DIY SOS, BBC One’s popular property renovation show, is looking for trade volunteers to take on a one of a kind build in Caswell Bay in September that will benefit a local charity, Surfability UK.

DIY SOS: The Big Build BBC Children in Need Special (working title) will see Nick Knowles, with his trusty team including Mark, Chris, Jules, Billy, and designer Gabrielle Blackman, build a new centre and convert Surfability UK’s current base – a dilapidated out of use bus stop shelter - into a state of the art eco-friendly surf centre. 

Surfability UK is the UK’s first fully-inclusive surf school, set up by Ben Clifford in 2013. Ben was determined to break down conceptions that disabled people are unable to surf and is now a world leader in new teaching methods and safety techniques. Surfability UK supports more than 500 people per year from across the UK and thanks to Ben and his team, disabled people now have the opportunity to take to the waves. 

The DIY SOS team, with the help of kind trade volunteers, have big plans. Firstly, they will renovate Surfability’s current space – a run down, disused bus shelter, which is often flooded, with no electricity, running water or ventilation, into a dry, well designed wet suit and surf board storage unit. In addition, the team will also build a new innovative and of architectural merit, Surf Centre. The new Surf Centre will provide a much needed space to provide support and surfing opportunities to disabled people from across the UK.  

Ben Clifford, Director of Surfability UK said: “We are so stoked to hear that DIY SOS and BBC Children in Need are going to be building a new purpose built surf centre for us. We started operating from a van in 2013, then in 2016 got our current building. We have loads of problems with flooding, the plaster is all falling off and it just isn’t suitable for our needs, and those of the people that we support. We are so excited for this build, which will take our operations to the next level, benefiting so many disabled people here in Wales and across the entirety of the UK.”

Nick Knowles, Presenter of BBC One’s DIY SOS said: “We are enormously proud and pleased to announce that we are combining with BBC Children in Need and the wonderful disability surfing charity Surfability UK to build them new facilities on the beautiful Welsh coast. 

“We always get massive support when we build in Wales and we will need it again with this ambitious project that will give these children the thrill and excitement of surfing. Just look at the pictures on their website to see the joy on their faces – parents of children who experience this say it is life changing and enhancing.

DIY SOS charitable builds are hugely ambitious and rely on the generosity of trade volunteers and company donations and so is appealing for tradespeople including: plumbers, electricians, carpenters, plasterers and decorators to offer support with the transformation in September.

There will be a Trades Day held in Caswell Bay on 18 August. Those interested in volunteering as a professional trade or donating product to this charitable build must email: diysoscaswellbay@bbc.co.uk before Trades Day to arrange an appointment to meet with the team. The build will commence in September. 

Building work will be carried out in line with Health and Safety guidelines issued by the government relating to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The episode will broadcast in November 2020 as part of BBC Children in Need’s 40th celebrations.