We volunteered at the BBC's DIY SOS Big Build!
Once again our colleagues have taken part in the BBC's DIY SOS Big Build project
We are so proud that once again colleagues from our Property Services teams have joined a team of volunteers to take part in the BBC's DIY SOS Big Build, this time to help a family in need living in Freckleton, Lancashire.
After seeing a call out for local trade services to help with a DIY SOS project nearby, colleagues got together and volunteered to transform the home of a family who had been living apart for nearly three years. Teenager Daniel Fleman had been living in a hospital in Manchester after a life-saving operation to remove a brain tumour left him severely disabled. The aim of the build was to make Daniel's family home fully accessible so he could move back home.
Our trade operatives were involved in the project using our volunteering policy which supported them to take them time off work to go and help.
A massive thank you to all our colleagues who attended on different days over the week’s build.
Our Lead Electrician, Luke, said of his DIY SOS experience:
“I attended DIY SOS to help out with the first fix of the electrics. It was definitely an experience I will never forget. It was so nice to see so many different trades and volunteers helping out on this amazing project with such an amazing story.
“It is a nice feeling knowing I have contributed even if just a little bit to helping Daniel get reunited back with his family.
“All the team were all really nice and easy to talk to, so I would like to send a massive thankyou to Nick, Gabby, Billy and Barry.”
Our Joiner, Gareth, added:
“Anthony and I went on the first day, it was absolute chaos, we mainly assisted with taking the roof off and removing windows. It was great to be part of it and to see how happy the family was at the big reveal.”
It was our Lead Electrician, Ryan’s second time working on a BBC DIY SOS Big Build. Ryan said:
"It was a great experience, I’ve been on the show already nine years ago when I was a landscape gardener, so I knew what to expect, and as you can imagine, it was carnage with all trades rammed into a bungalow working around each other!
"They reached out and asked for Joe, Luke, and me to return which was nice to hear. Being a bungalow, this was our bread and butter, with the electrical side being that most of our properties are domestic. The 3 of us were tasked with a room to wire and get prepped, and by the end of the day, we had everything prepped and wired, which the crew and producers were very happy with."
Team Leader Phil added: "I am incredibly proud the Group have been involved in the show again and grateful for the opportunity that Progress Housing Group has given to colleagues to have this experience.
"With the family’s home being in Freckleton and very close to where we have the Group’s own properties, we were even more proud to get involved this time."
The last time we volunteered to help the BBC DIY Big Build was back in 2019 when we answered the call for trades to support a build to house NightSafe, a Blackburn charity supporting homeless young people - and now, 6 years later, we're incredibly proud we've been able to help once again.
Well done to all our colleagues involved!
More photos from our colleagues at the DIY SOS Big Build 2025 in Freckleton:
When to watch the show
The BBC is currently unable to tell us when the DIY SOS Big Build episode will be aired. However, as soon as we receive this information, we will share the date and time.
About the author
Progress Housing Group