DIY SOS BBC ONE

Stairlifts Scotland Proud to Support BBC DIY SOS

In May this year, our Director, Marc Barry, received a request to help improve the home life of a young woman and her family in Newton Mearns.

His response was simple:

“How can we help?”

What followed was a project that our team will remember for a long time. We were incredibly proud to put our experience, resources and specialist equipment at the disposal of a family as part of a very special BBC DIY SOS home improvement project.

We’re delighted to now be able to share our part in their story ahead of the episode airing on BBC One on Tuesday 22 September at 8pm.

Helping a Young Woman Regain Independence

At Stairlifts Scotland, we provide mobility solutions designed to help people of all ages and abilities move safely and comfortably around their homes.

For us, it's about more than mobility. Comfort, dignity and independence are at the heart of everything we do.

The young woman at the centre of this project had lived with a condition since birth that affected her limbs and joints. She used a wheelchair and was living in a home that simply wasn't suited to her needs.

One of the biggest challenges she faced was accessing her own toilet and shower.

Because of her restricted mobility, she had to rely on her dad for all her sanitary needs. This would be an incredibly difficult situation for anyone, but as a young woman entering her teenage years, it was clear that something needed to change.

The aim wasn't simply to make the house more accessible.

It was to help give her something every young person deserves — privacy, dignity and greater independence in her own home.

Finding the Right Solution

Our Commercial Manager, David Nelson, carried out an in-person survey to understand the family's requirements and assess how we could help.

Following the assessment, our qualified engineering team proposed a bespoke solution using a series of Likorall 242 overhead lift systems.

The system was designed specifically around her needs and the layout of her home, allowing her to be safely transferred between different areas.

We also supplied an Osprey 500 Children's Self-Propelled Shower Chair, providing her with a greater level of independence and privacy when showering and using the toilet.

The equipment was designed to work together to make everyday movement around the house much easier.

Creating Freedom Around the Home

The overhead lift system could transfer her from her bed to her shower chair and from her chair to her changing unit, which was also supplied by our friends at Osprey.

But the solution wasn't limited to helping her access the bathroom.

The system also enabled her to use the couch in the living room.

That might sound like a small thing, but being able to sit comfortably in the living room and spend quality time with her family again can make a huge difference to someone's everyday life.

Using a traverse hoist, the bespoke system gave her the ability to move around her home at the touch of a button.

For her and her family, this wasn't simply an engineering project.

It was about giving her back freedom in her own home.

Installed in Just Two Days

Once the solution had been designed and prepared, our team got to work.

Within just two days, our Technical Manager, James, together with our engineers Brian and Steven, installed the overhead lift system.

We also delivered the Osprey shower chair and changing unit to the family home.

The installation required careful planning, specialist knowledge and, most importantly, an understanding of the individual who would be using the equipment.

Every aspect of the system was customised around her requirements, helping to create a solution that worked for her rather than expecting her to adapt to the home.

Why Projects Like This Matter to Us

At Stairlifts Scotland, we're fortunate to see first-hand how the right mobility equipment can change someone's everyday life.

Our work isn't just about stairlifts and lifting equipment. It's about helping people overcome barriers within their own homes.

Sometimes, that means helping an older person remain independent.

Sometimes, it means making life easier for someone living with a disability.

And sometimes, as with this project, it means helping a young person regain a level of privacy, comfort and freedom that many of us take for granted.

Being asked to contribute to a project like this was a privilege for our entire team.

Watch DIY SOS on BBC One

We're incredibly proud of the part we played in this special home improvement project, and we're excited for everyone to see the finished transformation.

The DIY SOS episode will air on BBC One on Tuesday 22 September at 8pm.

We'll certainly be tuning in!

We'd like to thank everyone involved in making the project possible, including the DIY SOS team, the other tradespeople and suppliers, and our friends at Osprey.

Most importantly, we're proud to have been able to play our small part in helping this young woman and her family create a home where she can move around more freely, spend time with her family and enjoy greater independence.

From Marc's simple question — “How can we help?” — came a project that made a real difference.

And that's exactly why we do what we do.