The Big Build Children in Need Special - Liverpool DIY SOS

Hello and welcome to a very special DIY SOS,

coming to you from Norris Green in Liverpool.

We're about to attempt a build that's ten times bigger than anything

we've done before.

We're going to have so much to do, it's going to be frightening.

I genuinely don't think we'll finish.

We're running out of days. That's not good.

-We've got just ten days, but an army of support.

-It's a challenge.

It's the biggest challenge I've ever done in this space of time.

I'll never forget this job.

Over the next hour, we're going to show you how a community

can come together to make a difference...

An area like this, it needs some good to come to it.

There's nothing round here, so this is where everyone just comes.

It's about time something happened here.

If that centre wasn't there, there'd be nowhere for them to go.

..and how your support for Children In Need tonight

will change people's lives.

By texting tonight, you can donate £5 to Children In Need

and help give children, and young people

all over Britain, a safer, brighter future.

This is DIY SOS - The Biggest Build.

There hasn't been much good news about young people this year.

New analysis of official unemployment figures

reveals how the real victims of the economic crisis are the young...

And all over the country,

services for young people are a target for cuts.

BBC London has learned that youth clubs and projects which help

young people across the capital are threatened with closure.

This centre, and four others like it in Middlesbrough,

face the possibility of closure.

But youth clubs all over the country do incredible work

with young people.

The more youth clubs there are in an area, the fewer ASBOs get issued.

That's just one reason why Children In Need

supports youth clubs

in places like Norris Green,

one of the poorest areas of Liverpool,

with a reputation for gang crime.

A Liverpool man has telling how he was shot at by armed raiders

as he raced to help his friend.

The gang fired the sawn-off shotgun as they fled from a shop

in the Norris Green area of the city.

You're scared to go out cos of the gangs on the corners

and stuff like that.

People are getting shot and that. You just get scared.

-It's just frightening?

-Yeah.

I think it's hard when they're about 14 or 15 -

they don't really know what to do apart from to join a gang,

cos that's who they follow.

If they haven't got any alternative, then they won't know.

In an area like this, young people need somewhere to go,

and that place is Norris Green Youth Club.

That centre does have so much. It is a big part of the community there.

If we stop one kid from joining a gang and ending up in prison

and whatever, that's an achievement.

For the staff here, this isn't just a job. It's a calling.

Meet Glenn, the man who works night and day

to help the young people of Norris Green.

From the minute I stepped through these doors over seven years ago,

I've loved every minute of it.

I was born in this area, grew up in this area, I've got family,

my son lives in this area.

These teenagers can make you want to tear your hair out, can't they?

Yeah, but...to turn them round and get them to achieve or get them

standing on top of a mountain abseiling down when they would

never have the chance, and you see the look on their face

when they've achieved it or climbed up or whatever, it's great.

So it's clear this youth club is vital to the people of Norris Green.

But it's falling apart.

It was built in the 1950s and it's been starved of attention

ever since.

You ask anybody, "Can I have some money for the building?"

No. No chance.

With no money for even basic repairs,

the centre is just one step away form closure.

When it gets cold, it gets cold. There's draughts everywhere.

Doors don't shut properly.

It's tired - the building's very, very tired.

We're limping along at the moment.

That's where we come in.

I'm slightly worried by the size of the place.

I knew we were taking on something big,

but this vast - it's like two aircraft hangers.

It is a big old place. We used to call it the TARDIS.

Looks like you've got some water damage coming in.

Does this roof leak?

It does leak from time to time,

usually when you're trying to play table tennis or a bit of pool.

-Cold in the winter, I guess?

-Very cold. These windows don't shut.

They don't shut at all. The wind howls through it.

Sometimes you have to put some plastic up to cover it.

-That looks like a big area in there.

-Yes, that's the hall.

If we do a bit of football...

But we don't now, cos the ceilings are so bad - the ball hits it,

it rattles the lights, it could knock a panel out,

it could hurt a young person or a member of staff.

-Are people excited about what's happening here?

-Very excited.

It's like Christmas. They're very, very excited about it.

They can't wait. I am, myself.

I haven't been sleeping properly the past few weeks over this.

I haven't been, either, cos I know what we've got!

This job is massive!

The floor area of the youth club is 2,000 square metres.

The average new-build house is just 79.

And we've got just ten days before we hand it back to Glenn

and the team.

On behalf of Children In Need, we're asking business to donate

hundreds of thousands of pounds worth of materials and equipment.

But most of all, we're going to need people.

Lots and lots of people - at least 100 a day, every day.

Come on in, gentlemen!

This is what this place is all about -

pointing youngsters in the right direction.

There's kids I've spoken to who say they're frightened

to come out, but they can come here.

We're not just building a building, we're building an opportunity

and giving the chance for the amazing people who work here

to change young people's lives around

and point them in the right direction.

Let's make things happen.

First thing's first, and it's all hands on deck.

-This is your corner, isn't it?

-Yeah. That's the old recording studio.

