Newmarket care home residents team up with local children for DIY project

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

Residents at Kentford Manor, on Jeddah Way in Kennett, 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, residents teamed up with Anders Bester from Culford School to fix and paint bird boxes for the home’s garden.

Resident John Humphries, 92, said: “I really enjoyed seeing everyone come together this afternoon — there was such a lovely buzz in the room.”

“It’s wonderful to give old things a new life rather than just throwing them away. Fixing something with your own hands feels rewarding, and it’s even better when you can share that experience with the younger generation. Working alongside young Anders reminded me how much we can all learn from each other, no matter our age.

Launched for International Repair Day, the initiative aims to revive traditional repair skills – such as fixing furniture, mending clothes and tackling small maintenance jobs – and celebrate the invaluable knowledge older generations can pass on while promoting sustainability.

Julia Forsyth, Customer Relations Manager at Kentford Manor, 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 Anders for coming to the home to build and paint bird boxes with residents. It was a brilliant afternoon, and we look forward to many more visits in the future.”

To find out more about Fixer Uppers, please visit careuk.com/Fixer-Uppers.

Kentford Manor provides full-time residential, dementia and nursing care, as well as short-term respite care. Designed to enable residents to lead active and fulfilled lives, while also promoting independence, the care home incorporates plenty of space for leisure activities and hobbies. The building has been configured into a number of suites to facilitate the creation of close-knit communities and encourage social interaction among the residents.