BBC's DIY SOS has announced it will be coming to the North East next month and has issued a call out to North East tradespeople and suppliers to get involved.
Nick Knowles and his team are returning to the region aiming to transform a derelict building into a fully-inclusive performing arts school in Wallsend. North Tyneside charity True Colours Theatre has been given the keys to a run-down building with no electricity, heating, natural light or disabled access and they have limited funds to renovate it.
The charity is an inclusive theatre school for children and young people who live in the North East of England. The majority of its 500 members have additional needs such as autism, ADHD, anxiety disorders, physical and life limiting conditions and various mental health issues.
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It was founded by Alisar-Jane Taylor in 2014 after she was diagnosed with ADHD and autism herself and when her niece Emily-Kate was diagnosed with a life-limiting condition as a toddler. Desperate to take Emily-Kate to dance classes, but finding a lack of fun and accessible groups, True Colours was born.
Since then, it has won at the National Children & Young People Awards, and been a finalist in the National Diversity Awards 2021 and the Autism Professionals Awards 2020. Its members performed their first-ever show at Whitley Bay Playhouse in 2022, and tickets have just gone on sale for their second big annual show at the Playhouse Whitley Bay on July 9.
In a post on Facebook, the charity said it was "thrilled and speechless" to have been chosen for the BBC One programme's next big build project and hope that the end result will be a safe space, a place "full of acceptance and where everyone can grow in confidence without stigma or difference". In a post on Facebook, the charity wrote: "A massive “Thank you“ to DIY SOS for this amazing opportunity and to North Tyneside Council for their huge support and to everyone who has been supporting us behind the scenes on this massive journey!"
DIY SOS is holding a trades day on June 20, and the build will take place from July 5-11. A post on the show's Facebook page promised the experience of a lifetime, reading: "We need help from tradespeople and suppliers by donating skills and materials.
"We offer an experience of a lifetime, delicious hot meals and the joy of volunteering so please come and join Nick Knowles and his amazing team!"
DIY SOS last came to the North East in May 2022, when it transformed the home of the Owen family in Longframlington, Northumberland. They converted the cramped home to make it suitable for four generations of the family, who wanted to stay together and support each other after being beset by health problems during the Covid pandemic.
Anyone who is interested in joining the build should get in touch with DIY SOS through the email address diysoswallsend@bbc.co.uk with their trade, phone number and availability - with a trade and company name in the subject line.
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