The Big Build - West Bromwich DIY SOS


The Big Build - West Bromwich

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All grandparents know that time with the grandchildren is precious.

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She loves coming to the park.

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She just likes being outdoors and playing and running around.

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90% of the time I'm shattered!

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-I'm falling!

-Nanny's got you.

-They don't like to leave Nanny alone.

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Even when Nanny has a break, "No, I want Nanny!"

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So sometimes it's hard to separate them.

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But a family tragedy has turned Sandra's life upside down.

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I've not just lost my daughter, I've lost my best friend.

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Sandra is looking after her grandchildren

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with the help of son Ziggy.

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She said, "Promise me that you'll be a role model to Deago and Ameira,"

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so that's what I try and do.

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But they're living on top of each other,

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crammed into a tiny two-up, two-down.

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It's just, like, small.

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I feel like I'm letting my daughter down,

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that I'm not giving them what they need, really.

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But now these amazing volunteers are coming to the rescue

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to give this family the space that they need...

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Come on!

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..to rebuild their lives.

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This is overwhelming, it really is.

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This may be one of the smallest houses we've ever taken on.

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The house is getting bigger already.

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Small house, big problems.

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That's basically the outside wall of the house. That's ridiculous.

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So we're going to use hugely talented professionals...

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-Get in there!

-Did you accidentally drop your colour charts?

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..to turn this into a family home bursting with love.

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We have all the usual suspects. Mel Massey is our brand-new designer.

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We have just nine days to do the job.

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We put out a call to all the trades and suppliers of West Brom and said,

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"Come and help us," and nobody turned up...

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..other than this lot!

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This is DIY SOS: The Big Build!

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West Bromwich in the Midlands.

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Whee! Hold on tightly.

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Here, for 52-year-old grandma Sandra, family comes first.

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Yay! Is that high?

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And like most proud grandparents,

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she thinks the world of her two grandkids.

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Deago's quite a mummy's boy

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and quite an achiever, really, educationally.

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Five, six...

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Ameira's just full of energy.

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She never stops. She's just on the go all the time.

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Whee! She keeps me on my toes, she really does.

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Oh!

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Sandra knows the true value of family, having grown up in care.

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She's spent her adult life as a social worker,

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turning the lives around of hundreds of young people going through

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the care system. She even refers to them as her children.

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I still see my kids.

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I can be in Asda and they'll shout me and I'll think...

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And I have to look sometimes because they're married with children.

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-Yeah, higher.

-Higher! I know!

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Alongside her social work, Sandra was bringing up her own family -

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her first-born, Crystal, and then Ziggy, who's now 19.

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My mum's amazing. She's probably, for me,

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one of the strongest people I know, being through everything she's

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been through and being able to look after me and my sister as well.

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Just being able to bring up some good kids.

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I think I'm a good kid.

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When my mum had work,

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my sister - she'd always be there to look after me.

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She had an impact on what I'd wear

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and how I'd look and things like that.

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Yeah, she taught me how to be cool.

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Crystal's character - really loving, really caring.

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She'd grab me and squeeze me and she always made me smile.

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Always.

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When Crystal had her own two children, Deago and Ameira,

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Sandra and Crystal remained as tight-knit as ever.

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There wasn't a day that passed that Crystal didn't see me

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or I didn't see Crystal.

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I'd be round her house, she'd come round to see me.

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We were very close.

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But four years ago, Crystal started to feel unwell.

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She'd been complaining about her back and her stomach,

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so they did an X-ray and she had bloods taken.

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Nothing seemed to be wrong.

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I never would've imagined, you know,

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what happened would've happened.

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After two years of pain and discomfort,

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Crystal was eventually admitted to hospital.

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We were waiting for tests...

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Her back was getting worse and they did the scan

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and that's when we were told.

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They told us that she had 48 hours to live, um, and...

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That was probably... one of the hardest times of my life,

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seeing my sister like that because I knew she was going to pass away

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and there was nothing I could do about it.

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Mm, yeah.

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And she died in my arms.

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Crystal had been diagnosed with advanced stomach cancer,

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which had spread to her spine.

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She died on the 15th of October 2015,

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after holding on for four weeks in hospital.

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She was just worried about her children

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and wanted to know that they would be OK

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and they'd grow up together...

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..and that I care for the children.

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She said, "Promise me you'll be a role model to Deago and Ameira,"

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so that'll never leave me.

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So that's what I try and do, I try and, you know,

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cos she made me promise her when she passed away.

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So, the children moved in with Sandra and Ziggy,

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into their tiny two-up, two-down,

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which was barely large enough for an adult and a teenager.

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Mimi, please get down before you hurt yourself.

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Now there's a growing family sharing this tiny space.

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There's nowhere to get away, be alone and grieve,

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let alone function on a daily basis.

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Downstairs, we don't even have a dining room

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to eat, cos it's just little.

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It's just, like, small.

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It's not easy for my mum. I think it's really stressful for my mum

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because she has to share the room with Deago and Mimi.

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-That tea is hot.

-Yeah.

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It's uncomfortable for her because she has to sleep with Mimi,

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so she has to deal with that. It's just bad.

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Come on.

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At bedtime, it's difficult and just trying to settle her.

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Come on. She wakes up in the night, she disturbs Deago,

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so he then doesn't get any sleep.

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It's difficult, especially for him,

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and I feel like I'm letting my daughter down in that...

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..that I'm not, you know, giving them what they need, really.

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And that's why we're here, to keep a grieving family together,

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giving them the space they need to rebuild their lives.

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So, a real ball of energy?

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-Yeah.

-Which in a tiny space must be...

-It is. It's difficult.

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And what's it like for you being in the same room with her all the time?

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-Annoying.

-Annoying.

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Is that what you just said - annoying?

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Is this what it's like all day?

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-Yeah.

-Wow!

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-Yeah.

-I need a wee!

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Ameira's loo break allows me a quiet word with Sandra.

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How can we make your life easier?

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I think for Deago to have a room, that would be, you know,

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the most important thing, really.

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But that leaves you with Ameira still in the room.

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-Yeah.

-Without much sleep, by the looks of things.

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Yeah, but you know, I would manage that as best I can, you know,

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if Deago could have a bit of space.

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So if we can get one more room for Deago, that makes life a bit easier?

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Yeah, definitely. I'm really thankful because there's no way I could have

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-done it.

-Let's wait and see what we can do first, shall we?

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-Do you want to come and meet them?

-Yeah, yeah.

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-Family's outside, let's go outside.

-OK. Thank you.

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Here they all are. Come and say hello.

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What a lovely looking bunch, aren't they?

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We're really appreciative of your time.

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It means so much to us.

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I didn't expect to bury my daughter.

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I didn't expect to be caring for my grandchildren full-time

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but, you know, anything you can do,

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anything at all, we'll be extremely grateful.

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Thank you. Thank you. See you later.

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With just nine days to turn around this family's life,

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it's time to get cracking. We may as well get you all in there and get started.

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No, we're not charging into this one.

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-Why not?

-We're just going to take it nice and steady because this here is

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a timber-frame build that isn't very stable at the moment

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because we've taken the side wall out. We're going to open it up

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and there's going to be quite a bit of movement.

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It's a bit like yourself - it's a little bit wobbly.

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-How wobbly?

-Very.

-Is it?

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Bit rude, that. And the dodgy wall isn't the half of it.

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First thing we're doing is putting a timber-frame extension up, right?

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-Yes.

-Am I wrong in thinking that I can't see a timber-frame extension

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-anywhere?

-You're absolutely bang on.

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-Where is it?

-Somewhere on the M6.

-Right.

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Going well, this, isn't it?

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We're having to approach this tiny big build the way we always approach

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Billy - slowly and with caution.

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This little house has already caused us a few headaches.

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To prepare for the extension, we've had to underpin the foundations,

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undertake major drainage works

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and carefully remove the gable end, brick by brick.

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-This is dodgy, look.

-They're ALL dodgy.

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Can you all hear me? The stairs are really dangerous at the moment, OK?

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Really? What else can go wrong?

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Mate, in the nicest possible way, you standing on them saying,

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"Don't get too many people on the stairs," is putting

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too many people on the stairs. And although you're small,

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you're incredibly dense for your size, so too much weight...

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-Heavy.

-No, dense, cos if you're small and heavy,

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that means you must be denser than the rest of us.

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-Talking of dense...

-Oh!

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..what are the others up to?

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Challenges of the day. Mainly access.

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So the neighbours have kindly let us use their driveway

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so we can get into the back garden.

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People are generally quite wonderful.