It wasn't sound-proofed enough, so all that's being ripped out.

There's a mezzanine floor going in there and a new recording studio.

So we're on top of this?

I think it's a bit early to tell whether we're on top of it, you know?

What's going on here? This is your area, isn't it?

Basically, we've got Brian and his boys

and we're going to strip this hall out, strip this wall out,

all this boarding's coming off the ceiling

and there's a new self-contained mezzanine floor going in this area.

We've got to rip it out

and hand it over to the mezzanine floor people.

You've got a bunch of animals working with you, haven't you?

Yeah, yeah, I'm quite used to these type of plugs.

Do you know what's particularly fascinating about this?

If you take this plug and follow it to where it goes - look at this.

-How does that work?!

-Ha-ha!

Don't worry - we've got plenty of people to help Billy, too.

But make no mistake, this job is on a vast scale.

You've got 123 people on site today. That's a record.

The redesign of the outside of the youth club is a key part of the challenge,

because, let's be honest, it's really ugly.

A combination on neglect

and anti-climb guards make it look hideous.

Just as well it's hidden behind heavy fencing,

meaning that passers-by can't see it.

But surely it's supposed to be welcoming?

It looked wrong. It just looked like a prison. All these railings.

You go in there, it's like you're getting locked in.

What's the point in going in there?

In charge of the design for this one is Charlie Luxton.

Charlie's a Big Build veteran

and his bold ideas are just the kind of strong statement we want here.

The biggest challenge with the design of this project

has been about lifting this feeling of it being under siege,

which it really had before we started work, and creating

something that's very robust. So it's got to be really simple.

Overarching all of that, the biggest thing is,

we've got to do it in nine days.

And volunteering his time and skills to work with us is

Liverpool architect Daniel Smith.

How's it going to work between you two?

Obviously, Charlie comes with us on the jobs we do,

but you've already been here working on the architecture of this place

for a while, so how's it working out?

We get in a darkened room and we fight.

Are you looking for it to be beautiful or just purely functional?

-Or marry the both?

-Functional but funky.

-Really?

-Yeah.

It's a youth centre, so there needs to be colour, light,

it needs to be robust for the kids and stuff.

It's got to survive another 50 years.

So, what's involved in this million-pound build?

Well, here are the headlines -

we're putting in two new mezzanine floors

and re-wiring, re-plumbing and re-roofing the whole building.

There'll be a new recording studio, tiered seating in the big hall,

and a new entrance hall at the front.

All this in just nine days, so we can hand it back on the tenth.

And all for free.

One of the biggest jobs is refurbishing

the ceilings in both halls.

They have to be finished in the first few days in order for us

to work on the floors.

-Look at this roof. Don't you want to see that roof?

-Yes.

-At the moment, plans are to re-clad it.

-Yes.

-I think that's mental.

I've been saying for months now, "I don't want to do that."

I think it'd be quicker to nip off those nails

with a big pair of tin snips, then spray it and clad it.

Spray paint it?

-Yeah, with a sprayer.

-There you go, that's why he's here -

to come up with the big ideas. Thinking on his feet. It's a great idea.

But when we strip back the ceiling, we make a discovery.

There's obviously been a bit of a problem

in the building at some point.

There's been a fire in this building.

The boys have just opened the thing up. Look up here.

Really, a fire of that extent, this building could have gone.

Lucky they got that out.

That could have been good night, Irene, really.

So, as knackered as it is,

we're lucky to have any building to work with at all.

Further investigation suggests the fire is at least 20 years old

and the ceiling's been extensively repaired,

it's structurally sound, but it's not restorable.

I noticed that your cladding is going on the ceiling.

Are you going to paint that?

-No, we're going to leave it woody.

-Are we?

-Yeah.

It's got a special spread of flame protection on it

and we're going to leave it timbery.

I'd have wanted to paint it, but he knows what he's doing, this boy,

so I'm sure it'll look bright and robust and modern.

Just what the centre needs, really.

But there's no point in doing any of this work

if we don't' stop the roof from leaking

Chris and Steve are looking after the roof. It's sizable.

It's a big roof and we haven't got much time.

The weather's a bit against us at the moment.

When finished,

it'll form a single plastic skin over the whole building.

It's big, though.

You've got to make sure that every single seam

that you put in is absolutely watertight.

Absolutely. It's a one-hit system.

Are you staring to get the idea? This is a huge job.

Normally, we like to get the occupiers

out of the building before we smash it to bits.

But this job is so big, there was no time to wait.

Helping Glenn to clear out is Nabil,

who's been a regular at the centre for seven years.

I used to go round on the streets in a little gang and used to cause

mischief and throw stones at windows

and get chased off the police.

Then someone said, "You've got to go to the youth centre."

Originally, I got barred for three months when I did come,

because I was throwing things at staff and doing stuff to staff.

Glenn just kept saying to me, "Come on, come back",

so I don't know whether they believed in me, in a sense.

One time, it just made me realise, "What am I doing?"

