Appeal made to help with DIY SOS hospice project

Marketing Derby Bondholders who are involved in the trades are being encouraged to support a special DIY SOS: The Big Build for BBC Children in Need, which will benefit Treetops Hospice.

The team from the popular show will be coming to the Risley hospice this September to build a bespoke children’s counselling and therapy centre.

The special build will benefit traumatically bereaved children and families across Derbyshire, enabling Treetops to deliver support and counselling in a purpose-built building, completely tailored to the needs of the children who will access it.

The team will build bespoke rooms for counselling and complimentary therapy and a multi-functional area that will help to provide crucial support to children and their families.

Radio 2 will be helping to deliver the project as part of Radio 2 in the Park – the station’s flagship live music event, which will take place in Leicester in September.

DIY SOS Children in Need 2023 will see presenter Nick Knowles, and his trusty team of Chris, Billy and designer Gabrielle Blackman joined by BBC Radio 2 presenters, who will don their steel toe capped boots, high viz and hard hats to help make a difference.

They will also be joined by an army of volunteers to create the charity’s new building – from the ground up – in just 10 days.

Nick Knowles said: “We have another huge build ahead of us in Derbyshire, which will provide a crucial space for children and their families who are going through some of the toughest times.

“If you have a trade, a skill, can spare some time to graft or can help us with materials then get in touch. It’ll be a blast.”

Treetops has been supporting adults with life-limiting conditions for over 40 years.

BBC Children in Need has supported Treetops since 2010 and its funding has provided counselling to hundreds of bereaved children and families during that time.

The funding currently supports children going through a traumatic bereavement, helping them to work through their grief, improving their mental health and wellbeing.

Jules Kirk, therapeutic services manager at Treetops Hospice, said: “We are absolutely over the moon to have the DIY SOS and Radio 2 team come to Derbyshire to create a brand-new counselling and therapy centre within our grounds in Risley.

“Just like adults, children who have lost someone important can find themselves struggling with a powerful range of emotions which can affect their daily lives and relationships at home and school.

“Every year, we provide over 900 counselling sessions for local children, some as young as seven years old, who are struggling after the death of a loved one.

“Many of our young clients have experienced unexpected or traumatic bereavements including accidents, suicide and murder.

“Many children are also still feeling the effects of the pandemic, having a detrimental effect on their mental health and ability to cope after the death of a loved one.

“This will make an immeasurable difference to hundreds of children and their families in our local community.

“If there are any local tradespeople or businesses who can lend their time or donate materials to help build the new centre for us, please contact the DIY SOS team.”

DIY SOS will be holding a Trades Day at Treetops Hospice on Tuesday 15 August.

Those interested in volunteering as a professional trade or donating product to this charitable build should e-mail diysosrisley@bbc.co.uk before the Trades Day to arrange an appointment to meet with the team.

The build will take place from Monday 11 September to Thursday 21 September.

The episode will be broadcast during the BBC Children in Need Appeal week in November.