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I wouldn't do it for my neighbours, no.

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Course I would!

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He's not joking. Jules declares war on the garden.

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We've already won our battle with the staircase.

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Yeah, that's it, let's have that away.

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You know what's nice about it is the house is getting bigger already.

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Did I mention it's one of the smallest houses

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we've ever worked on? This build is going to be tricky,

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but our new designer Mel Massey

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has done loads of designery stuff before.

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Look, here's some Mel made earlier.

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Not bad, eh?

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Where do designers go to buy their clothes?

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-Because the trouser end is all right...

-I've got good...

-The trouser end and boot, very good.

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-Top end...

-I have to bring a little bit of glamour and design to this

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-building site.

-But from the 18th century?

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Well, I just thought I would cover up, you know,

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can't be too, you know?

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Lace. I mean, when one thinks, "I'm going to a building site today,"

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is lace the automatic thing that comes the mind?

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-It certainly is.

-Is it?

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Coming to DIY SOS on these grand-scale builds,

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-how nerve-racking is that?

-I've been warned YOU'RE quite hard work.

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-Have you really?

-Yes!

-Have you really?

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-I heard...

-That I give designers a hard time?

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-That I have to charm you.

-Is that how it is?

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Really? Anything else?

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I mean, it's a huge build in terms of the number of people involved.

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-Small house, though.

-Tiny house.

-This is one of the smallest projects I've done, but if we can open it up,

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make it much more practical for Sandra and just give her her life back a bit.

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We're only adding two metres on the side and we're going to try and

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-turn that into four bedrooms?

-Yeah.

-I don't know.

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It's good to look good. It's good to be bijou,

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but they're going to be very well-designed space-saving ideas.

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And that is what it's all about,

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giving Sandra's family a more practical space to call home.

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So, downstairs will be open plan

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with a living room and kitchen

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looking out onto a low-maintenance garden.

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The new extension will house the dining area and the new staircase

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and the doorway, allowing us to turn the old porch

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into a handy downstairs loo.

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But it's on the second floor where the challenge really kicks in.

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You see, we're aiming to turn two bedrooms into four.

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The extension will house the new children's rooms

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and there'll be a family bathroom, but it's a tall order,

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considering we're only adding a 2.5m wide extension to the house.

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And here it is! I should be celebrating,

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but I'm still reeling from Mel's comment.

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What was she warned about, coming to join in?

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-Do you know what she was warned about?

-I don't know.

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-Yeah, me!

-No!

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No! And you seem shocked.

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-I AM shocked!

-Genuine?

-I am, honestly, yeah.

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I've always been very supportive of designers.

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What, at the end, when they reveal?

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In the middle, you might have a little bit to say to the designers

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-on the, you know...

-I'm prepared for battle.

-Good girl.

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I think everyone's beginning to pick on me.

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Our plan is for the timber-framed extension to be up by the end

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of the day. What are we adding on, about a third to the building?

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-We've done about 40% on this here.

-It's about 40% extra building?

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-Yeah, yeah.

-Wow!

-You saw it, there's, like, where do you put those children?

-Yeah, right.

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When I was chatting to her this morning, little 'un

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was wriggling away and I think she does that from morning till night,

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and in bed at night when she is sharing a bed with Nan!

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-It's like...

-Oh!

-Yeah. Sandra just never, ever gets any rest at all,

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so if we can squeeze two bedrooms in, that's magnificent.

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We hope, hopefully we...

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We WILL get two bedrooms in.

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We will get two bedrooms in.

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Yep, two extra bedrooms would be incredible,

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amazing, fantastic. Not that we're making a song and dance about it.

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He's just desperate for the toilet.

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That's how the whole dance system was invented, apparently.

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Just desperate for the toilet.

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Michael Flatley, desperate to go to the loo.

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-That's what it was.

-I haven't got flatulence!

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Now, how's that old dozy Devon doughnut getting on?

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Come round, come round. Look, watch him scraping the top off here, look.

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It's like Time Team when they go,

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"Take an extra quarter of an inch off." Ah, mate, that hand has practised for years.

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-All right, darling?

-Couldn't help noticing

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the little wrist action going on there.

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It's all, you know, it's all very precise stuff.

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Oh, yeah, you look at me and say,

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"That old dozy Devon doughnut driving that digger."

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That's what I said, actually, that's almost exactly, word for word, what I said.

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We've had a cracking morning's work on this little house.

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It's been gutted and new bits are even starting to go in.

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It's probably about time it threw us another curveball.

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That ring beam that comes across,

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that's basically held up with nails that are spiked in there.

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It's appalling - appalling.

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-Oh, that ring beam's not connected in there?

-No, it's just sat on the upright.

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The timber frame of the original house wasn't built to today's

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higher standards, and the place is definitely looking wobbly.

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It's just ridiculous, isn't it?

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I don't know how they ever got away with doing this in the first place.

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Look, look, look, it's moving, look, look.

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Yeah, that's basically the outside wall of the house, that's ridiculous.

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That's why I'm slightly worried, because of the amount of movement.

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So we have to pause and make the structure safe

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before we do anything else.

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It will put us behind creating this new home,

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and Sandra's family desperately need this, according to Sandra's

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sister-in-law, Cara.

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So I was trying to...

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We managed to clear all the internal walls out of the building

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and ended up with just the shell of the building.

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-Yep.

-And you could see the size of the house,

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which is not a great deal bigger than a standard garage.

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It's absolutely tiny.

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-And there's four of them in there?

-Four of them in there.

-And she's been living in a room with...?

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Ameira was in the bed with Sandra and she had a camp bed at the side

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that we managed to squeeze in for Deago.

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Not ideal, not ideal at all.

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The stress of the thing was massive.

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And then to take on this and not to get a break,

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and for Sandra not to get an opportunity

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-to breathe or sleep or recover, or...

-Grieve.

-Or grieve.

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-That's a very good point.

-It was just intense from day one.

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I mean, she took her daughter to hospital, her daughter was sick,

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and a week later she was told that she had 48 hours to live.

0:16:310:16:34

I still can't get my head around how you cope with that and how you tell

0:16:340:16:38

the children. No child should ever have to say goodbye to their mother.

0:16:380:16:42

I still can't get my head round that bit.

0:16:430:16:45

-We can't mend that, but we can certainly make life a little more comfortable for them.

-Yep.

0:16:450:16:48

Over the last 22 months,

0:16:510:16:53

the family have struggled to come to terms with the loss of a sister,

0:16:530:16:56

a daughter and a mother.

0:16:560:16:58

Still got all the flowers.

0:17:000:17:02

Deago, I used to have to hold him at night and rock him to sleep,

0:17:020:17:07

because he would kick the walls.

0:17:070:17:09

He basically blamed me.

0:17:090:17:12

I'm Crystal's mum, and I shouldn't have let her die.

0:17:120:17:16

And that's sort of how he felt for a good time.

0:17:180:17:23

Ameira, I've not used the word "death".

0:17:240:17:28

I try and deal with that by saying, "Mummy's with the flowers," and,

0:17:280:17:32

"Mummy's in your heart."

0:17:320:17:34

The conception of death for her is difficult.

0:17:340:17:37

I've not just lost my daughter, I've lost my best friend.

0:17:390:17:42

And sometimes I just want to pick up the phone,

0:17:440:17:48

or go and see her, and I can't.

0:17:480:17:51

So having the children, I know that I have to get up every day,

0:17:510:17:55

I have to make sure that they're OK.

0:17:550:17:57

If the children are happier, then I...

0:17:570:18:02

..will be happier - for them.

0:18:020:18:04

So we're hoping to take the stress off Sandra a little

0:18:100:18:14

by creating an environment

0:18:140:18:16

in which the family can function as a proper family.

0:18:160:18:19

Right, we happy?

0:18:190:18:21

But getting the house structurally sound is proving a bit of a palaver.

0:18:210:18:24

Fingers!

0:18:240:18:25

Give it a little tap, you've got to persuade her, that end.

0:18:250:18:28

It's basically 10mm too long for the hole.

0:18:280:18:30

-Yeah, but it's only 10mm one end!

-It's only 10mm one end!

0:18:300:18:34

So, with a bit of jiggery-pokery...

0:18:360:18:38

..the house is stabilised with a hefty wooden beam

0:18:390:18:42

to hold up the second floor of the gable end,

0:18:420:18:44

with the help of more props than the Rugby World Cup.

0:18:440:18:48

-Flippin' 'eck.

-And at last, everyone can get back to the original plan.