Make no mistake, this youth club has changed Nabil's life around.

He's now studying youth work and working part time with Glenn.

He's just one of lots of young people who've come through the door.

Hopefully, they say good things about the centre and the staff.

So, yeah, it does have an impact on everyone, I think,

in the community and families in general.

You're seen as something positive

and young people can get something positive out of it.

This centre and hundreds like it help to show young people

a different, more exciting future.

That's why we're doing this and that's why we want your support.

To keep supporting projects like this,

please donate £5 to Children In Need now.

Text DIYSOS to 70705.

Text messages will cost £5 plus your standard network charge

and £5 will go to Children In Need.

For full terms and conditions, visit bbc.co.uk/pudsey

MUSIC: "Hollyoaks Theme"

This job's so big, it's not just our fantastic tradesmen

and women who are getting involved.

Channel 4's teen drama, Hollyoaks, is filmed just down the road

and some of the cast are helping out with the painting.

And the most vital job of all.

The tea-round! That's 84 teas and 28 coffees, please.

-Tea, please.

-Tea? Any sugar?

-One.

Four coffees, one latte...

Four coffees?

Do you know what...

Right. Two coffees, two sugars.

That's six coffees.

She got there in the end!

I thought we'd take a look at where we are. The kitchen has electricity and plumbing in it.

At the end here, the recording studio has been knocked down and a mezzanine floor

has been put in, so we now have two stories.

Down this wall, the tiny windows have been knocked through,

brand new windows in. Look up at the office, that's got a new window and new studwork.

There's new office studwork here and here.

Outside, we've built a concrete pad and put a new atrium on it.

In here, the toilets have been knocked down and we've started to rebuild. This is the disabled loo.

Come with me because that's only half the build.

In here, the ceiling has been stripped,

the stairwell has been taken away,

three walls have disappeared

and we've built another mezzanine floor.

And that's only the inside.

Outside, half this vast roof has been covered

and we've started on the fencing around the perimeter.

Yes, it's a huge job, but we are winning.

Look! That's Liverpool. That's the Mersey, that's the Liver Building.

Oh, look! That's us on the way to work, there.

We've made a great start, but it is only a start

and there's an Everest of work ahead of us.

Luckily, our boys working on this are mountain climbers.

As well as a new entrance hall, we're cladding the front of the club

to make it a real present in Norris Green.

I'm not much of one for design, as you know, but I quite like that.

-Yeah...Yeah.

-It's green.

-It's green.

-But then we were told, "No red, no blue because of the football connection."

-Of course.

And then it was, "OK, well, what does that leave you?"

-Norris Green - green seemed like a really...

-I see what you did there!

But at this stage in the build, the biggest challenges are those

that will be hidden when the building is finished.

Right now, it's the plumbers, heating engineers and electricians who have their work cut out.

I want to introduce you to someone.

-This is Chris, who supplied us with our boilers.

-Hi.

Charlie, you were saying this system,

the key thing about this, is saving money.

Yeah, I mean, they had enormous bills.

I think it was somewhere around 12 grand for their bills

for heating and electricity. Enormous.

They had a really old cobbled together system.

And so the aim was to half that.

-And this will do that, will it?

-Yeah.

Compared to what they had before, this modern gas system

will pretty much half the bills,

so that's a saving of about £5,000, £5,500 a year.

You look at it and it's an ordinary thing.

They are one of the hardest-working teams on the build.

-It's between them and the electricians.

-They have to be.

They're not going to get by on their looks, are they? Let's be honest.

LAUGHTER

These trades have a real battle on their hands

because this 50-year-old building is a nightmare to work with.

This is how this building's made. Look. This is all pre-cast concrete,

so when they start drilling into the walls, it explodes and comes apart.

That was a whole for Billy's plug socket, by the way.

And in places the concrete is reinforced with steel,

so cutting routes for pipes and cables is slow.

-Did you see the sparks?

-HE LAUGHS

And remember - not only are these guys replacing every pipe,

every radiator, every wire, light-switch and plug in this huge building,

they're doing it in just nine days.

Flipping heck!

Doesn't that terrify you, this, look.

I look at that the same way as I would look my income tax return form.

At the end of the year when you go, "I don't know where to start with this."

The job itself is quite a straightforward job.

But you would usually do this with a team of three men over six weeks or something

to get it all done, tested and finished. You know, it is a challenge.

All you can do is just go for it, really.

As head electrician, Shane has a lot resting on his shoulders,

but he's not letting the pressure get to him.

I'll never forget this job as long as I live.

And after this I never want to speak to you ever again.

I've got your number. I'll give you a ring at Christmas.

-I'll change my number.

-I've got your address and your mum's address.

-I'll ring you!

-After Thursday, you'll never get hold of me again.

-I'm going to change my name by deed poll.

-I am coming up to see you!

THEY LAUGH

'But Shane has a secret weapon.'

Doesn't that look terrifying? 'It's Billy!'

This is big, bad cable, man!

You don't get these in little houses!

