Nick Knowles and the DIY SOS team will be joining up with BBC Radio 2 this September to build a new home for a Leeds charity that supports women and girls.
The build will be part of Children In Need 2022, and will see the team and Radio 2 presenters erect a new site for charity the Getaway Girls in just nine days. The Getaway Girls empowers young girls and women by building their confidence and supporting each other.
The new home of the Getaway Girls will be built by the BBC team in Seacroft, and will have counselling rooms, a garden, offices, activity spaces, a creche, and a music and media studio. The build will happen from Tuesday, September 13 to Thursday, September 22.
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It also forms part of Radio 2 Live, which is happening at Temple Newsam in Leeds the weekend of Saturday, September 17 and 18. It features performances from the Kaiser Chiefs, Simple Minds, Tears For Fears and more.
The DIY SOS episode will broadcast on November 1, 2022. It was announced yesterday morning by Nick Knowles on Zoe Ball's Radio 2 Breakfast Show.
Nick Knowles, presenter of BBC One’s DIY SOS, said: “We have another huge build ahead of us in Leeds, which will make a real difference to the lives of girls and young women who are supported by Getaway Girls. If you have a trade, a skill, can spare some time to graft or can help us with materials then get in touch. It’ll be a blast.”
Getaway Girls also works with newly arrived refugees and women who have experienced sexual abuse, exploitation and domestic violence. Around 800 women are supported by the charity, which has been going for 35 years.
It also works to improve women's mental health and has been supported by Children In Need since 2010.
Flavia Docherty, Director of Getaway Girls said: "We are thrilled to have been given this amazing opportunity and couldn't be more excited for the future of the charity. The new space will provide the chance for us to support even more girls from across the city, and make a positive difference in their lives.
"We are so grateful to the whole DIY SOS team, Radio 2 and their presenters and, of course, BBC Children in Need for supporting us for 12 years - without their funding we wouldn't have been able to continue our work for this long and have the impact that we have done for girls and young women in Leeds over the years. We can't wait to see the new space and we're really looking forward to being able to grow even further and welcome more girls from across Leeds to Getaway Girls!"
Tommy Nagra, Director of Content at BBC Children in Need added: “We are so looking forward to seeing this amazing DIY SOS build come together for Getaway Girls and the support from our friends at Radio 2, who together will create a lasting legacy in Leeds.”
Helen Thomas, Head of Radio 2 said: “For the first time, Radio 2 Live is heading out of London - coming to Leeds for a weekend of incredible live music for thousands of music fans. As part of our commitment to delivering outreach work to support the local community we are honoured that our brilliant presenters will be getting stuck in and helping deliver this important build for Getaway Girls, working alongside DIY SOS and BBC Children In Need.”
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