0:18:480:18:52

We've taken all the walls out up here and obviously we're extending out.

0:18:550:18:58

But it's still very difficult to imagine how you're going to get

0:18:580:19:01

-four bedrooms and a bathroom here.

-Yes, the bedrooms,

0:19:010:19:04

the two new bedrooms are going to be very small.

0:19:040:19:06

But we are maximising those to make good storage.

0:19:060:19:09

Boys bedroom, girls bedroom...

0:19:090:19:11

-Grown-up bedroom?

-Yes, and Ziggy bedroom.

0:19:110:19:14

-Yeah.

-He wants somewhere to store his trainers and Deago wants

0:19:140:19:17

somewhere to put his socks.

0:19:170:19:19

-Is that what they've said?

-I know, that's what they said,

0:19:190:19:22

-that's what they said.

-Aww.

-And Ziggy wants a bigger bed.

0:19:220:19:24

So we're going to put a bigger bed in for him,

0:19:240:19:27

-but with loads of storage underneath it.

-OK.

-That's what we've got to do.

0:19:270:19:30

All Sandra has asked for is a downstairs loo.

0:19:310:19:34

That's going in the front porch, which, like much of this house,

0:19:340:19:37

has been pulled apart.

0:19:370:19:39

Elsewhere, the plumbers have started their first fix,

0:19:390:19:42

and so have the electricians, expertly guided by Billy(!)

0:19:420:19:46

Yeah, go on, film it, film it!

0:19:460:19:48

And the extension is taking shape,

0:19:480:19:50

although not quite as quickly as we'd hoped.

0:19:500:19:53

Well, it's been a great day. We've managed to clear all the walls out

0:19:530:19:57

downstairs and the stairwell that was here isn't here any more.

0:19:570:20:01

It's going to come into this part, the new extension,

0:20:010:20:03

which is starting to look great too.

0:20:030:20:05

On any normal building site, that would be a great day.

0:20:050:20:07

The problem isn't downstairs.

0:20:070:20:10

All our issues are in the top half of the building, where,

0:20:100:20:13

through nobody's fault,

0:20:130:20:14

we are a good deal behind where we'd like to be.

0:20:140:20:17

-How far behind are we?

-About a third of a day.

-And have we got these boys

0:20:170:20:19

-tomorrow?

-No.

-And have we got any chippies to replace them?

-No.

0:20:190:20:22

That's going to be interesting, isn't it?

0:20:220:20:24

-Yeah.

-We'll see you tomorrow. We'll work it out.

0:20:240:20:26

Good morning! It's day two of the build.

0:20:330:20:36

Our volunteers are on site at the crack of sparrows,

0:20:360:20:38

removing the upstairs internal sidewall.

0:20:380:20:41

Come on!

0:20:430:20:44

But we still need an expert to help us build the extension roof

0:20:440:20:47

and safely tie it into the house.

0:20:470:20:50

So last night we didn't get the extension finished,

0:20:500:20:53

so I had to make a quite important phone call.

0:20:530:20:55

But my phone made a funny sound when I made the call,

0:20:550:20:58

it went, sort of, "Beeeeeep!"

0:20:580:20:59

So I realised the guy I was ringing was abroad.

0:20:590:21:02

He flew back last night and he's going to cut the roof in for us.

0:21:040:21:07

-All right, And!

-All right?

0:21:070:21:10

How you doing? And this is him, this is him!

0:21:100:21:12

-Where were you when I phoned you last night?

-Kos.

0:21:120:21:15

-On the beach.

-You were on the beach in Kos.

0:21:150:21:18

-Yeah.

-Amazing.

-He asked me to come back early,

0:21:180:21:20

so I left my wife and children in Kos and I've come back.

0:21:200:21:23

But you are the roof-meister.

0:21:230:21:25

Left his wife and children in Kos.

0:21:250:21:27

-They're having a ball, I bet you.

-They won't come back now, you watch.

0:21:270:21:31

Andy may just have saved us from our own Greek tragedy.

0:21:330:21:36

Mind you, we are a man down.

0:21:380:21:40

Do you think he's looking a funny colour today, a bit ill?

0:21:420:21:45

He's been backwards and forwards to the ablutions quite a lot.

0:21:450:21:48

-You think it's the altitude?

-Eh?

-Well, we're not in Devon, are we?

0:21:480:21:52

We've moved, we've driven like 200 and something, 170...

0:21:520:21:55

-Not upwards, we haven't.

-Yeah. It was uphill from Devon, innit?

0:21:550:21:58

-Everywhere's uphill from Devon.

-Devon to Scotland,

0:21:580:22:01

-it's a gradient all the way.

-No, heading north doesn't mean you're going uphill.

0:22:010:22:04

Of course it does. Scotland's at the top, we're down the bottom.

0:22:040:22:07

Yeah. I don't travel very well.

0:22:070:22:09

Once you go past Exeter, that's it.

0:22:090:22:11

Geography, innit?

0:22:110:22:13

I don't think it is geography, no!

0:22:130:22:15

I don't think it is geography.

0:22:150:22:17

Despite the workload ahead, this lot are BEAMING.

0:22:170:22:21

The second floor of the gable end is about to get the support it needs

0:22:210:22:25

to allow us to tie in the new extension roof.

0:22:250:22:28

On three.

0:22:280:22:29

-Three...

-Here we go.

0:22:290:22:31

I guess the collective noun for a bunch of sawers must be a band.

0:22:350:22:38

Band sawers. A band of sawers, band-a-sawers -

0:22:380:22:42

sounds like a dinosaur!

0:22:420:22:43

I got that one from Billy. Yep...

0:22:440:22:47

There we go.

0:22:470:22:49

Get in there!

0:22:490:22:50

Today, I would like to get the roof on,

0:22:530:22:55

felt and battened and the slates up onto it.

0:22:550:22:57

Inside, I'd like to get all the stud work finished upstairs

0:22:570:23:00

and all the door linings in place.

0:23:000:23:02

If I can be there at the end of the day, that's us caught up again.

0:23:020:23:06

I mean, he's not actually doing it, but it's only half of what we need to do.

0:23:060:23:09

We also need to get the new downstairs extension wall up,

0:23:090:23:12

and the old walls prepped for plastering, and the garden level,

0:23:120:23:15

and the double glazing in, and sort the electrics,

0:23:150:23:18

and complete the plumbing for the new heating system.

0:23:180:23:20

I understand that you have a disagreement.

0:23:220:23:24

About this smart thermostat.

0:23:240:23:26

-Because someone's offered it us free...

-Yes.

-..we think,

0:23:260:23:30

"Oh, we'll have that," but they don't offer anyone installing it.

0:23:300:23:33

He's offering installation and he's also...

0:23:330:23:35

You might want to put a kettle on and make a cup of tea at this stage,

0:23:350:23:38

because it sounds like this could go on for a bit of a while.

0:23:380:23:41

..electricians do it...

0:23:410:23:43

New designer, see, so not used to this to kind of conversation.

0:23:430:23:46

Normally you speak to an electrician and say, "This is what we want,"

0:23:460:23:49

and they do it. Not always the way with Bill, obviously.

0:23:490:23:52

I don't think there's any sparky...

0:23:520:23:54

-Do you not think...

-There's always sparks involved when it comes

0:23:540:23:57

-to wireless systems.

-If people were spending time away from the home,

0:23:570:24:01

with hospital visits and so on and so forth, and you go,

0:24:010:24:03

"Oh, I forgot to put the heating down," then having the remote system

0:24:030:24:06

is a really good idea. For this family, that's not an issue.

0:24:060:24:09

OK, you've talked me round.

0:24:090:24:10

-No...

-I agree, I will not bring it up again.

0:24:100:24:13

I bow to your superior knowledge.

0:24:130:24:15

-They're hugging, the world's gone mad!

-That frightens me.

0:24:160:24:19

-What?

-Designer hugging me.

0:24:190:24:21

-Oh, really?

-Usually they're hiding from me!

0:24:210:24:23

Yes, well, it's all very odd, we've never had

0:24:230:24:26

such an easy-going designer.

0:24:260:24:28

Let's hope it continues, as we build this new home for Sandra,

0:24:280:24:31

Ziggy and the kids.

0:24:310:24:32

Like his mum, Ziggy believes in helping others -

0:24:330:24:36

he's a volunteer mentor, assisting kids who are struggling at school.

0:24:360:24:40

And he's a volunteer coach for a basketball team

0:24:400:24:43

here in West Bromwich,

0:24:430:24:44

where he brings Deago to help him channel his thoughts,

0:24:440:24:47

his understandable anger and his grief.

