Kingston Vale care home residents team up with schoolchildren for DIY project

A care home in Kingston Vale has joined forces with a local school for International Repair Day.

Residents at Sherwood Grange, on Robin Hood Lane, 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, pupils from Canbury School and the residents came together to renovate the home’s outdoor area, which included painting and brightening the old furniture. 

Resident Crista said of the activity: "It was such a joy painting the garden with the students from Canbury School. We shared stories, laughter, and made some lovely memories together. I’m already looking forward to their next visit!"

Launched to celebrate International Repair Day, the nationwide 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.

Malgo Wcislo, Home Manager at Sherwood Grange, 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 young people 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 Canbury School for coming to the home to repaint our garden furniture and spend time with the residents. It was a brilliant afternoon and we look forward to many more visits in the future.”

Sherwood Grange provides full-time residential and dementia care, as well as short-term respite care. Designed to encourage residents to lead active and fulfilling lives while remaining as independent as possible in a safe environment, the home incorporates plenty of space for leisure activities and hobbies, and features a cinema, hair and beauty salon and café. The layout of the building is configured into a series of individual suites, each having a dedicated lounge/dining room to facilitate the creation of close-knit communities.