Sofa manufacturer, KOUCH, donates innovative bespoke seating to a new children’s bereavement centre in aid of Children in Need as part of the BBC’s DIY SOS: The Big Build.
Coming together to create something amazing
Treetops Hospice, based in Risley, Derbyshire is a vital charity offering specialist end of life care and bereavement services to both adults and children across the Midlands, and KOUCH were honoured to be a part of such an important project.
Working closely with the DIY SOS design team, KOUCH specially made an innovative weatherproof modular sofa to create a comfortable, relaxing outdoor space specifically for children where they can sit, relax and talk in a safe environment.
One of the children currently using the services at Treetops said:
“Walking into a building for the first time can be really scary. Having a nice space outside where we can talk will really help.”
Every year, Treetops provides over 900 counselling sessions for local children, some as young as 7 years old, who are struggling after the death of a loved one.
The project
The DIY SOS team headed to Derbyshire in September (with the program airing on November 16th) to build a dedicated children’s counselling and therapy centre for traumatically bereaved children and young people. The build will hugely benefit bereaved children and their families across Derbyshire and beyond.
Currently, all Treetops young people have to access their counselling or support groups in a space originally set up with only adults in mind, with no dedicated child-friendly communal areas or even toilets.
The new centre will be entirely focused on the children they help. From the minute they come through the doors they’ll be made to feel welcome and safe, improving the vital care, support and counselling they receive during some of the worst moments of their lives.
Children in Need has supported Treetops children's services for over 10 years now, enabling them to help hundreds of vulnerable young people and their families through counselling and emotional support, along with crucial training for staff members. In 2023, the hospice celebrated its 40th anniversary and they now care for over 2000 people every year thanks to the continued generosity of the local community.
Why did KOUCH get involved?
Mike Chester, Managing Director at KOUCH said: “Treetops is my local charity and they do such an amazing job, helping people through their darkest times.
My home is less than a mile from Treetops Hospice and our factories are only 10 minutes away. When I heard about DIY SOS coming to Risley, I just knew we could help.
We embraced the attitude of Nick, Gaby and the DIY SOS team to accelerate the development of our outdoor sofa range KOUCH, and launched the company 6 months ahead of schedule to be able to help!
I lost my father in law very quickly, only 2 weeks from diagnosis to him passing away. We are exceptionally fortunate to have a close family, we were there to support one another. Some of these children don’t have anyone to help them, that’s where Treetops step in.
Having an outdoor space for people to have sessions, or just somewhere comfortable to sit and be quiet, will be a huge benefit for everyone.
I am so happy that we have been able to get KOUCH over the line for Treetops and I am incredibly proud to be associated with this wonderful local charity and the DIY SOS team.”
Who are KOUCH?
From their home in Long Eaton, Nottingham (considered to be the UK’s heartland for sofa manufacturing), long-established furniture maker, Conker, wanted to redefine versatility with high quality, innovative and beautifully designed modular furniture that could be used both indoors and outdoors, using sustainable techniques and the finest materials. So, in 2023, KOUCH was born.
To learn more about KOUCH, what they stand for and why being a part of this special project was so important, please visit the KOUCH website. You can also find out more about the project over on the Children in Need website.