Nick Knowles and the DIY SOS team are heading to Blackburn

Property Renovation Show DIY SOS Is Coming To Blackburn With Darwen Later This Year To Take On An Ambitious Build To Benefit A Local Charity Which Offers Help To Vulnerable Young People Who Are Homeless, Or At Risk Of Becoming Homeless.​

DIY SOS: The Big Build BBC Children in Need Special will see Nick Knowles and his team complete the conversion of the rundown St Silas’s Parish Room at St Silas’s Church into accommodation and a support centre for Blackburn’s Nightsafe.

The current Nightsafe accommodation centre is no longer big enough to cater for the growing demand in the area and is bursting at the seams.

There’s an emergency shelter but more space is needed to support vulnerable young people in the area and help to get them back on their feet.

The team from DIY SOS, along with volunteers and tradespeople will have nine days to transform the interior of the building, which will take place in September.

DIY SOS presenter, Nick Knowles, said: “The team and I are delighted to join forces with the community of Blackburn with Darwen for this special build for local charity Nightsafe, who are at the forefront of helping young homeless.

“Our ambitious and innovative build will see us with local volunteers transform an old church hall, into a much needed emergency accommodation centre for young homeless.

“As ever it’s an ambitious build but with lots of help from the people of Blackburn with Darwen and beyond, together, with a few laughs along the way, we’ll be able to achieve something truly special. Please get involved.”

Speaking of the announcement, Julie Thomas, Chair of Trustees at Nightsafe said they are amazed and delighted that the team are coming to Blackburn to work with Nightsafe.

She said: “The show will give the young people a place to call home whilst they develop independent living skills; and a home that is safe and secure and in the heart of the local community.”

Cllr Mohammed Khan, Leader of Blackburn with Darwen Council said Nightsafe do a brilliant job and it will give the charity a much needed boost.

He said: “We are looking forward to welcoming DIY SOS to Blackburn.

“It fits perfectly with what we are about as a council, helping us with one of our big priorities which is to look after vulnerable people.”

Nightsafe has been funded by BBC Children in Need for a number of years.

BBC Children in Need currently funds 14 projects across Blackburn, with more than £906,000 hard at work to benefit young lives in the region.

The show will air this November during BBC Children in Need Appeal week.

DIY SOS is appealing for tradespeople including; electricians, plumbers, carpenters, plasterers and decorators to offer support with the transformation in September. There will be a ‘volunteer trades day’ on Tuesday, August 13, those interested in attending or helping the build, must email ahead of the trades day to: diysosblackburn@bbc.co.uk.

The build will then be between September 3 and September 12.