Lancashire Home Improvement Firm volunteers help for DIY SOS renovation project

Lancashire charity, Nightsafe, that works to improve the lives of young homeless people aged between 16-24, received a much needed helping hand to find a new accommodation centre. Children in Need,  DIY SOS The Big Build, a local business and generous volunteers from within the local community and beyond.

A local church only a walk away kindly agreed to lease their Parish Room to be converted. The DIY SOS team asked for product donations and volunteers to help the project progress.

When local home improvement specialists Great Harwood Windows heard about the project, they knew they wanted to offer their help for this excellent project too. Mick and Anthony from the Great Harwood Windows Installation Team installed a 3 pane Aluminium Bi-fold Door for the project. Both Mick and Anthony thoroughly enjoyed the time they spent with other local tradespeople and members of the DIY SOS team

Great Harwood Windows, Managing Director Jeremy Hindle, said “Having been based in Blackburn for over 20 years it’s fantastic to able to be a part of something so fantastic and give just a little bit back to the community.”

Transforming homelessness throughout Blackburn and beyond

Thanks to the generosity from all volunteers involved, the project was completed within two weeks. The much-needed extra space will totally transform the lives of vulnerable 16-18-year-olds in Blackburn. Offering them a place that provides both safe accommodation and support at a critical time in their lives.

What percentage of the UK is homeless?

According to research by Shelter, an estimated 320,000 people are homeless in the UK. Approximately 4, 000 to 5,000 people sleep rough on the streets on any given night. This figure has worryingly nearly doubled since 2010.

Nightsafe, based in Blackburn, provides vital, ongoing support and shelter for some of the most vulnerable groups in society. For example, someone can stay at The Shelter, which is one of their accommodation centres, for up to 9 nights whilst alternative accommodation is located. However, due to demand exceeding capacity, a much-needed new accommodation centre was needed.

Nightsafe have been supported by BBC Children in Need for several years, and as part of their ongoing support, the DIY SOS team, working in conjunction with BBC Children in Need, kindly agreed to complete the conversion of the building for the charity.