I tell you what, we couldn't have done without Billy. Hand on heart, what a guy. What a guy.

After years of electrocuting innocent members of the team - me in particular -

Billy's found his true calling.

Do you know what? It's 35 years since I've done anything like this

and I'm loving it.

Loving it, loving it, loving it.

Really, really a throwback to my days as an apprentice

working in the big factories and that. Oh, I love it.

What a guy. In fact, we're going to take him with us when we leave.

Thank you. That's very kind. We don't like to see we're getting ahead because we can jinx it.

'But on this one we're getting ahead. Nothing can go wrong.' Who hasn't turned up?

What happened is the guy's come out to have a look at the soundproofing for this recording studio yesterday

and he didn't feel very confident about it.

And this morning he's just rang me and said he can't do it.

-The whole sound recording studio.

-No, we knew this was going to get done.

They've dropped me in the proverbial.

'We're trying to do so much so fast that we're asking a lot of people

'and sometimes we're asking too much.'

-We've got the wood.

-No, we haven't.

They were bringing the manpower and the wood?

It wasn't wood. It was all shop-fit metal, so it was all being built into metal studding.

Two layers of metal studding with a soundproof curtain

in the middle of it and two layers of acoustic board on the outside.

-They were bringing all of that?

-Everything.

-And the people?

-And the people.

-That's all gone.

-All gone. At the moment...

-We have no recording studio.

-Nothing else there.

# Close enough to start a war... #

These studios are one of the biggest components of the build

and a vital part of the youth club.

We managed to get a couple of pounds together and build basically 4 x 3

and a bit of plasterboard and that of plyboard.

We have a number of staff that teach guitar, drums, keyboard,

music production and bands can come in,

practise, our staff will then say,

"If you do this and do that, it'll sound better and we'll record you."

So they can go away with their own disc, give it to their families, give it out if they're doing a gig,

maybe to a record company. So, there's all of that they'll get and it's all free.

I got told about it and then got told about the studios,

so I thought I'd give it a go

and then I've been coming ever since and it's helped me...

They've put me in for loads of shows and stuff, and it's helped me

build my confidence with singing more and playing the piano,

and to go out there and just go for it.

# Maybe there's a place

# Maybe there's a reason... #

The old studios were falling apart

and about as soundproof as a paper bag.

But they gave young people in this tough area the chance to express themselves.

A chance they almost certainly wouldn't have without this centre.

We've been coming here since we were about 16, I'd say.

When we started out, nobody had any money.

You've got a paper round whatever and that just covers your guitar strings.

You'd come here because it's free

and there's always somewhere to go.

Music is just one way that this youth centre

and hundreds like them keep young people off the streets

and get them involved in something positive.

You can support the good work right now -

just by sending a text.

To keep supporting projects like Norris Green...

Please donate £5 to Children In Need now...

By texting DIYSOS to 70705.

I thank you.

We may have had a knock-back with the studio, but everywhere else

the support we're getting is incredible.

Does anybody want a coffee?

'Everything from skips...'

He said to us, "We'll give you £10,000 worth of skips for this job."

We've run out of the £10,000.

He said, "I tell you what, the whole job,

"we'll keep running them so that you don't run out.

"We'll cover the lot." Off his own back.

-'..to cake shops...'

-Do you think it would be wrong of me to have two?

If you need any more, give me a shout through the week.

Don't say things like that as you'll get a phone call.

-'..banks...'

-This is presented from Deutsche Bank.

'..to scrap metal merchants...'

Thank you very much. £2,500. That will go so far for this centre.

'..and, most of all, our fantastic tradespeople.

'You won't see them all, but everyone's giving so much to this centre.'

On site today we have...136 so far.

It's only 9:30 am.

As well as refurbishing the building,

we're doing the garden as well.

And who better to oversee it than Blue Peter gardener Chris Collins?

There he is. What a jumper!

So here, this bit will be where they can come and just relax.

Where we're standing now, we'll have a pebble path

and planting all-round here

and then some tables and chairs as a relax-area.

-And on the other side...

-What other side?

On the opposite side of this building where

the sleepers are. Have you seen the sleeper beds?

-I didn't know you were doing that side as well.

-Well, in theory.

This is the top parts. I'm going to deck that and put some seating in.

And then this is going to be an Asian garden - oriental garden.

We'll beach that down and make that an area

-to go and contemplate, if you like.

-Nice! Thanks very much for coming and doing this.

No, my pleasure. Privilege, mate.

I couldn't bring myself to ask about the jumper!

The centrepiece of the small hall is going to be this mural.

It's the creation of two self-styled urban illustrators,

Dave Bain and Loch Ness.

And helping Mr Bain and Mr Ness today Neil Buchanan -

local boy and Art Attack presenter.

We've got Neil Buchanan just down there. Childhood hero of mine,

which I'm totally chuffed about.

Norris Green, to me, is where I used to come to the swimming baths

a million years ago.

In those days, it was called Noggsie Green Baths or Noggsie Spittoon.

