Emergency lighting, systems and solutions expert Mackwell recently played a key role in the creation of a bespoke counselling and therapy centre for bereaved young people in Derbyshire.
The project, which was made possible through a special airing of the popular BBC programme DIY SOS for Children in Need, will help hundreds of children and families experiencing traumatic loss. The vital service was made possible thanks to funding through Children in Need. 
DIY SOS presenter Nick Knowles, a team of volunteer tradespeople, and the suppliers including Mackwell, headed to Treetops Hospice in Risley, Derbyshire, where the new build has expanded the capacity and services of the existing centre.
To add crucial testing systems to the new building, Mackwell’s N-Light EC test and monitoring system was supplied through their Smart Building Partner Scenariio. The N-LIGHT Ecosystem from Mackwell is a fully comprehensive portfolio of fully compatible testing and monitoring components. The N-Light EC system was the first emergency lighting test system to be able to connect in this way. Low voltage DC grids with a structured cabled infrastructure are seen by many as the future of smart buildings and is another example of Mackwell’s forward thinking towards a sustainable built environment.
Mackwell luminaire products were also featured in the build, the XYLUX LRX downlight, XYVEX semi-recessed exit signs and TEMPUS EXB2 signs all played their part in ensuring discrete yet highly effective emergency lighting solutions. All of these solutions had RJ45 connections to interface with Cat 6 structured cabling with the entire lighting installation being connected via a low voltage grid, perfectly illuminating escape routes.
Designed and manufactured in the UK, Mackwell’s solutions are a practical alternative to standard emergency luminaires and offer an unobtrusive powerful emergency lighting solution.
Making the DIY SOS project even more special was the cadre of celebrities on hand to assist. As Radio 2 was in nearby Leicester for the Radio 2 in the Park event, there was no shortage of helpers. Scott Mills, Zoe Ball and even Sam Ryder pitched in to support the construction. Richie Anderson and Owain Wyn Evans met some of the brilliant young people who have sadly lost loved ones and will benefit from the new centre.
For the DIY SOS team, the build was a monumental challenge, creating a brand-new child-friendly counselling centre in what was once just a meadow. The sound-proofed counselling rooms will help children and young adults across a range of ages. It will also be a welcoming multifunctional space for the charity’s group therapy projects, a complementary therapy room and an outdoor seating area. All of the new centre celebrates the natural beauty of the surrounding landscapes.
To officially open the building, Sophie Ellis-Bextor visited the centre for a special kitchen disco.
Rene Joppi from Mackwell said: “The expansion to the existing functions of Treetops Hospice will offer much-needed support to bereaved young children through counselling and therapy. Mackwell is delighted to have played a role in bringing this centre to life, and it was an inspiring project to be part of.”
For more information on Mackwell, visit www.mackwell.com.