When DIY SOS: The Big Build BBC Children in Need Special is aired next week (Wednesday, 13th November) it will show the transformation of a rundown church hall, into a much needed emergency accommodation and support centre for Nightsafe: a Blackburn charity which provides support to young people aged 16 to 24 who are homeless or vulnerably housed.

With just nine days to complete the project, which took place in early September, resident electrician Billy Byrne sought the help of Scolmore to supply all the electrical accessories needed to complete this ambitious build.  He took a special trip down the M6 to Scolmore’s headquarters in the Midlands, where he picked up the supplies.  Switches and sockets from Scolmore’s Mode range of wiring accessories, Inceptor Omni integrated fire-rated downlights from OVIA and cable accessories from Unicrimp were all donated for installation in the new accommodation.    

The Nightsafe charity at the heart of this special project was set up in 1990 by a group of locals to meet the growing needs of homeless young people.  With the original building bursting at the seams and no longer big enough to cater for the growing demand in the area, an urgent solution was required.  The transformation of the building to a purpose-built support centre and short-term accommodation will give these young people a place to call home whilst they develop independent living skills. 

DIY SOS is celebrating its 20th year and Scolmore has been helping out with product donations for a variety of builds for the past 10 years, ever since industry legend, Tony Cable, first introduced Scolmore to the TV show’s electrician, Billy Byrne. 

Billy took time out during his recent visit to film a segment for Scolmore’s YouTube channel SGTV - giving an insight into this special project.  See his interview with Scolmore’s Ben Smith: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WWF4dQLAZ7E