We used to go there every week

and even in those days it was a bit run-down, you know.

So to come and do something like this is absolutely awesome for me.

As I said, the support we're receiving has been amazing.

But in order to get that recording studio built,

I'm going to have to try and push that generosity

just a little bit further.

I need about 500 metres of woodwork. 4 x 2.

And I need about four to six chippies, ideally six chippies.

Rogan have to build the whole thing out of studwork to do it. We can't get it anywhere else.

-I know you've given a lot already, but I wonder whether you could...

-I'll make a phone call.

-I'm sure with John's persuasion, we'll sort something out.

-Thank you very much.

-Cheers.

You know where you're watching a conversation and you can't work out

whether it's going well or going badly...

Oh, they're smiling now. They're smiling.

What do you reckon? Can you get it?

-You can?

-Sorted.

-The lot? The people and the...

Yeah. Not a problem.

Oh, another hug! I'm the one who supplied them.

These lads have been amazing. Just to give you an idea,

that pretty much doubles their input on this job.

So that means the studio's back on.

There we go!

Right, guys, 8:30 am this morning I roll in only to be told

that we don't have anyone to build the recording studio.

-What happens?

-About 10 am, we speak to George and his boss, John.

About midday, some people arrive. And now, 4:30 pm,

they're building us a soundproof recording studio wall

-all the way along the back. Look at that.

-Brilliant!

So, we got a recording studio

and who better to christen the new studio than Sonia?

A woman with nine top 20 hits to her name, born just a few miles from Norris Green.

# You'll never stop me from loving you

# Wherever you can go I will follow you... #

But despite all those hits,

SOS celebrity correspondent Mark Miller has no idea who she is.

-Hello there.

-Hello.

-Any tea for anyone?

-I'm Mark. What's your name?

-Hi, I am Sonia.

-Hello, Sonia. Thank you very much.

Which ones are the teas?

-Sonia?

-Oblivious. He's got no idea at all.

Have you spent a bit of time in the recording studios yourself?

Just a little bit. Yeah, but I think this is just going to be fab, you know,

with all the live instruments.

-Give us a song! Come on!

-Let's hear what it sounds like. Hit a few notes.

-I could sing my big hit anyway.

-Go on, then.

# You'll never stop me from loving you

# It doesn't really matter what you put me through.

# You'll never stop me from loving you. #

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

-Does that jog your memory at all, Mark?

-Thank you, Sonia.

Still no idea at all, has he?

The recording studios are important to the young people.

But even more important is the kitchen - regularly the busiest place in the centre.

We cook most nights. Kids tend to eat a lot of chips.

What we're trying to do is just promote healthy cooking

and show them how to cook it, so they'll be able to go home,

speak to their mum and dad and say, "I'd like to do a fajita or a stew," or something like that.

Something that's healthy, there's not a lot of fat in, it's good for you.

Something different that they've not had.

It's like if your mum and dad are out, you've got the ingredients

and you can cook something and you're not just eating crap, like.

Well, I never used to like peppers or well...

I like them now and spicy foods.

I never used to eat them but I do now, like.

To make this a cleaner, more attractive space

and get more young people cooking and eating healthily,

these splendid chaps are fitting a top of the range kitchen.

It's going to be a boon for people like Davey -

one of the centre's keenest members.

-Done. Look at that, you're a superstar in the making.

-Perfecto!

He has complex learning disabilities.

He was very shy, wouldn't communicate with other people

unless he had me with him or a member of the family.

Now, he will go and ask people things,

he'll have a go at doing different things.

There's a lot you can do, football, tennis, snooker.

Go on the computers.

It's not like if you could do one thing, you could do loads.

It's really brought him out.

For people like Davey, youth clubs like Norris Green offer

the chance to grow and develop in a way no where else does.

This is the kind of work you will be supporting by giving to Children In Need now.

To keep supporting projects like Norris Green,

donate five pounds to Children In Need now.

Text DIYSOS to 70705!

Text messages will cost £5 plus your standard network charge

and £5 will go to Children In Need.

For full terms and conditions, visit:

Away from the build, I want to find out more about Norris Green

and the people we are doing this for.

Tell us honestly, what's Norris Green like as a place to grow up.

I think people make it out to be proper bad but it's not as bad.

If someone spent a day here they would not think of half the things that get said.

When you have a youth centre to go to like ours, it is amazing.

When we're chatting, it's a confusing message,

I say, "Why'd you come here?" and they say, "It's safe."

But when you say, "Is it unsafe on the streets?" They say, "No,

"it's the way people portray it." Which is it?

If you don't understand, and don't live round here...

Most of the kids that grow up in Norris Green are streetwise.

So, they don't find it nerve-wracking or anything.

But to people that come outside Liverpool they might find this place intimidating.

It is certainly an area with high levels of unemployment

and deprivation.

Sadly, it's crime that has made Norris Green infamous.

I look at it in different stages, the young people come to centres

and be part of the community.

