Two Stockport care homes have joined forces with local school children and the community as part of a nationwide initiative to prevent DIY skills from being forgotten.
Residents at Care UK’s Abney Court in Abney Hall Park in Cheadle and Ladybrook Manor in Bramhall, have been rolling up their sleeves and getting stuck into some hands-on DIY – all in the name of sharing skills with the next generation.
As part of Care UK’s ‘Fixer Uppers’ programme, at Abney Court, residents teamed up with pupils from Ladybarn House to upcycle unwanted household items, including wellies, Crocs and even Lego containers. Together, they turned them into plant pots filled with spring bulbs and winter flowers.
82-year-old Abney Court resident, Norma Jones, said: ‘’I really enjoyed spending time with the children upcycling items. Our generation is used to re-using and repairing things before we buy new, so it was a pleasure sharing our knowledge and skills with the children.’’
At Ladybrook Manor, the team held a repair shop-style event run by Marc Ward, the home’s Maintenance Coordinator and Diane Smith, the Head Housekeeper.
During the event, residents and the community were given the opportunity to bring items that needed fixing, giving their belongings a new lease of life. They were joined by the Physio Fit team, who also repaired and replaced the residents’ frames and sticks.
George Hill, resident at Ladybrook Manor, said: “I thoroughly enjoyed the sense of purpose — everyone working together, sharing skills. It makes far more sense to repair things than to throw them out. In my day, we valued what we had, and I believe it’s important that we continue to do so.”
Zoe Smart, Home Manager at Abney Court, said: “Residents here at Abney Court have a wealth of skills and life experiences, and the ‘Fixer Uppers’ project has been a wonderful opportunity for them to share practical knowledge in a meaningful way.
“A big thank you to Ladybarn House for joining us to build the plant pots – it’s been a real pleasure working together!”
Susan Cameron, General Manager at Ladybrook Manor, added: “Our maintenance and housekeeping teams consistently go above and beyond to maintain the care home and support meaningful activities for residents. Their involvement in the Fixer Uppers project has made a real difference, and it’s been wonderful to watch residents build on their talents under their guidance.
“We’d like to thank Marc, Diane and Physio Fit for coming to the home to host the repair shop. With such positive feedback from residents, we’re already planning the next session, and it can’t come soon enough.”
Launched to celebrate International Repair Day, the initiative aims to revive traditional repair skills – such as fixing furniture, mending clothes and tackling small maintenance jobs – and champion the invaluable knowledge older generations can pass on while promoting sustainability.
To find out more about Fixer Uppers, please visit: careuk.com/Fixer-Uppers
Abney Court and Ladybrook Manor have been designed to deliver the very best standards of care and to enable residents to live active and fulfilled lives, while also promoting independence. The homes have been configured into a series of neighbourhoods to help facilitate the creation of close-knit communities and encourage social interaction among the residents. There is also plenty of space, both indoors and out, for relaxation and recreation.
To find out more, visit careuk.com/stockport
