Girl helped by Wirral charity learns to surf on DIY SOS

The BBC One property renovation show teamed up with BBC Children in Need for the DIY SOS Big Build Special, which sees the base of Surfability UK in Caswell Bay, Swansea - originally a rundown bus shelter - transformed beyond recognition.

Surfability UK is the UK’s first fully-inclusive surf school, set up in 2013 by Ben Clifford, who is now a world leader in new teaching methods and safety techniques.

The charity, which supports more than 500 people a year, called in the DIY expertise of Nick Knowles and his trusty team – Mark, Chris, Jules, Billy and designer Gabrielle Blackman – as the bus shelter it was using as its base had no power, running water or ventilation and was often flooded.

As part of the special programme 19-year-old Lara, from Flintshire, Wales, was invited for a surf lesson with Surfability.

Lara has been helped by Wallasey-based charity Stick ‘n’ Step, which receives funding from BBC Children in Need.

Lara has undergone several complex operations over the past few years and has to have regular physio.

Determined Lara is always keen to demonstrate how she can do whatever she puts her mind to and programme viewers can watch her having her first-ever surfing lesson with Surfability UK as part of the DIY SOS show.

Lara said: “It was great to be able to try something new. Because it’s a sport that you associate with able-bodied people I didn’t know whether I was going to be able to do it, but I really enjoyed it and I definitely want to have another go.”

Stick ‘n’ Step receives a three-year grant of £121,827 from BBC Children in Need to offer weekly conductive education sessions to teach and improve basic life skills, help fine motor skills and encourage independence for children and young people with cerebral palsy and other motor disorders.

Stick ‘n’ Step helps those up to the age of 25 through the sessions, which are held at its specialist centres in Wallasey and Runcorn.

Janet Ratcliffe Trusts and Grants Fundraiser at Stick ‘n’ Step, said: “Lara epitomises the concept of a conductive upbringing. She has embraced along with her whole family, how to adapt to reaching her full potential by pushing the boundaries of her disability.

"We are extremely grateful to BBC Children in Need for their grant which helps ensure we can continue provide conductive education sessions free of charge to many other children and young people like Lara throughout the North West. We are delighted that Lara was able to enjoy the amazing experience of having her first ever surf lesson.”

The DIY SOS special for BBC Children in Need, which will be broadcast on Thursday (November 12), sees teams of kind tradespeople volunteering to help revamp Surfability UK’s facilities.

As well as renovating the existing bus shelter into a dry, well-designed surf board storage unit, they build a new innovative Surf Centre, which is the first accessible surf centre in the world, providing a much-needed space to give surfing opportunities to people with disabilities from across the UK.

Presenter Nick Knowles said: “We were absolutely overwhelmed once again to see the generosity of tradespeople and volunteers, with the time and resources they gave up to help us create such a wonderful new base for Surfability UK – as ever, we couldn’t have done it without them.

“When you see how much fun the children and young people like Rowan and Lara have when taking part in these surfing lessons - and the independence and freedom it gives them - you can see just how impactful and life-enhancing the work of Surfability is.”

BBC Children in Need, which is celebrating its 40th year, has funded Surfability UK since 2015.

Its current three-year grant of £120,000 provides surf-based activities for disabled children and young people, which helps boost their well-being, helps them better express themselves and equips them with the skills they need to overcome any challenges.

The DIY SOS Big Build: Children in Need Special will broadcast on Thursday, November 12, BBC One, 8pm.