When the BBC’s DIY SOS team arrived in Southampton to help rebuild the Ali family’s home, container provider Storage on Site (SOS) stood alongside hundreds of local businesses and volunteers to make the project possible.

The Ahmed and Rifat Ali family, along with their three children, were left in a desperate situation after a home extension went badly wrong. Their savings were gone, large parts of their property were unsafe, and they had been living upstairs - cooking in a bedroom and unable to access their garden. The DIY SOS team stepped in, to rebuild not just their home, but their confidence and sense of normality.

From the earliest planning stages through to the final reveal, Storage on Site provided a range of containers and offices to support the production and construction teams. These included two stacked offices, several 20ft and 10ft containers - some racked and fitted with power - used for storing equipment, PPE, and tools vital to the seven-day build.

Beyond logistics, the SOS team rolled up their sleeves and joined the action. Julie and Libbie from SOS spent the first day on site alongside more than 200 volunteers, shifting bricks, clearing rubble, and helping to keep the site moving.

“Seeing so many people come together was incredible,” said Libbie Malone, Marketing Manager. “The family had been through such a tough time, and being part of making their house a home again was truly special.”

At the big reveal, the SOS team joined the crowd to witness the family’s emotional return to their newly transformed home - a powerful reminder of what can be achieved when communities and businesses work together for a shared cause.

Photo: The SOS and DIY SOS teams worked together to transform the home.