Cheadle Hulme care home residents team up with school children for a DIY project

A care home in Cheadle Hulme has joined forces with a local school and joined a nationwide campaign for International Repair Day.

Residents at Care UK’s Abney Court in Abney Hall Park on Manchester 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, at Abney Court, residents teamed up with pupils from Ladybarn House to upcycle unwanted household items, including wellies, Crocs and even Lego containers. Together, they turned them into plant pots filled with spring bulbs and winter flowers.

82-year-old resident, Norma Jones, said: ‘’I really enjoyed spending time with the children upcycling items. Our generation are used to re-using and repairing things before we buy new, so it was a pleasure sharing our knowledge and skills with the children.’’

Zoe Smart, Home Manager at Abney Court, said: “Residents here at Abney Court 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, planting, or simply lending advice, there’s a real sense of pride and purpose that comes from creating something with your hands. We’re also really excited to be supporting our local wildlife with our creations, so we’re really looking forward to seeing a host of friendly bees appear in our garden!

“A big thank you to Ladybarn House for joining us to build the plant pots – it’s been a real pleasure working together!”

Launched in the approach to 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.

The upcycling activity was overseen by Abney Court’s dedicated sustainability champion, as part of Care UK’s bid to embed environmentally conscious practices across all homes. Sustainability champions work closely with the Care UK ESG advisory committee to identify opportunities for greener ways of working, from reducing waste to encouraging biodiversity in care home gardens. 

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

Abney Court provides full-time residential, nursing and dementia care, as well as short-term respite care. Designed to enable residents to live enjoyable and fulfilling lives, the home has their very own café, cinema, hair salon and plenty of space, both indoors and out, for relaxation and recreation. The home has a comprehensive activity programme, offering a mix of themed events and group activities.