0:24:470:24:50

A lot of 19-year-olds are out, you know, partying, having a good time.

0:24:500:24:54

At this particular time in your life, at 18, 19, you've had

0:24:540:24:57

to really centre your time on the family again, haven't you?

0:24:570:24:59

Yeah. So, if my friends want to go out, there's been many a times

0:24:590:25:02

where they've been going out and I have to say,

0:25:020:25:04

"I can't come out, I'm looking after Mimi and Dede."

0:25:040:25:07

But they understand as well that my family's

0:25:070:25:09

definitely my highest priority, because I love them

0:25:090:25:11

and, you know, my sister wouldn't want anything else.

0:25:110:25:13

And what did she say to you about the kids?

0:25:130:25:15

Just kept telling me, make sure that I look after them

0:25:150:25:18

and make sure that they're safe,

0:25:180:25:19

and, "Make sure Deago grows up to be a man like you will be."

0:25:190:25:23

That's a big thing, to have your sister ask you

0:25:230:25:25

-to take on that responsibility, though?

-Yeah.

0:25:250:25:27

When it first happened, you know, it definitely hit Deago hard,

0:25:270:25:30

and it definitely had... Like, he had issues at school, so...

0:25:300:25:32

Around that time was the time where I was like, "Come play basketball."

0:25:320:25:35

So I think the basketball really helped him, like it helped me,

0:25:350:25:38

it just took his mind off things and gave him something to do

0:25:380:25:41

where he's away from everyone else. Just play some sport.

0:25:410:25:44

Let's talk about your mum,

0:25:440:25:46

cos she says that she's lost her best friend.

0:25:460:25:47

They were like an old married couple, honestly.

0:25:470:25:49

Sometimes they'd be arguing,

0:25:490:25:51

but sometimes they were just talking all the time,

0:25:510:25:53

just like friends, really. Just loved each other.

0:25:530:25:56

-How has she been since?

-I can tell that she's struggling.

0:25:560:25:58

It's definitely hard for her but she tries to put a brave face on for us.

0:25:580:26:02

But I think she's doing a great job for them,

0:26:020:26:05

and I think my sister would be proud of her

0:26:050:26:07

and hopefully proud of me too.

0:26:070:26:08

-I'm sure she'd be proud of you, mate.

-Oh, thank you.

0:26:080:26:11

You're doing a great job, and I'm sure that, for your mum,

0:26:110:26:13

it's a huge deal to have you take some of that pressure off,

0:26:130:26:16

and to have someone to help guide them through as well,

0:26:160:26:19

which is going to be a big deal.

0:26:190:26:20

She's climbed all kinds of mountains in her life, hasn't she?

0:26:200:26:23

Yeah, she has. That's why she's very motivational for me.

0:26:230:26:25

You know, she showed me never to give up and to keep going,

0:26:250:26:28

so I've got to do the same thing.

0:26:280:26:30

What a very impressive young man.

0:26:300:26:32

Back at the build,

0:26:320:26:34

we have a huge surprise in store for Ziggy and Deago.

0:26:340:26:36

Alongside a dining area and play space for Ameira,

0:26:360:26:39

we're building them their very own miniature basketball court -

0:26:390:26:44

a place for Deago to come and deal with things.

0:26:440:26:47

Billy used to play basketball, you know.

0:26:470:26:50

Well, I had trials with the Harlem Globetrotters.

0:26:500:26:52

-Did you?

-Yeah, me and Meadowlark Melon,

0:26:520:26:55

we was like that, who was going to be picked.

0:26:550:26:58

And he beat me to it.

0:26:580:27:00

He got all that fame and I didn't.

0:27:000:27:02

Well, look at this, look where you are now.

0:27:020:27:04

-Yeah, you don't see him like this, do you?!

-No.

0:27:040:27:07

By the end of the second day,

0:27:070:27:09

you could almost see how the new upstairs layout is going to work.

0:27:090:27:13

For the first time in nearly two years,

0:27:130:27:15

Deago, Ameira and Sandra will have their own bedrooms,

0:27:150:27:19

and it's all thanks to our amazing volunteers.

0:27:190:27:22

-Are you enjoying yourself, fellas?

-Yeah, loving it.

0:27:240:27:27

What's your favourite thing so far?

0:27:270:27:29

Learning new skills,

0:27:290:27:30

learning everything and getting on with everyone,

0:27:300:27:32

it's brilliant, making new friends.

0:27:320:27:34

This is the best thing I've ever done in my life.

0:27:340:27:36

-Is it really?

-It's absolutely amazing, Nick, it really is.

0:27:360:27:39

Why? Explain to people who haven't done one.

0:27:390:27:41

It's just the feeling you get from doing this and helping out,

0:27:410:27:45

and you meet these great guys who are working really hard,

0:27:450:27:48

long hours for no money.

0:27:480:27:49

But the pleasure we're getting out of it, it's fantastic, man!

0:27:490:27:52

-I love it!

-He loves it! NICK CHUCKLES

0:27:520:27:55

I love the accent and the enthusiasm.

0:27:550:27:56

You know, we're going to succeed here.

0:27:560:27:59

Is that watertight now?

0:27:590:28:00

-Yeah, it's lovely, isn't it?

-Really?

-Yeah.

-So has he gone, then?

0:28:000:28:03

-Who?

-Andy.

0:28:030:28:05

-Pah, long gone. Flew in from Greece...

-Did the roof.

0:28:050:28:07

..smashed the roof on, then the roofers turned up,

0:28:070:28:09

felt and battened, they're coming back in the morning

0:28:090:28:11

-and it'll be done by 12 o'clock tomorrow.

-Lovely.

0:28:110:28:14

Watch out, Thunderbird One's coming through, here we go.

0:28:140:28:17

-All right?

-Yeah. All right?

0:28:170:28:18

Yes, we had a rocky start and, yes, we are still a little bit behind,

0:28:190:28:23

but with our dedicated volunteers, and maybe a late shift,

0:28:230:28:25

I reckon we can pull this all back.

0:28:250:28:28

Are you boys staying on to have a "get ahead" night?

0:28:280:28:31

Yes. So, tomorrow morning,

0:28:310:28:32

the boarders can come in and joy themselves.

0:28:320:28:36

-And do what? Join themselves?

-Enjoy, enjoy themselves.

0:28:360:28:39

Your words are getting worse, aren't they?

0:28:390:28:41

No, they're... I just try and use bigger words and they don't work.

0:28:410:28:45

As the flooring guys and electrician settle in for the night,

0:28:460:28:49

I'm off to book Billy some elocution lessons.

0:28:490:28:52

See you tomorrow.

0:28:520:28:53

And here it is already! Ha-ha!

0:28:550:28:57

Welcome to the great British summer.

0:28:570:28:59

Still, it's not going to stop us.

0:28:590:29:02

We've got the brickies working undercover, so that's all right -

0:29:020:29:04

they should be able to get on OK.

0:29:040:29:06

And the roofers?

0:29:060:29:07

Well, they're not.

0:29:070:29:09

Sorry, mate.

0:29:090:29:10

Do you think I'm in the way?

0:29:110:29:13

You see, we should be plasterboarding by now,

0:29:130:29:15

but having so many trades in a tight space is slowing down the studwork.

0:29:150:29:19

Downstairs, something else is being slow.

0:29:210:29:24

Why's he in here with your plasterers?

0:29:240:29:26

Because he's so ancient,

0:29:260:29:27

he physically wants to drill the holes for the downlighters

0:29:270:29:31

as the plasterboard goes up. Look, look.

0:29:310:29:33

-Bill.

-Yeah?

-Why don't you wait until after they've done,

0:29:330:29:37

and then go get the cables?

0:29:370:29:38

The reason we don't do that is because they work at such a speed,

0:29:380:29:41

sometimes cables get jammed.

0:29:410:29:43

We've been doing this since day one

0:29:430:29:45

and it's a safe, sure thing of getting all the cables through.

0:29:450:29:48

But doesn't it get in the way of the plasterboarders a bit?

0:29:480:29:51

They're happy to do it because they understand what the build's about.

0:29:510:29:56

-How happy are you that he's in here?

-Oh, ecstatic.

0:29:560:29:58

THEY LAUGH

0:29:580:29:59

The mood does feel super-positive today.

0:30:010:30:03

You see, all these people are here to do something for Sandra,

0:30:030:30:07

because she's a woman

0:30:070:30:09

who has dedicated her life to helping others.

