BUILDING DREAMS
Nick Knowles reveals DIY SOS team faced toughest job so far building gym and community centre for Grenfell families with help of Prince William
Nick said he had to win the trust of the residents before they could start work
NICK Knowles has revealed that the DIY SOS team faced their biggest challenge yet when they built a gym and a community centre for the families of Grenfell Tower.
Prince William took part with the build, which took nine weeks and cost £2million, after Nick consulted his “little black book” for help.
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The show journeyed to North Kensington where the tragic fire took place last summer, which killed 72 people.
Speaking to the , Nick said: “There used to be a gym on the second floor of the tower which looked after a lot of kids in the area and kept them off the streets and out of trouble.
“So we decided to build a gym. And we've also built a community centre. It's somewhere the residents can go to get counselling, which is so important.”
But first of all, Nick and his team had to win the trust of the Grenfell residents.
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Nick said: “When we came to the area the people were understandably angry. And they were suspicious of all media and TV. But we spent time listening and talking with them and they were just amazing with us.”
He went on to explain that he had been left “emotional and angry” about the tragedy but said that it wasn’t his role to get involved with the “politics” of the situation.
Nick tweeted earlier this month: “Thank you to the community of Grenfell & all who took part for their guidance, friendship & support during the build.”
The new gym replaces the Dale Youth Boxing Academy which was ruined by the deadly blaze.
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The special episode will air this autumn.
Sun Online previously revealed that Nick had been offered a six figure sum to go on the I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here.
Nick has hosted several reality shows in the past – but never actually appeared on one as a contestant.
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