Sutton Coldfield care homes on a mission to save traditional hobbies and skills

Two care homes in Sutton Coldfield have joined a nationwide campaign to save older hobbies from being forgotten.

A poll of 2,000 adults carried out by Care UK, which operates Mercia Grange and Bishops Manor, found reading a map, using a compass and even simple handwriting are high within the top 50 list of lost talents – and a majority of those surveyed (77%) blame modern technology. 

 

In a bid to prevent hobbies and skills from being lost over time and give them a new lease of life, the local care homes are encouraging locals to join a nationwide campaign to tap into thousands of older people’s expertise and knowledge – Long Lost Hobbies. 

As part of the initiative, residents across the UK are revisiting favourite hobbies from their younger years and sharing their skills with younger generations – with those living at Mercia Grange and Bishops Manor taking part in many clubs, including gardening, calligraphy, and knitting, in addition to intergenerational activities regularly. 

In the West Midlands especially, 67% of respondents think today’s generations aren’t interested in learning things like identifying plants and insects, sewing on a button or even spelling – while a further 54% said some old-fashioned skills simply aren’t needed anymore.

Amy Barton, Home Manager at Mercia Grange, said: “Over time, many of us have become reliant on technology – meaning many hobbies that were once popular are now sadly being forgotten.

“This is why we’re excited to take part in the ‘Long Lost Hobbies’ initiative. Here at Mercia Grange, we know residents have a wealth of skills and hobbies that are now considered to be on the decline – and that is something we wanted to celebrate”. 

Sarah Diamond, General Manager at Bishops Manor, said: “We’d like to encourage everyone in the Sutton Coldfield community to join us in our efforts to save old skills and hobbies by reaching out to their relatives or neighbours. We have so much to learn from older generations – and I’m sure they’d be more than happy to share all of their knowledge.”

As part of the survey, it also emerged that 14% of people polled in the West Midlands think it will be just 10 to 12 years before they rely solely on technology to do things previously done without. Yet, 26% are still trying to keep certain skills and arts alive by teaching them to others.

For top tips on how you and your loved ones can revisit forgotten pastimes, please visit: careuk.com/long-lost-hobbies.

Mercia Grange and Bishops Manor have been designed to enable residents to live active and fulfilled lives, while also promoting independence, and incorporating space for hobby and leisure activities. The care home has been configured to help facilitate the creation of close-knit communities and encourage social interaction among the residents.

TOP 50 LOST SKILLS AND HOBBIES

1. Writing letters
2. Map reading
3. Knowing proper grammar
4. Mental maths
5. Remembering phone numbers
6. Using a compass
7. Handwriting
8. Handwashing clothes
9. Making a fire from scratch
10. Stamp collecting
11. Sewing/making clothes yourself 
12. Spelling
13. Wiring a plug yourself 
14. Calligraphy
15. Preserving food – such as pickling
16. Sewing on a button yourself 
17. Making your own jam
18. Making your own cheese
19. Tying knots
20. Knitting
21. Identifying different plants, trees or insects
22. Changing a tire yourself 
23. Making your own bread by hand
24. Remembering addresses
25. Using an index in a book
26. Giving directions
27. Remembering dates
28. Reading music
29. Carpentry
30. Baking a cake by hand 
31. Pottery making
32. Storytelling
33. Cooking something from memory
34. Reading
35. Putting up a shelf yourself 
36. Critical thinking
37. Time keeping
38. Caring for chickens
39. Speaking/learning another language
40. Budgeting
41. Creative writing
42. Finding facts
43. Following instructions
44. Caring for plants
45. Gardening
46. Following a recipe
47. Drawing
48. Fishing
49. Taking photos
50. Editing photos yourself