0:30:090:30:11

Roxana is just one of hundreds of young people

0:30:120:30:15

who have been touched by Sandra's kindness,

0:30:150:30:17

as she went through the care system.

0:30:170:30:19

-You know Sandra really well?

-Yeah.

0:30:210:30:23

I moved to Swan Lane, where she worked at, when I was 15, 16,

0:30:230:30:28

and when I moved there I wasn't really interacting with the staff,

0:30:280:30:33

because I'd been in care, I was in foster homes of my life.

0:30:330:30:36

I think with Sandra, she brang me out of my shell

0:30:360:30:38

and she pushed me to do more.

0:30:380:30:40

I've never had someone to push me to go further in life.

0:30:400:30:43

But Sandra, she's a good person, and she pushes you and she...

0:30:430:30:46

I'm going to cry.

0:30:460:30:47

-If Sandra hadn't have come into your life...

-Yeah?

0:30:470:30:49

..would life have been very different for you?

0:30:490:30:52

I think so, yeah. If I didn't move to Swan Lane, I think so, yeah.

0:30:520:30:55

And I genuinely mean that.

0:30:550:30:58

-So she's made an amazing change for a lot of people?

-Yeah, yeah.

0:30:580:31:02

And Roxana isn't the only person on site who Sandra has helped.

0:31:020:31:07

She used to be my social worker when I was in the children's home.

0:31:070:31:10

-Is that right?

-Yeah.

-So she used to look after you then?

0:31:100:31:12

Yeah, but this was like 25, just over 25 years ago now.

0:31:120:31:16

She was a lovely woman, you know. She'd do anything for anybody.

0:31:160:31:19

-So that's why you came down? Because...

-Yeah.

-..it was her?

0:31:190:31:22

-Pay her back a little bit?

-Yeah, definitely.

0:31:220:31:24

You see, Sandra is an amazing woman.

0:31:240:31:26

With the new stairs in,

0:31:260:31:27

it really feels like we're getting somewhere on this build.

0:31:270:31:30

Here, drop it down.

0:31:300:31:31

Which means Billy and I have a chance to escape.

0:31:310:31:33

For the last two years,

0:31:370:31:38

basketball has proved the perfect getaway for Ziggy and Deago.

0:31:380:31:43

It's the one release they've had,

0:31:430:31:45

and it's the place they come to de-stress and unwind.

0:31:450:31:49

But we may be about to spoil all that.

0:31:490:31:52

What do you think, they any competition?

0:31:520:31:54

Yes.

0:31:560:31:57

All right. Shall we go now then?

0:31:580:32:01

I'll take the little one out, you take the big one out.

0:32:010:32:03

Well, it's going to have to work that way, isn't it?

0:32:030:32:05

-Yeah.

-You ready?

0:32:050:32:07

Guys! Can we join in?

0:32:090:32:11

Yes, way back in the mists of 1963,

0:32:120:32:15

Billy won a small plastic trophy at school

0:32:150:32:18

for Most Unimproved Player.

0:32:180:32:20

I'm hoping he's still got some moves.

0:32:200:32:22

I think you can safely say...

0:32:260:32:27

..he hasn't!

0:32:280:32:30

You swapped over - you suddenly started marking the big one.

0:32:310:32:33

You lost complete... You've got to stick with your man.

0:32:330:32:36

VOICEOVER: I think we might have underestimated the competition here.

0:32:360:32:40

I'm here, I'm here!

0:32:400:32:41

Referee!

0:32:430:32:44

-He just pushed it out of your hand.

-But it's handball!

0:32:440:32:47

Yeah, don't give up the day job, Bill!

0:32:470:32:48

What happened?

0:32:520:32:53

INAUDIBLE

0:32:530:32:55

We haven't had an attack yet.

0:32:550:32:57

An attack? I'm having a heart attack!

0:32:570:32:59

Don't duck! What are you ducking for?

0:33:000:33:03

Have you got your shirt on back to front?

0:33:040:33:07

Am I playing the wrong way?

0:33:070:33:08

So am I really a number nine?

0:33:100:33:13

He really has got his shirt on back to front.

0:33:130:33:15

Right, Billy Byrne, you have one ball to redeem yourself.

0:33:160:33:19

Go!

0:33:190:33:21

MUSIC: Ode To Joy

0:33:210:33:23

Yeah!

0:33:230:33:25

VOICEOVER: Believe it or not, that did actually happen.

0:33:250:33:28

Here it is again.

0:33:290:33:30

And hey up!

0:33:320:33:34

Ha-hey!

0:33:340:33:35

Yeah!

0:33:350:33:37

I know it looks like I've swallowed a basketball,

0:33:370:33:39

but I'm back in the gym!

0:33:390:33:40

Back on site, we're over halfway.

0:33:420:33:44

Deago's very own basketball court is taking shape.

0:33:440:33:47

Hello!

0:33:480:33:50

And check out the upstairs.

0:33:500:33:52

Bedroom one, boarded.

0:33:520:33:53

We have the master bedroom, which is a bit of a mixture of the old...

0:33:550:33:59

..with the new. And if you'd like to reverse up...

0:34:010:34:04

..this is bedroom three in here.

0:34:040:34:07

And obviously not missing little Ameira's bedroom,

0:34:070:34:09

over where the carpenters were.

0:34:090:34:11

So there's your four bedrooms, bathroom,

0:34:110:34:14

in that little tiny house that we walked into Tuesday morning.

0:34:140:34:17

Day one.

0:34:170:34:18

And they said it couldn't be done.

0:34:180:34:21

Over the next 24 hours, it's a bit of a plastering party.

0:34:210:34:24

Oh what a feeling, I'm plastering the ceiling!

0:34:250:34:28

NICK LAUGHS

0:34:280:34:29

It was like being in the room with Lionel, wasn't it?!

0:34:290:34:32

Now, we can fit the bathroom and fully-equipped kitchen

0:34:320:34:35

which will allow the family to function properly

0:34:350:34:37

for the first time since the children moved in.

0:34:370:34:39

This is all in now for the guy to come in and template.

0:34:390:34:42

So all the bases are in.

0:34:420:34:43

Electrics are dropping in while we're going along,

0:34:430:34:46

so no problem. Easy peasy.

0:34:460:34:47

-Like your style.

-Yeah?

0:34:470:34:49

Much of the furniture is being bespoke-built -

0:34:490:34:52

a large seating area to allow the family to dine together.

0:34:520:34:55

In the children's rooms, beds and storage are being handcrafted.

0:34:550:34:59

And Mel's met up with Deago and Ameira to sort the finer details.

0:34:590:35:04

If you could have anything in your bedroom, what would it be?

0:35:040:35:09

Basketball.

0:35:090:35:10

What about the windows?

0:35:100:35:12

Mimi, if you could have anything in your bedroom, what would you have?

0:35:120:35:15

-Flower.

-A flower?

0:35:150:35:17

Well, that shouldn't be too difficult.

0:35:170:35:19

It's exciting!

0:35:190:35:20

The community is continuing to come out in force

0:35:220:35:25

to help create Sandra and her family a happy home.

0:35:250:35:29

I can't knock down walls and build houses,

0:35:290:35:31

so I might as well just make some cakes.

0:35:310:35:33

Did you make this? Thank you very much.

0:35:330:35:36

Thank you.

0:35:360:35:37

And the family's loss is resonating with all of our volunteers.

0:35:380:35:42

Many have come here with their own stories of pain and bereavement,

0:35:420:35:45

and emotions are running high.

0:35:450:35:47

My son is 47 now.

0:35:480:35:50

And when he was 22, he contracted...

0:35:500:35:52

..meningitis and, er...

0:35:540:35:57

..I was told...he was going to die.

0:35:590:36:02

So I said a lot of prayers...

0:36:050:36:06

..promised a lot of things.

0:36:080:36:10

One of them was that, one day, I would do a good deed.

0:36:110:36:15

I've done my bit.

0:36:150:36:16

Everyone here is doing their bit, and we're hoping that all these bits

0:36:170:36:21

will come together to create something big and special

0:36:210:36:25

for an inspiring family to be able to rebuild their lives.

0:36:250:36:28

With only three days to go, everyone's surprisingly relaxed.

0:36:340:36:37

That's a common barbel, that.

0:36:380:36:40

Thing is, people just do the fish impression -

0:36:400:36:42

-they're not being the fish.

-No.

-They're not being the fish.

0:36:420:36:45

You have got to get the movement and...

0:36:450:36:47

-And the drift and the current.

-And the drift.

0:36:470:36:49

You see, that's the key, the drift and the current.

