Orpington care home residents team up with schoolchildren for DIY project

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

Residents at Foxbridge House, on Sevenoaks Road, 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 welcomed students from Perry Hall primary school to build and decorate bespoke bird boxes for the home’s garden.

 

They also made smaller bird feeders, and their creations will be proudly displayed at both the care home and the school, with a view to welcoming more wildlife into the outdoor spaces.

Commenting on the activity, resident Jo said: “We has such a lovely afternoon with the children making the boxes and feeders. All of the children were delightful and took pride in making the boxes which they took back to school. I would absolutely love to do this again!”

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.

Stella Barnes, Home Manager at Foxbridge House, said: “Residents here have a wealth of skills and life experiences, and the Fixer Uppers project has been a wonderful opportunity for them to share their knowledge with the younger generation.

“Whether it’s building, painting or simply lending advice, there’s a real sense of pride and purpose that comes from creating something with your hands. We’re also excited to be supporting our local wildlife with our creations, so we’re really looking forward to seeing a host of friendly birds appear in our garden!

“A big thank you to the lovely children from Perry Hall primary school for joining us to build bird boxes – it’s been a real pleasure working together!”

Foxbridge House has been designed to deliver the very best standards of care and to enable residents to lead active and fulfilling lives. The home provides full-time residential, nursing and dementia care, as well as short-term respite care, and has its very own cinema, hair and beauty salon and pub.