Also, we've got those ones bordering to going into crime or involved in crime and anti-social behaviour.

We have the hard-core but you have to remember there is only a small

minority of people that are criminally minded.

There are more good people in Norris Green than bad.

But it is the young people on the edge that these youth workers

are trying to give direction. A chance.

Norris Green is still a good place to live.

And, you know, run a youth centre.

< POLICE SIRENS BLARE

Just as I'm saying that!

It's been a funny day, ups and downs.

You think you've got over one thing and another thing happens.

I don't know whether to be pleased about the day or worried.

I would worry!

And, by the middle of the job, it's clear there are two things we really need to worry about.

What's going on with the bathroom?

Have we not taken control of it today?

There is so much plastering to be done but it's not there yet.

There's no plaster boarding. All these empty shelves are waiting on electrics, plumbing,

then it can be boarded and skimmed. Same in there.

There's loads to do.

-We're not going to finish this?

-Not at all. I'm sure by

The Power Of Grey Skull we'll pull it together by the weekend.

Are you expecting more plasterers?

I bloody hope so!

The other big worry is the big hall where the restoration of the floor is a make or break job.

-This is a sprung floor?

-It is.

-A lovely bit of kit.

It's seen better days but that might come up all right.

To restore this floor to its former glory, it has to be sanded

and varnished twice and then allowed to dry.

To get that done, we have to finish the rest of the room well in advance.

We've got 36 hours to wrap this up.

It's important we get the woodwork done.

If we haven't got it done by Monday, we will not be finished by Thursday.

We are not going to get finished.

36 hours to finish a new staircase, and a bank of tiered seating.

But we do have extra help, Liverpool actor Simon O'Brien

and Dean Sullivan,

Damon Grant and Jimmy Corkhill to those still mourning Brookside.

You remember Brookie? Eh, eh, Brookie.

They're giving their time to the project.

It's not level! Take it away!

It's all right. It is now, look!

That's an old chippies' trick.

If only they could plaster.

RADIO: Nick, you are the presenter of the BBC show DIY SOS

and you are in Liverpool looking for assistance.

We are up against it and losing the battle.

We need some help from specific trades. We are desperate to get dry liners.

If you are anywhere near the Liverpool area, come and help us.

You may help us pull this out of the bag because we are worried.

'Nick Knowles who is in charge of the BBC DIY SOS...'

We'll wait to see if the phone rings and whether we can get some dry liners

and plasterers to help because if we don't over the next couple of days

I think we might have lost this.

Thanks to a massive effort in the main hall,

the stairs are in and the tiered seating is up.

So, the sanding can begin right on schedule.

-How quickly do you move?

-Very quickly.

-I want them to keep putting the skirting down.

-Let them carry on.

-How long till you get down there?

-We will keep it that way.

So, full steam ahead.

For about five minutes.

We have a major catastrophe with the electricity.

Until we get the electricity back on, we're at a standstill.

They have come in with 15 amp machines and are wondering why we haven't got the feed.

The whole thing was stripped out with everything, mains and everything.

This is holding everything up, it's only happening because we are

trying to lose so many jobs at once but at least that means

there's plenty of people around to help sort it out.

Paul said he might be able to get a jenny down for a supply.

Five machines and we need everyone powered up to get this finished.

As a failsafe, get the jenny here as well and we will fire one up

off the section board for now. So, we have a supply for now.

When the machines are going, you'll have enough for everything.

-Excellent.

-We will have that on in half an hour.

Well, thanks to the new jenny we can get moving on the floor again

and we are only a day behind schedule.

But the plastering problem is becoming a nightmare.

We have had phenomenal support from tradespeople but this job is so big we still need more.

But is there anyone else out there?

We haven't got anybody to plasterboard.

We're down on plasterboard and chippies. Just like...

All hands on deck today.

There are two plasterers, me and another guy.

I am afraid the appeal yesterday didn't work.

Loads of sparkies and plumbers, which is brilliant because they're getting their jobs done.

Chippies are mowing through these ceilings. All good. The floor is going down.

But no walls, nothing is being finished. I can't keep up with it.

There is a possibility some will turn up tomorrow.

But, I mean, all this needs plasterboard, all of that.

-There's a lot of filling and making good.

-And there's two of us.

And you need about... 20.

20 borders, 20 spreads.

40 people.

We aren't going to find 40 people, 40 tradesmen.

I don't want to sound negative or anything but...

It's not about being negative, it's realistic about the fact we're losing the job.

It is just about numbers now. We are losing the numbers game.

But we do have some more help with the dry lining from two people

with close connections to the centre.

Remember this girl? Well, this is her dad.

I used to come here. It is a good place.

It has done a lot for my daughter anyway.

It is brought her right out of her shell.

She has more confidence with other people. I think it's a great thing.

And remember this guy? Davey.

-Well, this is his brother. Thank you for helping out.

-No worries.

Look at the groups that get round here.

Brings people on like that, when you never thought would.

They're the people that get lost in society with learning disabilities,

With this place, it brings them all together.