0:36:490:36:52

We've hauled in loads of volunteer decorators,

0:36:520:36:55

the kitchen is pretty much in,

0:36:550:36:57

the flooring's going down

0:36:570:36:59

and Billy's electricians are finishing up.

0:36:590:37:01

Kind of.

0:37:010:37:02

Oh. There's no indication light.

0:37:050:37:07

Could you see if the plug's turned on?

0:37:070:37:09

-HE LAUGHS

-It's not turned on, is it?

-No.

0:37:110:37:13

-Why isn't it turned on?

-Because there's not a socket there.

-Oh.

0:37:130:37:16

THEY LAUGH

0:37:160:37:17

No socket where there should be one.

0:37:170:37:19

Hard to believe, isn't it? Billy's been doing this for 18 years.

0:37:190:37:22

In other news, the downstairs loo...

0:37:220:37:23

Oh!

0:37:230:37:25

..and upstairs bathroom are coming along.

0:37:250:37:27

And our very own Jules has officially been on Planet Earth

0:37:270:37:30

for 47 years, and is still standing.

0:37:300:37:34

-BOTH:

-# Happy birthday to you-ah

0:37:340:37:37

# Happy birthday to you-hoo

0:37:370:37:42

# Happy birthday, dear Julian

0:37:420:37:48

# Happy birthday to you-ou-ou-ou-ou! #

0:37:480:37:56

Whoo!

0:37:560:37:57

-Happy birthday!

-Thank you.

0:37:570:38:00

-Did you think we'd forget?

-Yeah.

-Yeah.

0:38:000:38:01

Well, I think you did forget.

0:38:010:38:03

Thanks, guys. Thanks for the thought.

0:38:030:38:05

-Did you have the top of that bun?

-Yeah, I did.

0:38:050:38:07

You don't want any more than that.

0:38:070:38:08

It's bad for you. Keep you up all night long.

0:38:080:38:10

Anyway, you haven't got time for tea.

0:38:100:38:12

-Well done, Jules.

-Thanks.

0:38:120:38:14

Yup, still standing and not condemned.

0:38:140:38:16

We almost have a basketball court, you know,

0:38:160:38:18

and with a stack of volunteers stacking up the paving,

0:38:180:38:21

I'm wondering if we may even pull this one in ahead of schedule.

0:38:210:38:25

Look at this go down. Look, it's amazing.

0:38:250:38:28

The speed that it's going down.

0:38:280:38:29

-Are we winning?

-Yeah, we seem to be doing all right.

0:38:290:38:31

We're doing well indoors.

0:38:310:38:33

I think we're going to have three bedrooms ready to dress tonight.

0:38:330:38:35

The screen's going in up the back. The blinds are going in.

0:38:350:38:38

-It's pretty good, actually.

-Yeah.

0:38:380:38:41

Who'd have thought it? After that rocky start,

0:38:410:38:43

it looks like we're actually going to finish this with time to spare.

0:38:430:38:46

The mood on site is one of happiness, togetherness,

0:38:460:38:49

even euphoria.

0:38:490:38:50

What could possibly hold us up now?

0:38:500:38:54

THUNDER RUMBLES

0:38:540:38:55

Well that could, yeah, to be fair.

0:38:550:38:57

They said it was going to rain. We didn't believe them.

0:38:570:39:01

But it is.

0:39:010:39:02

This is a disaster for us.

0:39:020:39:04

-Absolute disaster, isn't it?

-Mm, yeah.

0:39:040:39:06

But the trouble is we can't lay the driveway

0:39:060:39:08

and we can't finish off the garden.

0:39:080:39:10

On the upside, when you have a cup of tea,

0:39:100:39:12

it fills up as you're drinking it, which is quite good.

0:39:120:39:14

-Endless tea.

-Yeah.

0:39:140:39:16

No, it's not good. Not good.

0:39:160:39:18

And we will all be gutted if we're unable to finish this build on time.

0:39:180:39:23

Everyone has worked so hard to create a new home

0:39:230:39:25

for Sandra and her family.

0:39:250:39:27

A space where she can keep Crystal's memory alive.

0:39:270:39:31

We get to meet you, we get to meet Ziggy,

0:39:310:39:33

-we get to meet the kids, obviously.

-Yeah, yeah.

0:39:330:39:36

The one person we can't meet is Crystal

0:39:360:39:38

and I'd kind of like to know a little bit about her,

0:39:380:39:40

-if that's all right.

-Yeah. I'll get upset.

0:39:400:39:43

Yeah, she was a bubbly, charismatic, dependable, honest, caring, loving,

0:39:430:39:51

you know, a really good girl. Really good girl.

0:39:510:39:54

You've done such a lot of work with young people

0:39:540:39:57

-who are going through the care system.

-Yeah.

0:39:570:39:59

-And we know that you went through the care system yourself.

-Yeah.

0:39:590:40:01

When you had Crystal,

0:40:010:40:03

did you feel it was you and her against the world?

0:40:030:40:05

Yeah, absolutely.

0:40:050:40:06

You know, I vowed that I would do my utmost for my children,

0:40:060:40:11

because I'd seen what it has done to hundreds of kids, really.

0:40:110:40:15

Which made you super close.

0:40:150:40:17

Yeah, absolutely.

0:40:170:40:19

She would tell me everything and she knew everything

0:40:190:40:21

and there wasn't a day that passed when she left home

0:40:210:40:24

that we didn't see each other.

0:40:240:40:26

Very, very close.

0:40:260:40:27

There is no way of putting this any other way -

0:40:270:40:29

it must have been devastating.

0:40:290:40:31

-Yeah.

-To have no time to come to terms with it either,

0:40:310:40:35

cos it was such a short diagnosis,

0:40:350:40:36

and she passed away so quickly after the diagnosis.

0:40:360:40:39

I mean, I didn't want to believe it.

0:40:390:40:41

So...so you kind of don't prepare yourself when you're told,

0:40:410:40:46

because you just think, "That's not true."

0:40:460:40:49

And she...she was really good.

0:40:500:40:53

She just was worried about the kids.

0:40:530:40:55

And that's all she kept saying.

0:40:570:40:59

"You know, Mum, make sure the kids are OK. Look after the kids."

0:40:590:41:02

And you haven't really had a chance to grieve since, have you,

0:41:020:41:06

I suppose, because you had to start being a mum straight away for...

0:41:060:41:09

Yeah. Yeah, that's the difficulty -

0:41:090:41:11

you are a nan who kind of spoils and lets them get away with a lot more

0:41:110:41:16

than my daughter would have let them get away with.

0:41:160:41:18

And then I've got to try and put some routine

0:41:180:41:20

and boundaries in for them and be more of a mum.

0:41:200:41:24

It's not an easy task.

0:41:240:41:25

What do you wish for now?

0:41:250:41:27

I wish that... You know, that the children

0:41:270:41:30

..will be good, in the sense that they will grow up

0:41:310:41:35

and achieve and have happy lives.

0:41:350:41:38

That's what I wish for.

0:41:380:41:39

No wish for yourself?

0:41:400:41:41

Um, just to just keep going.

0:41:420:41:45

-LAUGHING:

-Just keep going.

0:41:450:41:47

That's it, yeah.

0:41:470:41:49

Do you know what? The layout of the building can help Sandra keep going,

0:41:500:41:54

just by getting her some sleep. We want to create a place

0:41:540:41:56

that Ziggy and the children are delighted to be.

0:41:560:41:59

I just hope our new designer, Mel,

0:41:590:42:00

is creating an environment that they love.

0:42:000:42:02

Behind your head, where we're looking at the moment - peach.

0:42:020:42:06

It's not peach, it's Aurora.

0:42:060:42:07

Aurora's not a colour, it's a constellation.

0:42:070:42:11

It's like my gran's peach.

0:42:110:42:13

It is very in!

0:42:130:42:15

So on that wall, you have got peach, dark blue and then patterned green.

0:42:150:42:19

Did you accidentally drop your colour charts?

0:42:190:42:22

I'm hoping the colour charts are back in order

0:42:220:42:24

upstairs, in Sandra's room.

0:42:240:42:26

-Peach and green.

-It's not peach!

-Peach.

-It's pink. It's pink.

0:42:260:42:31

-It's horrible.

-It's not!

-It's not even a good green.

0:42:310:42:33

This would be a good green

0:42:330:42:34

if it was in, like, a men's toilet in a hotel.

0:42:340:42:37

No, this is a good green. This is a beautiful, warm, sumptuous green.

0:42:370:42:41

On the other side, repainting a new house isn't that difficult.

0:42:410:42:45

-So...

