DIY SOS team will head to Cheshire for BBC Children in Need Special with Morning Live
- This year’s DIY SOS build for Children In Need is collaborating with BBC One’s Morning Live for the first time, with viewers able to watch the progress of the build in September on the show and watch the final reveal in November
- Nick Knowles surprised the founders of the BBC Children in Need supported, The Joshua Tree charity in Cheshire, with the news they’d be benefitting from the build
In September, DIY SOS will be partnering with BBC One’s Morning Live, to deliver this year’s BBC Children in Need build. Presenter, Nick Knowles appeared on Morning Live today to announce the new build and encourage tradespeople and businesses to volunteer their time, services or materials to get it off the ground.
DIY SOS Children in Need Special will see Nick Knowles, and his trusty team of Chris, Billy, Radha, Ashley & designer Gabrielle Blackman joined by Morning Live presenters Gethin Jones and Helen Skelton, who will don their steel toe capped boots, high viz and hard hats to help make a difference to children and their families affected by cancer. They’ll be joined by an army of volunteers as they extend the charity’s building – in just 10 days.
The Joshua Tree was founded in 2006 and provides bespoke support to children and their families affected by childhood cancers. Over recent years, the charity has grown significantly, and due to increasing demand from across the country, it has now outgrown its original base in Cheshire.
The DIY SOS team will attempt to transform the site by extending all the facilities to accommodate more children and their families, all of which will help give young people and their families the crucial support they need to improve their mental and physical health and wellbeing and reduce isolation.
Nick Knowles, Presenter of BBC One’s DIY SOS said: “We have another huge build ahead of us in Cheshire, which will benefit children who are going through cancer treatment and help support their families too. 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 great fun and something you’ll never forget being part of.” 
Cal Turner, Commissioning Editor for DIY SOS added: “DIY SOS has always shown the power of people coming together to make a real difference. This year’s collaboration with Morning Live and BBC Children in Need is incredibly special. The build for The Joshua Tree will not only provide vital support to families but will also shine a light on the compassion and generosity of communities across the country.”
Emma Morris, Executive Editor, Morning Live added: “The Joshua Tree charity is a very special place and offers invaluable support for families who are going through the toughest of times. DIY SOS, as always will bring together a brilliant team to create an amazing build and Morning Live can’t wait to follow it brick by brick as well as donning our own hard hats to get stuck in too!”
Tommy Nagra, Director of Content at BBC Children in Need added: “We are so looking forward to seeing DIY SOS join forces with Morning Live for The Joshua Tree in Northwich. These builds are lifechanging and leave a lasting legacy for children and the families we support all year round. It promises to be a very special build”.
After finding out the news, Dai and Lynda Hill, Founders of The Joshua Tree added: “When we set up the charity 20 years ago we could never have imagined it would in the way that it has. We created The Joshua Tree when our son was going through cancer treatment to help combat the isolation our family were feeling. The charity supports more and more families each year, and truthfully we have outgrown the space. To find out that DIY SOS are going to help us extend, and enable us to reach even more children and their families facing the unimaginable diagnosis of cancer is more than we could have dreamt of.”
Rich Driffield, CEO at The Joshua Tree said: “We are incredibly grateful to DIY SOS for choosing to support our charity. This amazing transformation will allow us to reach even more families affected by childhood cancer across the UK, offering them the support they need during the most challenging times.”
The Joshua Tree Charity receives funding from BBC Children in Need for a Children’s Support Worker who provides practical and emotional support for children, giving them access to fun activities in a safe space that helps reduce their isolation and improves their wellbeing.
Across Cheshire, BBC Children in Need currently funds eight projects to the value of £827,000 supporting children and young people. 
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; electricians, plumbers, carpenters, plasterers and decorators to offer support with the transformation in September.
DIY SOS are holding a Trades Day at The Joshua Tree in Northwich, Cheshire on Thursday 7th August.
Those interested in volunteering as a professional trade or donating product to this charitable build must email: diysosjoshuatree@southshore.uk before Trades Day to arrange an appointment to meet with the team.
The build will commence from Tuesday 2nd September – Thursday 11th September 2025.
The episode will be broadcast during the BBC Children in Need Appeal week in November.
BBC’s DIY SOS is made by South Shore Productions.
BBC One’s Morning Live is made by BBC Studios Factual Entertainment Productions.
*The new facility and growth of our charity will create a significant rise in the amount of funds needed every year to run our services. We’re hugely reliant on individuals, businesses and community groups from all over the country to help us raise the money we need to support children each year.
Every penny makes a difference. You can donate here to help support us, JustGiving.