It's a good place and safe for them to feel as a group.

It's brilliant.

As well as family members telling us what this centre does,

we have heard it from the young people themselves.

How this tired, run-down building changes people's lives.

I thought it was brilliant so I carried on going for a number of years.

I've enjoyed it and stuff.

They take you on residentials and do everything with you that they can do to get you off the streets.

Gives them a place to go where they feel safe.

I am always here. I love it here.

Improves their confidence and expands their horizons.

I can't wait to get back in there and see the changes

and the different new things what they've done with the place.

It will be amazing.

We have been told about the transformation

but we don't know what is happening.

I think we will be shocked, even though we know it's a big change,

we don't know how much of a change.

Somehow, we have to get this job finished.

You don't know whether to be excited about the things happening

or worried about the things that aren't.

There is genuine concern it is just so vast.

And any one of these things

that we can't work out

could actually end up stopping us doing the job,

could stop us finishing so...

..you know...

8:30am and we are about to find out whether we will succeed with this job or not.

We made radio appeals.

And tomorrow we need trained plasterers.

Online appeals. We have rung every company in the phone book.

We are renovating a youth centre for Children In Need.

We're looking for help from people plasterers and borderers.

And everyone on site has tried everyone they know.

HE SPEAKS AT SPEED

I'm after a commitment!

Then it's crunch time.

We need plasterers today or this job won't be finished.

If a small army of plasterers don't walk around that corner in the next hour or so,

we have had it. Genuinely, we won't do it.

We were praying for plasterers

and at the 11th hour, our prayers are answered.

I know we're milking it a bit but go with us on this one.

We've got an army!

-How are you getting on?

-Fit as a butcher's dog!

Not bad for a 72-year-old.

-You have come out of retirement for us.

-Yes, I'm always available!

Thank you very much.

I'll plaster as long as I can. I'm the oldest plasterer here!

As well as the oldest plasterer in Liverpool,

we also have the most famous. Craig Phillips,

Big Brother winner, builder

and true believer in youth clubs like this.

Kids nowadays, when they're in their teen ages they're stuck in limbo.

They can't go to the pub until they're 18.

Nothing to do outside in the parks.

Youth centres like this, you need to bring them in off the streets,

keep them out of trouble and it helps with their socialising skills as well.

He's crashed into the plaster!

Just wanted to slow him down a bit!

Nothing a little bit of filler won't sort out!

Like we need slowing down... Unbelievable!

This is incredible!

Cheers, mate. Thanks, guys - big push.

They've saved our bacon.

Now we're catching up on the plastering, all we've got to worry about is the small matter of...

well, finishing everything else.

We've got two days, including today, to wrap this job up completely. How are we on the electrics?

All flying in now - all containment, all the wiring's done. Ready to start switching on power.

The hall - how are we doing there?

Spot on. Waiting for the tilers. Getting that in, the tilers.

As soon as that's done, we'll get the suites in.

-What about the chippying?

-Skirting's going in now. Just the doors and frames to go in.

-The painting?

-Nearly there - we've done the big hall.

Just waiting for the skirting boards going on.

Coat all them up and we should be there.

We've asked a lot of the people of Liverpool

and they've delivered in spades.

We're only sorry we can't show all the incredible workers and the work

that went into this build.

You're going to have to leg it, aren't you?

-Where have you got to go?

-Home to get changed, then back into work.

They've been working here all day.

He's got to go home, get changed, and go and do a night shift.

Over 500 separate tradesmen have worked on this.

People from all walks of life - from firemen and policemen to Members of Parliament.

'It's fantastic to try and get those people'

who are on the edge of getting involved in nefarious activities

to perhaps persuade them that there's a better way.

I think something like this will be a huge boon to the area.

Even the art teacher from a local prison...

A lot of the men grew up around this area

and obviously got into trouble at some point.

But their children are still around the area,

so I thought it's a really good thing to do, to help out.

Cos they don't want the same things for their children as they had.

So I've come to help out.

Everyone has given their support. And so can you.

ALL: To keep supporting projects like Norris Green...

please donate £5... to Children In Need now.

Text the word DIYSOS to 70705.

Text messages will cost £5 plus your standard network charge

and £5 will go to Children In Need.

For full terms and conditions, visit bbc.co.uk/pudsey

That's it.

Nine days, up to 200 people on site a day,

18,000 man hours has gone into this.

And now it's done. And we're about to give it back to the community.

What a job! What a job!

Just nine days ago, Norris Green Youth Centre was falling apart.

But for head youth worker Glenn, the job it did was vital.

This is the only youth centre in this area -

the only place for young people to go.

There's nowhere else for them to go, really.

His colleague, Cheryl, knows how much the centre means to the young people who use it.

It's open seven days a week.

These are here right from the start, banging on the door,

right until close.

Like them, centre co-ordinator Eileen knows what it could be.

At the moment, it's so dowdy and old, well-used... There's no respect.

It's got no credibility. Once it's done, it'll be a different story.

