Wilmslow care home residents team up with school for DIY project

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

Residents at Long Stone Manor on Manchester Road have been rolling up their sleeves and getting stuck into some hands-on DIY all in the name of sharing expertise with the next generation.

As part of Care UK’s ‘Fixer Uppers’ programme, residents teamed up with Wilmslow Preparatory School to work together to build a time capsule using wood and waterproof materials, before painting it and creating a sign to mark the spot.

They buried objects such as a newspaper, mobile phone, ear plugs, keys, a Long Stone Manor floor plan, photos of the residents, letters from both the children and residents, a can of pop, photos of chocolate buttons, the children’s favourite animals, school mascot teddies, money, school caps and a paper receipt - capturing a snapshot of life today for future generations to discover.

George Birch, 94, said: “Seeing the children so engaged and full of enthusiasm was truly the highlight for me. Moments like this remind us how special it is to connect across generations and leave something meaningful behind.”

Emma Tillyer, Home Manager at Long Stone 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 swapping stories, learning from one another and genuinely enjoying the process.

“We’d like to thank Wilmslow Prep School for coming to the home to bury our time capsule. It was a brilliant afternoon and we look forward to many more visits in the future.”

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.

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

Long Stone Manor is a state-of-the-art care home that provides full-time residential and dementia care, as well as short-term respite care, for up to 60 people. The home has been designed to enable residents to live active and fulfilling lives, while also promoting independence, and there is plenty of space both indoors and out for relaxation and recreation. The building has been configured into a series of neighbourhoods to facilitate the creation of close-knit communities and encourage social interaction among the residents.