Quorn care home residents’ team up with school for DIY project

A care home in Quorn has joined forces with local schoolchildren for International Repair Day.

Residents at Lonsdale Mews on Farley Way 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 pupils from Rawlins Academy in Quorn, Skills for Learning students for a creative afternoon of upcycling. Using recycled items and materials, the group worked side by side to design and make clothing and accessories - sewing, gluing and decorating hats, dresses, and creative fashion items.

The finished pieces were then proudly showcased in a fashion show held at the home, with residents and team members taking to the catwalk to celebrate their work.

Resident, Margaret Hill said: “I’ve really enjoyed getting involved with the ‘make-do and mend’ sessions. It’s been great getting together with other residents, and we had so much fun dressing up.

“It’s nice to reuse and bring old things back to life - it’s good for the environment too. I think it’s great to have intergenerational involvement and to get younger people engaged.”

Launched to celebrate International Repair Day, the initiative aims to revive traditional 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.

Jo Davison, Home Manager at Lonsdale Mews 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 Rawlins Academy for coming to the home to help to create clothes for our first fashion show. It was a brilliant afternoon and we look forward to many more visits in the future.”

Lonsdale Mews offers full-time residential and dementia care, as well as short-term respite care. The home incorporates space for hobby and leisure activities and includes its own cinema, hair and beauty salon and pub. 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.