Deana has just one room on her mind.

The recording studios! And the studios, just for them to get done.

And Shauna is just as excited.

I just can't wait to see it. It's going to be great!

Nabil? Well, he knows just what it will mean

for the young people of Norris Green.

-You pleased to see what's happening here?

-Yeah, yeah.

I think seven years of being the old prison will have paid off.

You might have a lot more difficult kids to deal with.

That's what we're here for.

Thanks to a superhuman effort by the tradespeople of Liverpool,

we are about to hand back Norris Green Youth Centre.

We wanted to create a building

that would really reach out to young people.

We added a new entrance hall and clad the front to make it bright and inviting,

turning an eyesore into a landmark.

On waste ground at the rear, we've created an outdoor gym to attract more young people to the centre.

And a garden.

And all around, the new, secure windows let the light flood in.

Nowhere is the transformation more dramatic than in the main hall.

The new ceiling is brighter and safer

and the restored floor is just a revelation.

The tiered seating creates an audience space

for performances or films, and a great spot just to hang out.

The new recording studio and rehearsal rooms

will allow singers and musicians

to practise without drowning out the rest of the centre.

The old kitchen was the centre of the youth club,

but it was falling to pieces.

The new one is hygienic, hardwearing and, let's face it, cool -

a great place for young people to learn to cook.

And there's a new office, new meeting room...

and finally, the small hall.

It won't leak any more, and it's flooded with light.

There's a new IT suite, art room

and upstairs, a chill-out space.

It's an incredible transformation, and really something to cheer about.

But remember, this is where youth workers change young people's lives.

It's crucial to them,

so I wonder how they're going to react?

3, 2, 1 - open your eyes.

ALL GASP, SQUEAL AND CHEER

EXCITED CRIES

Look! You can see the light!

< I cannot believe this!

Oh, my God! I just can't believe this.

It's like the CLC! This is...

Isn't it amazing?

This isn't our building! It's not our building!

-What do you think?

-Oh, my God! I just can't take it in.

It's like you've put us in another building.

You've just took us somewhere else. It's just...

It's fab.

Just...

The difference...it's going to make.

It's unreal. It's just...

Just can't get over it!

Oh, my God!

I can't speak. It's just... totally unreal with it all. Just...

It's brilliant.

Oh!

ALL SQUEAL WITH EXCITEMENT

< Wow! It's gorgeous! Oh, wow!

You've been donated and fitted a £20,000 kitchen.

I don't know how you could do this in that amount of time. It's unbelievable.

Look up, look up, look up!

ALL GASP

I can't believe it.

< It's amazing what you can do to something!

-You OK?

-I just can't believe it. It's just amazing.

It's just... I can't wait to get the kids here.

Wow! Tom's going to be made up!

Look at it! I'm actually crying!

I'm crying.

Look at it!

-It's so posh!

-This is where you can sunbathe, Nabil!

It's some decking area. You just wouldn't expect this around here.

Oh, it's amazing. I love it.

Woo-hoo-hoo!

Look at the lights!

Look at that!

This is just absolutely...

This has got to be good, hasn't it, for the youth of Norris Green, going forward?

I can't say enough. It's just...unbelievable. It's just unbelievable. It's just fabulous.

What do you think, Eileen? You're the practical one who has to raise the money.

< Speechless!

Speechless. It's just too much to take on at the moment.

I need some time.

Ladies and gentlemen, say thank you

to the extraordinary people who actually built this youth centre for you? Here they come.

In you come!

Thank you very much. What an amazing welcome!

Glenn, can you explain to these people,

who haven't met everybody, why it's so important?

Because young people get bad press, and what you've given now is something

that they're going to be proud of, and we are.

I just can't say enough for the work that you've done. Thank you!

Thank you.

This has been an absolutely extraordinary sight -

up to 220 people a day on site, volunteers.

We have had 18,000 man hours, we've worked out,

gone into this in nine days.

And what you have done to this place, from a building point of view, is astounding.

What you've done for this community is huge. Thank you very much.

Come here!

You deserve this. You've earned it and you deserve it.

Will you enjoy this? I bet you will!

I bet you will! It's all for you.

Lots of cooking! Start cooking for your mum!

Yeah!

Excuse me, excuse me! You know, change is about momentum.

People say we do amazing things on DIY SOS, but there's only six of us.

We can't do this.

We go into a community and push a ball of momentum in

and it picks up pace during the course of the last ten days.

And look at what happens.

It's amazing what communities can do when they come together

and make a change.

And they have made a lasting change for the young people of this area.

And you can make a change for young people all over the country by supporting Children In Need.

Only if you want to, though.

To keep supporting projects like Norris Green, and to help give children and young people

in this country the future they deserve,

please donate £5 to Children In Need now.

Text the word DIYSOS to 70705.

Text messages will cost £5 plus your standard network charge

and £5 will go to Children in Need.

For full terms and conditions visit bbc.co.uk/pudsey

Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd

Email [email protected]