-She may be wanting to do that.

0:42:450:42:48

She will not.

0:42:480:42:49

I do have something positive to say, though.

0:42:510:42:53

So, bathroom and four bedrooms, amazingly, in a space

0:42:540:42:57

that I thought you weren't ever going to be able to make it.

0:42:570:43:00

It's genius, in its own way.

0:43:000:43:03

The design is brilliant.

0:43:030:43:05

The colours are horrible, but the design's brilliant.

0:43:050:43:09

Well, I like the colours, too.

0:43:090:43:11

Well, it's a bit late to change the colours now.

0:43:110:43:13

I just hope Sandra and the family like it.

0:43:130:43:16

Tell me he's convinced.

0:43:160:43:18

Look at that. Ceiling done as well. Look.

0:43:180:43:21

VOICEOVER: Who does the ceiling? Who wallpapers a ceiling?!

0:43:210:43:24

At least the weather gods have been kind to us

0:43:260:43:28

and it's full steam ahead inside and out for the final push.

0:43:280:43:31

Sandra's community have pulled together on this build,

0:43:360:43:39

they've brought their skills and artistry and work ethic.

0:43:390:43:43

Ho-ho-ho! You've absolutely done a brilliant job.

0:43:430:43:47

A couple of general builders have even crafted a tepee from scratch

0:43:470:43:51

for little Ameira.

0:43:510:43:53

And one or two of her friends.

0:43:530:43:55

THEY CHEER

0:43:550:43:57

How many was that?

0:43:570:43:58

-14!

-Really?

0:43:580:44:00

That's some tepee, isn't it?

0:44:000:44:03

And that's the power of getting

0:44:030:44:04

a bunch of motivated individuals together

0:44:040:44:07

to help a family in their hour of need.

0:44:070:44:09

It's about community.

0:44:090:44:10

For the last 20 months,

0:44:170:44:18

Sandra and her family have been coming to terms

0:44:180:44:21

with the loss of a mother, a sister and a daughter.

0:44:210:44:24

A day don't go by where I don't really think about her.

0:44:250:44:28

Like, I think about her a lot.

0:44:280:44:29

It came as a shock to me. I didn't really expect it.

0:44:290:44:31

If it wasn't for the children,

0:44:330:44:35

I think I would never have got out of my bed, ever again.

0:44:350:44:39

I just wanted to be with my daughter.

0:44:390:44:41

Sandra and Ziggy had taken on the care of Crystal's children,

0:44:420:44:46

but, living in a tiny two-up two-down,

0:44:460:44:49

there's been no private space and nowhere to grieve.

0:44:490:44:52

It's just, like, small.

0:44:520:44:55

Sandra has been sharing a bedroom with Deago and Ameira

0:44:550:44:58

and the stress has been holding back everyone from dealing with things.

0:44:580:45:02

It means the world to see my mum and the little ones happy,

0:45:020:45:05

so it will be amazing just to see my family happy.

0:45:050:45:08

Over the last nine days, a bunch of selfless volunteers

0:45:090:45:13

have proven why the Midlands is the heart of the country.

0:45:130:45:16

They've worked tirelessly to transform

0:45:160:45:18

what was this tiny two-up two-down

0:45:180:45:21

into a fully functional four-bedroom home,

0:45:210:45:24

fit for a growing family.

0:45:240:45:26

The two dingy, cramped downstairs rooms have been transformed

0:45:290:45:33

by adding a side extension and knocking through.

0:45:330:45:37

It's now one large open-plan space with three distinct zones.

0:45:370:45:42

There's the living space -

0:45:440:45:45

room for the whole family to kick back together

0:45:450:45:48

on comfortable sofas in contemporary surroundings.

0:45:480:45:52

There's a dining area which means the family can, for the first time,

0:45:520:45:55

sit down and eat together.

0:45:550:45:57

And we've built them a glossy kitchen,

0:45:590:46:00

fully equipped with every mod con that Sandra and Ziggy will need

0:46:000:46:05

to bring up the children.

0:46:050:46:07

And, by moving the front door,

0:46:070:46:08

we've turned the old porch into a trendy downstairs loo.

0:46:080:46:11

Upstairs, the side extension

0:46:130:46:15

has allowed us to create two new bijou bedrooms.

0:46:150:46:19

Ameira's room is designed and built just for her,

0:46:190:46:22

complete with the required flowers.

0:46:220:46:25

Now Deago has a place to escape, too - there's a hand-built bed

0:46:250:46:29

and more than a nod to his love of basketball.

0:46:290:46:32

Ziggy's room has been given an urban look with plenty of storage.

0:46:340:46:38

And, for Sandra, her very own peaceful sanctuary

0:46:390:46:43

with her very own comfortable bed -

0:46:430:46:45

not just a place to sleep, but somewhere to de-stress

0:46:450:46:48

and get away whenever she needs a break.

0:46:480:46:50

Four bedrooms and a family bathroom complete the new upstairs layout.

0:46:520:46:56

Outdoors, there are was little room for the children to play.

0:47:000:47:03

But now it's transformed into a low-maintenance urban garden.

0:47:050:47:09

There's an area to eat, artificial lawn to play on

0:47:100:47:13

and that miniature basketball court will allow Deago

0:47:130:47:16

a place to let off steam whenever he needs to.

0:47:160:47:19

It's a home fit for this family to start rebuilding their lives.

0:47:190:47:24

OK, welcome to your new home.

0:47:320:47:34

Open your eyes.

0:47:340:47:36

Oh, my God!

0:47:360:47:37

Oh!

0:47:390:47:40

It's amazing. Oh, wow!

0:47:400:47:43

HE SOBS

0:47:480:47:51

-I can't believe it.

-Do you want to look round?

0:47:570:48:00

A lot more space.

0:48:000:48:02

I love this. This is...absolutely fantastic.

0:48:020:48:07

Just to sit and have a meal together at a table,

0:48:070:48:10

it's going to make such a difference.

0:48:100:48:12

-HE PUFFS

-I'm shocked. I am.

0:48:120:48:15

I'm speechless, honestly. It's amazing.

0:48:150:48:17

Can you see this working for the family?

0:48:170:48:19

Brilliantly. And the children can do a bit of cooking with me.

0:48:190:48:23

It's just beyond what I could wish for, it really is.

0:48:230:48:27

Come see the kitchen. Take a wander off and see the kitchen.

0:48:270:48:30

-It's all yours.

-Wheee!

0:48:300:48:32

It's big.

0:48:340:48:36

-Walk around...

-Sink in the middle.

0:48:360:48:38

So, basically, if the kids are playing in the garden,

0:48:380:48:40

-you can keep an eye on them.

-Yeah.

0:48:400:48:42

And that one - pull that one to the right there.

0:48:420:48:45

Oh! Wow!

0:48:450:48:47

I've never had a dishwasher.

0:48:470:48:49

A good-size one as well.

0:48:490:48:51

Got the ultimate kitchen, then?

0:48:510:48:52

Absolutely. And it will alleviate a lot of the stress

0:48:520:48:56

that I've been under and I'm sure that we've all been under.

0:48:560:49:00

So have we done everything that you asked for?

0:49:000:49:03

Yeah, just a toilet, I think.

0:49:030:49:04

Where are we going to put a toilet?

0:49:040:49:06

I know. I know. It was a big ask.

0:49:060:49:09

It's just that when you're on the loo,

0:49:090:49:11

someone else always wants the loo, that was just it.

0:49:110:49:15

You might want to look from there.

0:49:150:49:16

-NICK LAUGHS

-Oh!

0:49:180:49:21

-Wow.

-It's your old porch.

0:49:210:49:23

-Removed the front door.

-OK.

0:49:230:49:26

That's a massive bonus, it really is.

0:49:260:49:28

-Do you like it?

-It's beautiful.

0:49:280:49:30

Have a little look.

0:49:300:49:31

Oh, wow.

0:49:320:49:34

-SHE SNIFFS You all right?

-Yeah.

0:49:390:49:41

-Just the pictures?

-Yeah.

-Yeah.

0:49:410:49:44

They're beautiful.

0:49:440:49:45

Come on, we've lots more to show you.

0:49:470:49:48

-Happy?

-Thank you.

-Ready to see some more?

-Yeah, yeah.

0:49:570:50:01

-I love this carpet.

-Yeah.

-It's gorgeous.

0:50:010:50:04

Right, how many doors do you count?

0:50:040:50:06

Five.

0:50:060:50:08

What does that mean?

0:50:080:50:09

That means everybody's got a room, which is...

