ago - Liam Quinn, 16, and Tara Bragg, 21. Liam nursed his mum throughout her illness - up to her death. Tara cares for her two sisters,one older with Downs Syndrome, the other with other issues.

Both say they couldn't have coped as well as they did - and do - without the support of the charity. Both now want to say thank you - and help the charity help other young carers.

And the biggest vote of thanks goes to BBC DIY SOS and BBC Children in Need for making dreams come true - with the help of those Lancashire businesses, whether one-man teams or major corporates, involved.

Watch this space. Follow the team on Twitter at @DIYSOS @MrNickKnowles or the charity @BlackpoolCarers. To offer 11th hour assistance email [email protected]

Enjoyed this? Read more from janarchypr.co.uk

Latest news

1

Three weekly domestic waste collection considered in plans Waste recycling Blackpool

Three weekly domestic waste collection considered in plans

01 Jul 2025

2

Graham Engineering confirms acquisition to a2e Industries Graham Engineering

Graham Engineering confirms acquisition to a2e Industries

01 Jul 2025

3

Training 2000 celebrate 'Good' rating by Ofsted Training 2000

Training 2000 celebrate 'Good' rating by Ofsted

01 Jul 2025

4

Fox Group acquires J Fisher and Sons Colin Fisher, Paul Fox CEO and Gary Fisher.

Fox Group acquires J Fisher and Sons

01 Jul 2025

5

Beever and Struthers strengthen leadership team with new partners Dean Curtis and Joe Diston

Beever and Struthers strengthen leadership team with new partners

01 Jul 2025

Background image for hub sign up block

LBV Hub

Leverage Lancashire Business View platforms

Post your news
Post your events
Post your offers
Build your network
Improve your SEO
Gain coverage in the magazine
Sign-up
Events
LBV123 July/August Launch Event
Lancashire Business View magazine launch
Networking
16 Jul 2025

LBV123 July/August Launch Event

Burnley

08:30 - 10:30

Lancashire Built Environment Conference 2025
BEC 315 X 315 Px
Networking
25 Sep 2025

Lancashire Built Environment Conference 2025

Blackpool Football Club, Blackpool, FY1 6HX

08:30 - 13:00

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course

Preston Campus, Preston, PR1 2HE

08:00 - 17:00

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course

Preston Campus, Preston , PR1 2HE

09:00 - 17:00

Chamber Breakfast Networking – July
Chamber Logo1.png.png
LBV Hub Networking
02 Jul 2025 - 02 Jul 2025

Chamber Breakfast Networking – July

St John's Hospice, Slyne Road, Lancaster, LA2 6ST

08:00 - 10:00

The Marketing Metrics that Matter – July 4
LBV Hub Seminars
04 Jul 2025 - 04 Jul 2025

The Marketing Metrics that Matter – July 4

Door4 Office, Burnley Wharf, Burnley, BB11 1JG

08:30 - 11:00

Tri-Site Survey Equipment Showcase
unnamed (2).jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
09 Jul 2025 - 09 Jul 2025

Tri-Site Survey Equipment Showcase

Crow Wood Hotel, Burnley, BB12 0RT

09:30 - 16:00

Chamber Summer BBQ
LBV Hub Social
17 Jul 2025 - 17 Jul 2025

Chamber Summer BBQ

The Borough, Dalton Square, Lancaster, LA1 1PP

17:30 - 20:00

Preston Tech Connection: Web3 is Dead. Or is It?
July Longer Banner.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Networking
29 Jul 2025 - 29 Jul 2025

Preston Tech Connection: Web3 is Dead. Or is It?

Society1, Coworking Space, Preston, PR1 3LT

18:00 - 19:30

Preston Freelancer Meet-Up: July
Longer July Banner.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Networking
31 Jul 2025 - 31 Jul 2025

Preston Freelancer Meet-Up: July

Society1, Coworking Space, Preston, PR1 3LT

10:00 - 11:30

Cumbria Business Expo 2025
https---cdn.evbuc.com-images-880461633-4862066883-1-original.20241022-110415.jpeg.jpg
LBV Hub Exhibitions
19 Sep 2025 - 19 Sep 2025

Cumbria Business Expo 2025

Carlisle Racecourse, Carlisle, CA2 4TS

09:00 - 15:00

North West Business Expo 2025
https---cdn.evbuc.com-images-880456273-4862066883-1-original.20241022-105445.jpeg.jpg
LBV Hub Exhibitions
24 Oct 2025 - 24 Oct 2025

North West Business Expo 2025

Bolton Stadium Hotel, Bolton, BL6 6SF

09:00 - 15:00

Advertise with us

Reaching 50,000 members, our print, digital and event platforms offer a fantastic way to raise your business profile and help you grow.

Find out more LBV122 Online Graphic
Subscribe now

Weekly news bulletin