Students help to build a Youth Hub for local charity

Tuesday 17th June

Over the course of an unforgettable week, from 19th to 24th May, 20 of our students joined the BBC’s DIY SOS team, professional tradespeople, and local volunteers to help build a brand-new Youth Hub for the Beverley Cherry Tree Community Centre.

The finished building has now been unveiled and will be featured on DIY SOS in the coming year.

A build with real purpose

Nick Knowles, presenter of DIY SOS, explained why community builds like this one are more important than ever:

“I came up here one night and watched them in the dark, in the rain, in the cold. Giving the kids pizza and chips because some of them hadn’t had nothing to eat.

“In this modern day, for that to be the case is just wrong. We’ve got too many holes in our net in society, and it’s really nice that we can bring people together and can give them a facility where they can continue the good work they do.

“The heroes of this are the charity, we just need to give them the tools to be able to do it for more people and to keep it going.

“This should be there for the next 50 years, looking after hundreds and thousands of kids. It’ll create a little gravity ball that will bring other people in from other parts of the community as well, and then businesses get involved because they’re aware of what’s going on, and then the charity will get better.”

Learning beyond the classroom

The project offered an extraordinary opportunity for students studying trades, construction, and media to work alongside leading professionals on a high-profile community build, and to be part of something that will leave a lasting legacy in the area.

Gabby Blackman, the show’s interior designer, spoke about how valuable the experience was for students:

“It’s such a fantastic thing to be part of, and it’s so much better than looking at a screen or a page. I wish we could do this for every college.

“There’s no better place to learn than on site. It’s the absolute truth. When you can actually see something happen in front of you. It’s like, ‘oh, okay, I get it’.”

Our students contributed hands-on to the construction, including first fittings, electrical work, joinery, and capturing the story behind the build through media production.

The fast-paced environment of the build helped students gain invaluable insight into the realities of working on a major project, with each trade working collaboratively to achieve what initially seemed impossible.

A community impact

Joe Ramsey, Manager of the Beverley Cherry Tree Community Centre, shared heartfelt thanks:

“I just want to thank all the young people from the college for helping with the build. This has been a long process with a lot of doors closed, this was our last hope. DIY SOS taking it on board will make such a difference to the young people moving forward.

“It’s not just a Youth Hub, it’s a holistic service, offering lots of opportunities and working closely with the college to give young people a better education and a better future.”

Leaving a legacy

As the project drew to a close, students left with skills, connections, and memories that will last a lifetime, as well as the pride of knowing they’ve contributed to a facility that will benefit hundreds of local young people in the years to come.

One of the best lessons the students took away? The value of community spirit and how trades, teamwork, and passion can change lives, and landscapes for the better.

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