BBC’s Big Builders look for YOUR help
PROJECT TO GIVE EVELYN HOME SHE DESERVES
INSPIRATIONAL TV show DIY SOS will soon be on Tyneside for a Big Build in support of a brave little girl and her family.
The BBC series will descend on North Shields later this month for a huge project to transform a family home.
DIY SOS: The Big Build has been running for 18 years, and attracts up to five million viewers per episode.
The award-winning show, presented by Nick Knowles, takes on big builds across the country in just nine days and rely on the support of the local community of tradespeople and suppliers to carry out the work, to help transform the lives of deserving families.
The family involved are North Shields couple Rachael and John Matthews, who live with their three children, Isabelle, 10, Anna, five, and Evelyn, three, who has a rare genetic condition called CHARGE syndrome.
This has many associated medical complications including chronic kidney failure which requires her to be hooked up to a dialysis machine overnight.
She is immobile, cannot sit unaided, is registered blind and requires 24-hour care. When she was born she was whisked away immediately to intensive care after doctors discovered a hole in her heart. She needed surgery but became septic, resulting in her kidneys failing. Evelyn has had to undergo many other hospital procedures since, including major heart surgery.
Evelyn’s room is too small for her medical equipment and they are unable to fit a hoist or adapted bed which she desperately needs. As she grows she will need more space to accommodate her increasing medical difficulties and medical supplies. This is where the show comes in. The DIY SOS mission is to build a single-storey extension and convert the garage into a bedroom and separate bathroom for Evelyn. This will accommodate her equipment and provide a safe space for an adapted bed, hoist, dialysis equipment and a sensory area.
Evelyn cannot be left alone, so they need the downstairs area to be more open plan. They also need a huge increase in storage for Evelyn’s medical supplies.
They need a sterile preparation area for Evelyn’s medical needs. Currently this is done in the kitchen and due to a lack of space she is changed on the dining room table.
As Evelyn is susceptible to infections, they need to improve the double glazing.
The DIY SOS team will first visit next Wednesday for a Trades Day and then return from August 6-16 for the Big Build itself.
If you want to help you can express your interest in taking part by emailing diysosnorthshields@bbc.co.uk.