DIY SOS and Morning Live Join Forces to Transform Children’s Cancer Charity

Image: BBC Press - L-R: Joshua, Lynda, Dai Hill, Pudsey, Nick Knowles, Richard Driffield and Danielle Percival

By Jon Donnis

This year's DIY SOS Children in Need Special is shaping up to be one of the most ambitious to date. For the first time, the long-running BBC show is teaming up with Morning Live to deliver a build that promises to change lives in every sense. The project will support The Joshua Tree, a Cheshire-based charity offering tailored support to children affected by cancer and their families.

Nick Knowles surprised the charity's founders, Dai and Lynda Hill, with the news that they'd been chosen for this year's build. The announcement, made live on Morning Live, also served as a rallying cry to tradespeople and businesses across the UK. As with every DIY SOS project, the transformation depends on volunteers donating time, materials and skill to get it over the line.

This time, the team has just ten days to expand the charity's existing space, which has struggled to keep up with demand as The Joshua Tree's reach has grown across the country. What started twenty years ago as a small, local initiative now helps more families than ever before, and the need for a larger, more accessible facility has never been greater.

The project kicks off in September, with the build itself taking place from 2 to 11 September in Northwich. A dedicated Trades Day is scheduled for Thursday 7 August, giving local professionals a chance to meet the team and offer their support. The final reveal will air during Children in Need week in November, giving viewers the chance to witness the full impact of the transformation.

Joining Nick Knowles and the core DIY SOS crew will be Morning Live presenters Gethin Jones and Helen Skelton, who'll swap the studio for hard hats and hi-vis vests as they pitch in on-site. Designer Gabrielle Blackman will once again lead on the build's creative direction, helping to create a welcoming, functional space that can offer real comfort and support to families at their most vulnerable.

BBC Children in Need already funds a dedicated Children's Support Worker at The Joshua Tree, but this build will expand the charity's reach and capacity. According to CEO Rich Driffield, the changes will allow them to support more families than ever before, offering a safe, therapeutic space for children to recover, play and just be themselves.

It's not just about bricks and mortar. As always, DIY SOS projects reflect something bigger, the power of people coming together for a cause that matters. With support from communities, tradespeople, and generous suppliers, this build won't just improve a building. It'll help rebuild hope.