Popular BBC programme DIY SOS is to air its Big Build at a Beverley youth club this Christmas – featuring the A164 & Jock’s Lodge Improvement Scheme.
The heart-warming programme, presented by Nick Knowles, is due to be broadcast on BBC 1 on Tuesday 30th December, showing the creation of a new home for the Cherry Tree Youth Hub, giving local young people a safe and supportive space to thrive.
Nick and the team were joined by stars from the hit TV show Gladiators to help with the build.
The project was made possible thanks to the dedication of GRAHAM project team volunteering their time, in collaboration with YORhub’s YOR4Good initiative, led by East Riding of Yorkshire Council.
GRAHAM are currently constructing the major £86.9m Jock’s Lodge junction scheme near Beverley on behalf of the council and became a key partner in the DIY SOS project as part of the company’s social value commitment to the area through the YOR4Good fund.
YORhub, the region’s public sector procurement hub – where contractors apply to work on local authority projects in much of Yorkshire – champions social value through its frameworks. Its YOR4Good initiative has so far awarded in excess of £2.1 million in funding and supported over 200 community projects to date.
The Big Build for Cherry Tree Youth Hub, filmed in May, was completed in just 17 days following an intensive three-day redesign phase by GRAHAM with the expert help of the project engineering team. A number of other local businesses and suppliers were part of the scheme. GRAHAM was involved in carrying out the following work as part of the construction of the new building:
- Foundations and structural steelwork,
- Substructure beams and block-and-beam flooring,
- Internal and external blockwork,
- Drainage and service ducting,
- Hard and soft landscaping,
- Perimeter fencing.
Recently staff from GRAHAM, East Riding of Yorkshire Council and the YOR4Good panel revisited the Cherry Tree Youth Hub to unveil a commemorative plaque and reflect on the lasting impact of this project on local young people. They were reunited with Jo Ramsay, Cherry Tree manager, and Tony Henderson, Cherry Tree treasurer, who accepted the plaque.
Since the hub opened:
- 432 young people have registered with the youth hub,
- Around 150 young people visit the hub each week,
- The hub is so popular there are plans to increase the days it is open from four days to five days a week.
Phil Henderson, chair of the YOR4Good panel, said: “YORhub is incredibly proud to have contributed to the Cherry Tree Youth Hub project. This initiative has created a vibrant, safe space for local young people to meet and benefit from the facilities available at the hub, reinforcing GRAHAM’s and YOR4Good’s commitment to delivering meaningful social value. This fantastic community initiative supports disadvantaged young people in the Beverley area. We have already witnessed the positive impact this group has on young people’s lives. With the support of DIY SOS and Graham, we have established a centre which will ensure the Cherry Tree Youth Project continues to benefit young people for many years to come.”
GRAHAM Contracts Manager James Stevenson said: “The Cherry Tree Youth Hub project receiving the backing of the YOR4Good fund was huge for this project and the dreams of those that had hoped for years that one day it would become a reality. This will change the lives of the people who use the hub and the direction they take. When young people are given the right frameworks, they don’t just grow — they help entire communities thrive. A youth project like the Cherry Tree Youth Hub is more than an initiative; it’s a foundation where guidance meets action, and where the energy of tomorrow builds hope today. A well-structured youth project is not just an investment in young people — it is an investment that strengthens communities, fosters resilience, and builds sustainable futures, the YOR4Good fund backing of this initiative has set the foundation and cornerstone for the people of Beverley.’’
DIY SOS Gladiators Special: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m002p153