Cardiff care homes team up with children for DIY projects

Two care homes in Cardiff have joined forces with local children for International Repair Day. 

Residents at Llys Cyncoed, on Cyncoed Road, and Llys Herbert, on Ty-Draw Road in Lisvane, 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, Llys Cyncoed welcomed children from the local community for a day of knitting, where residents showcased their stitching skills to visitors and taught them how to cast off and knit a simple square. 

At Llys Herbert, pupils from St Bernadette’s Catholic Primary School teamed up with residents for some intergenerational DIY, building hedgehog houses and bird feeders. 

Pat, a resident at Llys Cyncoed said: “It was a wonderful opportunity to share her love of knitting with the youngsters, and it was delightful to see how quickly they picked it up and how proud they were of their achievements.”

Anita, a resident at Llys Herbert, added, “It was a wonderful opportunity to paint birdhouses with the children. We all really enjoyed it!”

Launched to celebrate International Repair Day, the Fixer Uppers 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.

Carley Hunt, Home Manager at Llys Cyncoed, said: “Residents have honed their DIY skills over a lifetime, and the Fixer Uppers project has been a fantastic way for them to connect with the community and share practical knowledge in a meaningful way. 

“It was wonderful to see everyone fully engaged and residents swapping stories, learning from one another and genuinely enjoying the process. 

“We’d like to thank everyone for coming to the home to learn new skills. It was a brilliant afternoon and we look forward to many more visits in the future.” 

Llys Cyncoed and Llys Herbert provide full-time residential and dementia care, as well as short-term respite care. Designed to enable residents to live active and fulfilled lives, while also promoting independence, the homes incorporate plenty of space for leisure activities and hobbies. They have been configured into a series of neighbourhoods to facilitate the creation of close-knit communities and encourage social interaction among the residents.