In the world of home renovation, few projects capture the public’s imagination quite like BBC’s DIY SOS. The show’s premise is simple: transform the homes and lives of deserving families facing immense challenges, all thanks to the dedication of hundreds of volunteer tradespeople and local suppliers. In a recent interview, company director James Horwood shared his candid account of his involvement (providing picture hanging for DIY SOS) offering a fascinating glimpse into the controlled chaos, overwhelming teamwork, and profound emotional rewards of being part of a DIY SOS build.
A Local Call for Help
Hang It Services’ journey with DIY SOS began not through a formal invitation or a major corporate partnership, but through a simple, local plea. James recalls spotting an advertisement on a community social media group saying that the show was coming to the area and needed local help.
“I actually saw an advert on one of the local Facebook groups,” James explains. “I saw it flag up saying that they were doing some work and would anybody local like to get involved?”
The response was immediate and proactive. James reached out via the provided email, offering Hang It Services’ expertise. “I said, ‘Look, I’m an art installer. Bracknell’s quite local to me. I’ve got my own company. Here’s the website. Take a look and let me know if you want us to come down.’ And then shortly after they got back in touch and said, ‘Yeah, absolutely. That would be great. Come down and lend a hand.’”
Diving Into the Deep End: Expectations vs. Reality
Before arriving on the first site in Bracknell, James admits he went in with a completely open mind, which proved to be essential. The reality of a DIY SOS build is a world away from the tranquil, meticulous atmosphere of a typical art installation job.
“You just can’t quite imagine how busy it is,” he notes. “Everything is all going on at exactly the same time, and there’s dozens and dozens of people—even on the last day.”
For James and his colleague, James, this environment meant temporarily shelving the singular focus of an art installation specialist. On the last day of the build, they threw themselves into whatever task was most urgent.
“We just got involved and did what we could. We hung pictures, headboards, blinds and some pelmets. Whatever we could do to help,” James recounts. He readily concedes that for a brief period, he felt more like a general handyman than a professional art installer. “But that’s okay,” he quickly adds. “It’s a good cause and once you see it and you find out what they’re doing you can’t help but get stuck in. It’s just good fun.”
The initial brief was as minimal as the site was chaotic. They were simply invited to come down. Once on site, it was a typical Hang It Services approach, albeit executed at warp speed amid hundreds of other volunteers. “They just brought a load of things in,” James says. “And, you know, we just approached it like we do any other job. Just asking, ‘Where do you want it and how high?’ From there in we just got down to work.”
Values in Action: Integrity and Giving Back
For James, the decision to volunteer was deeply rooted in Hang It’s core values. While the company prides itself on integrity and professionalism, the DIY SOS builds offered a chance to demonstrate those values in a highly rewarding way.
James saw the company’s involvement as a direct way to alleviate pressure on the entire team. Normally, tasks like picture hanging, blind installation, and fitting pelmets would fall to general handymen, carpenters, or other contractors.
“It was evident that we could alleviate some of that by taking care of these small parts of the job,” James explains. “Which obviously takes them away from doing other things. So we buy everybody a little bit of extra time back.”
In terms of technical challenges, the Bracknell build was fairly straightforward for the professionals. The main difficulty wasn’t the work itself, but the sheer number of people working around them. James acknowledged there was “a little bit of standing around” waiting for access, but he and James simply used that time to be useful. “We just helped carry some furniture or made ourselves useful really.”
The overall morale during the first build was, according to James, “Brilliant. Bracknell was amazing. Really good.”
The Heart of the Build: Rafi’s Story
While the process was fast-paced and demanding, the true motivation was the family’s story. The Bracknell build was for a little boy named Rafi. James was able to meet the family briefly the following morning on the “meet and greet” day.
He shares the tragic yet uplifting reason for the build: “Little Rafi had had an E.Coli infection. Unusually, he then experienced some pretty severe health complications.” The key factor that prompted the build was that Rafi recovered much quicker at home than in hospital, but the family’s house was completely unsuitable for his new, complex needs.
“So DIY SOS went in and did an amazing job and transformed the house. It suited Rafi as well as anything could,” James says. “It was lovely.”
The Emotional Reward of the Reveal
The culmination of every DIY SOS episode is the reveal—the moment the family sees their newly transformed home for the first time. James and James were there for it, and the emotional impact was profound.
“It was really emotional. Just brilliant. We were just so happy to see them happy,” he describes.
The specific moment that resonated with him most was when the father addressed the volunteers. “It was a really powerful moment when the family came out and Rafi’s dad thanked everybody and told us how impactful the build was going to be for them. That was quite the feel-good moment.”
It was that moment, more than any other, that solidified Hang It Services’ long-term commitment. “To be honest, after that moment, I thought, ‘Well, if I can do these in future, then I will.’”
Looking Ahead: The Influence of Collaboration
For Hang It Services, the long-term impact of collaborating with DIY SOS is two-fold: a demonstration of Hang It’s central values and a deeply satisfying personal achievement.
“While the attention it may bring our little company is great, the key for us was to give back to our community and others in need,” James explains.
James is quick to emphasise that any business benefit is just a bonus. The true satisfaction comes from setting an example: “It’s nice that people know that small businesses like ours can and will just go out and help. We’re glad to give up our time. We do it simply because it’s the right thing to do.”
When asked what he would say to other businesses considering getting involved, his answer is unequivocal: “I would absolutely say to go for it. It was one of the most rewarding experiences.”
He acknowledges the time commitment, noting that some volunteers dedicate five or six days to a single build. But for many, it’s just a single day. “It’s only going to cost you a day. I’d say go and try it, experience it, do what you can, help out, go with a smile on your face, and you’ll probably enjoy it just as much as we did.”
Conclusion: More Than Just Hanging Pictures
Hang It Services’ involvement with DIY SOS is a perfect example of a specialist trade using its expertise to give back. From the initial chaotic arrival to the deeply moving final reveal, James’s experience underscores that the most successful projects are not just about technical excellence, but about a shared mission, teamwork, and the willingness to lend a hand, whether it’s hanging a priceless piece of art or simply carrying a piece of furniture. It is a testament to the power of community, showing that even a small company can make a truly Big Build possible.