0:50:090:50:12

Yes! Yes, yes, yes!

0:50:120:50:15

We managed to get four bedrooms in here!

0:50:160:50:18

Right, walk straight on, we'll have a look at the bathroom.

0:50:200:50:23

-Step in.

-Oh, my gosh.

0:50:230:50:26

That is beautiful.

0:50:260:50:28

Yeah, that's... That is something else.

0:50:280:50:32

Listen, the bedrooms are obviously not massive,

0:50:320:50:34

you can understand that. But we wanted to give everyone

0:50:340:50:37

their own space, so whose do you want to see first?

0:50:370:50:39

-Um...

-Mimi's.

0:50:390:50:41

Wow! Oh...

0:50:450:50:48

Oh, wow!

0:50:480:50:50

Oh, she will love this.

0:50:500:50:52

What does this room mean for you?

0:50:520:50:54

That I can maybe have a night's sleep,

0:50:540:50:58

that she can have a little bit of independence.

0:50:580:51:02

You know, it will help her mature a little bit.

0:51:020:51:05

Fab, isn't it? Fab.

0:51:050:51:06

Oh...

0:51:090:51:11

Wow!

0:51:110:51:12

Oh, wow!

0:51:120:51:14

So the cabinet was actually spray-painted by an artist

0:51:140:51:17

specifically for Deago. You'll see his name on the top.

0:51:170:51:19

Oh, my God. That's sick, man.

0:51:190:51:20

How do you think this room's going to change things for Deago?

0:51:200:51:23

It will make a massive difference.

0:51:230:51:25

I think it will help with his behaviour.

0:51:250:51:28

I think it will hopefully help him feel, you know,

0:51:280:51:31

that he's here and he's not going anywhere.

0:51:310:51:34

This is his family.

0:51:340:51:35

-Shall we go and see yours, Ziggy?

-Yeah.

-Yeah?

0:51:370:51:39

-Yeah...

-Oh, my gosh.

0:51:420:51:46

It is so grown-up.

0:51:460:51:47

I'm so proud of you.

0:51:500:51:52

I don't know how I would've coped without you.

0:51:520:51:55

HE SOBS

0:51:550:51:57

OK?

0:52:010:52:03

-My birthday, that was, remember?

-Yeah.

0:52:040:52:07

And she would be so proud of you.

0:52:070:52:09

You've taken on a lot of responsibility

0:52:100:52:11

and you need some space where you can come and chill out, too.

0:52:110:52:14

This is it.

0:52:140:52:15

You might want to look behind you, Sandra, there - left-hand door.

0:52:150:52:18

-Oh, wow!

-Oh, yeah.

0:52:180:52:19

Now, we've measured those spaces over there

0:52:190:52:21

-to be three shoe boxes high!

-Ha-hey!

0:52:210:52:24

-Tell us what's going in there.

-Jordans!

0:52:240:52:26

THEY LAUGH

0:52:260:52:27

Nice place for you to come and hang out?

0:52:270:52:29

Yeah, I love it. Like, it's better than what I could have expected.

0:52:290:52:33

It's amazing.

0:52:330:52:34

-That's everything, isn't it?

-Yeah. Um...

0:52:340:52:38

You know there's a room for you!

0:52:380:52:40

Let's go and have a look, shall we?

0:52:410:52:43

Oh, wow. That's beautiful.

0:52:470:52:51

Absolutely beautiful.

0:52:510:52:53

I couldn't have wished for anything better.

0:52:530:52:56

-You like it?

-I do. I really do.

0:52:560:52:58

I wasn't sure about the colour mix - the pink and the...

0:52:580:53:00

I love it. It's just a subtle pink, and I love green -

0:53:000:53:04

green's my favourite colour.

0:53:040:53:05

Just goes to show what I know, doesn't it?!

0:53:050:53:07

The colours are so calming.

0:53:080:53:11

To be able to have a night's sleep,

0:53:110:53:13

absolutely beyond what I could have asked for.

0:53:130:53:15

It means such a lot. It really does.

0:53:220:53:25

Shall we show the children?

0:53:260:53:28

-Yeah.

-Definitely.

0:53:280:53:30

-Yeah? Ready for this?

-Yeah.

-I'm excited.

0:53:300:53:32

Isn't it beautiful?

0:53:390:53:41

Does it look sick?

0:53:410:53:43

-DEAGO:

-Looks better than sick!

0:53:430:53:45

Is this our house? Is this our house?

0:53:450:53:48

Yo. This is sick. I don't know how we've been living here for years.

0:53:480:53:52

-Do you like it?

-Yeah, I do. I like it more than "like it".

0:53:520:53:55

It's your room!

0:53:570:53:59

Isn't that fantastic?

0:53:590:54:01

-Are you happy?

-Yeah!

-Yeah!

0:54:010:54:04

Oh!

0:54:040:54:06

So good.

0:54:060:54:08

-I want to stay here.

-You want to stay here?

0:54:080:54:10

Sorry to interrupt. There's two things I need to say to you.

0:54:100:54:13

First is, for those at home who don't understand,

0:54:130:54:16

"sick" is very, very good, cos that's mostly what you're saying

0:54:160:54:18

and not everybody's cool like you and knows that.

0:54:180:54:20

Secondly, I've got one other thing to show you,

0:54:200:54:23

so I want to get everyone back downstairs, if you're ready.

0:54:230:54:25

-Happy?

-Yeah, that's cool.

0:54:250:54:26

Oh, my God!

0:54:300:54:31

Wow!

0:54:320:54:34

No way, man!

0:54:350:54:37

-It's amazing.

-I don't need to go nowhere to train.

0:54:370:54:39

-And he's made the first one!

-The first one?! Nice!

0:54:390:54:42

NICK APPLAUDS

0:54:420:54:43

Oh! That is... I haven't got it.

0:54:450:54:48

HE CHUCKLES

0:54:480:54:49

Oh, this is brilliant.

0:54:490:54:51

I can't believe what they've done with the space, I really can't.

0:54:510:54:54

-Have you got everything you need now?

-Absolutely everything.

0:54:540:54:57

It's magic. Absolute magic.

0:54:570:55:00

You've still got a lot ahead of you, a lot of hard work ahead of you.

0:55:000:55:03

Yeah. But this is just going to now make that a lot easier.

0:55:030:55:07

The children having somewhere to play is just going to mean

0:55:070:55:11

that I can focus more, I can give them what they need.

0:55:110:55:14

-And get some rest.

-And get some rest. Brilliant.

0:55:140:55:17

-Yay!

-Yay!

0:55:170:55:19

-Yay!

-High five, Mimi!

0:55:190:55:22

Hey!

0:55:220:55:23

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

0:55:250:55:27

This is overwhelming, it really is.

0:55:390:55:43

My daughter, Crystal, passed away, and the children lost their mum.

0:55:430:55:48

But they also lost their home.

0:55:480:55:50

They've been with me.

0:55:510:55:53

But, as you all know, the house was extremely tiny.

0:55:530:55:56

It's been really difficult, it's been extremely stressful.

0:55:560:56:00

The children not having any space,

0:56:010:56:03

and me feeling that I'm letting my daughter down,

0:56:030:56:07

that I'm not doing what I need to do for my grandchildren.

0:56:070:56:10

What you have done, honestly,

0:56:120:56:14

it's going to make such a massive difference.

0:56:140:56:17

The children have a room,

0:56:170:56:20

I may be able to get a night's sleep!

0:56:200:56:22

-LAUGHTER

-Maybe.

0:56:220:56:25

I mean, realistically, we should be clapping you guys

0:56:250:56:27

for everything you've done for us,

0:56:270:56:28

and honestly I just can't explain how you're going to change our lives

0:56:280:56:31

and help out my mum and my family.

0:56:310:56:33

It's-it's amazing.

0:56:330:56:35

Thank you, thank you.

0:56:350:56:37

Thank you, thank you.

0:56:470:56:49

You're very welcome.

0:56:490:56:50

Sandra's one of those people who,

0:56:500:56:52

despite going through the care system when she was young,

0:56:520:56:54

decided to dedicate her life to changing young people's lives around

0:56:540:56:57

at critical moments,

0:56:570:56:58

and here she was facing a critical situation herself,

0:56:580:57:02

trying to raise her two grandchildren.

0:57:020:57:04

All these people came out and made a difference at that critical time.

0:57:040:57:09

And it comes back to the same thing every time -

0:57:090:57:11

at the risk of repeating myself, we can't help everyone,

0:57:110:57:14

but everyone really can help someone.

0:57:140:57:16

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