Building Better Lives for the Future

NPTC Group of Colleges’ construction students and staff are set to appear on BBC’s DIY SOS: The Big Build after producers put out an SOS of their own, calling for volunteers for the Children in Need Special.

The popular TV show – fronted by Nick Knowles – relies on volunteers from the construction trade to help transform the homes and businesses of families and charities in need. The Children in Need Special will see construction staff from the College work tirelessly alongside an army of volunteers to help provide Swansea-based young people’s charity The Roots Foundation Wales with a new home.

The Roots Foundation’s new support centre ‘The Hut’, complete with temporary accommodation, will help young people in care make the transition from the care system into adult life easier. Built from the ground-up, the property covers a huge 320 square metres and was built in just 11 days, in some extreme weather – and the College couldn’t wait to get involved providing staff and students to help on site with plastering, brickwork, and carpentry.

The build will be documented in the upcoming show, DIY SOS: The Big Build BBC Children in Need Special and will air on BBC One in November.

Edward Jones, Deputy Head for the School of Construction and the Built Environment, who was delighted to be involved and helped on site, said:

“There was no way that we couldn’t get involved with this build, the Roots Foundation Wales is something that is very close to the heart of the College as some of our students rely on charities such as this one. We really do care about young people in care and do everything we can to help our young people in that very important transition into adult life.

“This was the perfect opportunity to give something back to those people and charities who provide such fantastic and important support to young people.

“The team really got stuck in and it’s clear to see that they enjoyed every minute of this build.  Just seeing the reaction of the staff and kids from the Roots Foundation made the hard work all worthwhile.”

Current Neath College Level 3 Carpentry student Charlotte Twaite, 18 from Alltwen, works for local company Tai Tarian (formerly NPT Homes) described the experience as ‘’amazing….absolutely amazing!’’

“I was on site for seven days, mainly working on the cladding for ‘The Hut’ but also helped with other things like digging holes in the garden, anything that the team needed – I did!

“The reveal was very emotional – I couldn’t help crying, it was brilliant to see how much this building meant to the charity and the young people it helps. I feel very honoured to have been a part of it.”

Speaking to the South Wales Evening Post, Emma Lewis, chair of The Roots Foundation Wales, said: “Words cannot describe how overjoyed we are about the incredible transformation that DIY SOS: The Big Build BBC Children in Need Special has turned around, from The Hut to this wonderful property, there’s no comparison.

“Our new home will go on to help so many children and young people in care and leaving care now and in many years to come.

“Thank you to everyone who has volunteered time or materials, it means the world to The Roots Foundation Wales and the children and young people we support.”