DIY SOS style make-over for former care home

The project is being run by Emmaus Bradford, a homelessness charity that hopes to create a 'warm and homely' place for homeless people to stay 'as long as they need'.

But they need help from the people of Bradford to finish the job.

Fran Graham, General Manager of Emmaus Bradford said: "What we're working towards is to help people with long term accommodation, so currently homeless people can come and live in our accommodation and help us 40 hours a week in our shops and helping us collecting and delivering stuff to people.

One of the volunteers working on the house

They can stay as long as they want and need to get back on their feet, and we'll help them with skills, build up their CV and work on their confidence."

The charity has two reuse shops in Bradford, which 'diverts loads of stuff on from landfills to sell on affordably' or is given away to people in crisis.

Fran added: "We acquired a property in Undercliffe in January and we've been asking the good people of Bradford to come along, grab a paintbrush because we want to enable eight people to move in in the spring.

"Over the course of the year, we're going to put in some more bathrooms so that we can offer out 26 rooms to people who are currently out in the cold or sofa surfing, to move in with us and get our support and work in our shops."

Pollard House in Undercliffe will be transformed into a 26-bedroom home

"So far it's been really humbling and wonderful experience, but we do still need more volunteers to help us. It's such a big property, we've done a few rooms but we still need help. If there's any sports teams, or socials groups out there that want to help then please do.

We had a guy who's been coming everyday this week who's an asylum seeker himself and he's walked across Bradford in the freezing cold to come and help us because he didn't have money for the bus which was just beautiful."

Wilfred has been making his way across Bradford to help out everyday

The charity are now providing the young man with his bus fare and lunch whilst he is helping out.

Fran said at the moment the team are in need of people to help with painting and decorating, some carpet and lino fitters, and some showers.

One of the rooms in the house

There will be DIY SOS style weekends taking place, on Friday's and Saturday's for the next two weeks from 10am.

If you want to help out, contact Fran on fran@emmausbradford.org.uk.