A Thanksgiving Service takes place next Monday at St Silas Church in Blackburn in the wake of this week’s BBC DIY SOS Children in Need Special, which aired on Wednesday.

A former Blackburn Day School and Sunday School, built in 1834 to nurture young people, has been given a new lease of life to continue its legacy with the help of the BBC programme, which is presented by Nick Knowles. 

The Parish Rooms of St Silas Church, Blackburn, once Billinge End School, have now been transformed into supportive living accommodation for 16-18 year olds, in a groundbreaking initiative run by the Blackburn with Darwen charity Nightsafe.

The Thanksgiving Service is on Monday, November 18 at 7pm. Postcode for the church is BB2 6JY.

Civic leaders will join with local ecumenical and inter-faith leaders; local schools and volunteers who have contributed to the project. All are welcome to attend to give thanks, whether directly involved or not. 

The preacher at the service will be Rt Rev Philip North, Bishop of Burnley. 

Speaking today, St Silas Vicar, Rev Sheelagh Aston, said: “We are delighted to host this service to celebrate and give thanks for the life and conversion of our Parish Rooms into supportive accommodation for young people in the community. 

“As the recent DIY SOS programme showed, many volunteers came to help because they understood how devastating being homeless and without support can be for someone young; and the amazing work Nightsafe does with those they help.

“The service marks the end of the build and the next chapter of our partnership with Nightsafe.”

• Read a reflection on the whole experience from St Silas' Vicar, Rev Sheelagh
• This is a page looking back at the whole story, with media coverage links. 
• Watch the DIY SOS special programme on BBC iPlayer.