Norwich care home residents team up with schools for DIY project

A care home in Norwich has joined forces with local schoolchildren in the run-up to International Repair Day.

Residents at Cavell Court, on Dragonfly Lane in Cringleford, 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 initiative, residents teamed up with pupils from Hingham Primary School and Rackheath Primary School to give an old bookshelf a new lease of life, under the guidance of Head of Maintenance Cliff Maidstone. With plenty of sanding, painting and enthusiasm, the project came together beautifully.

The children were also fascinated by the residents’ knitting skills and before long, they were learning new stitches and techniques from the talented residents. 

Iain Wilson, 78 said: “It was a great afternoon getting involved with the younger generation. Why buy new when we can mend the furniture into something nice! 

“The children had a lot of fun getting creative and working together as a team was inspirational.”

Launched for International Repair Day, the Fixers Uppers initiative aims to revive traditional repair skills – from fixing furniture and mending clothes to tackling small maintenance jobs – and celebrate the invaluable knowledge older generations can share, while promoting sustainability and the art of making things last.

Samantha Woods, Customer Relations Manager at Cavell Court, said: “Our maintenance team consistently goes above and beyond. Their involvement in the Fixer Uppers project has made a real difference, and it’s been wonderful to watch residents build on their talents while connecting with young people.

“Many residents have spent years honing their DIY abilities, so taking part in hands-on workshops has been incredibly rewarding. What made the experience even more special was the young people joining in and working side by side as they sanded and painted the bookcase together.”

“It’s been a real pleasure welcoming pupils from Hingham Primary School and Rackheath Primary School into the home for these workshops, and we look forward to hosting more collaborative sessions in the future.”

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

Cavell Court is a modern care home that provides full-time residential and dementia care, as well as short-term respite care. Designed to enable residents to lead enjoyable and fulfilling lives, the home has its own cinema, café and hair and beauty salon for pampering sessions, along with beautifully landscaped gardens and plenty of space for relaxation and recreation.