East Grinstead care home residents’ team up with local school for a DIY project

A care home in East Grinstead has joined forces with local schoolchildren to create a community display.

Residents at Care UK’s Mill View, on Sunnyside Close, have been rolling up their sleeves and getting crafty all in the name of sharing skills and memories with the next generation.

Hot off the back of Care UK’s recent ‘Fixer Uppers’ programme, residents and pupils from the Meads Primary School came together to create individual poppies and wreaths as part of a larger community display. During the activity, children were also able to ask lots of questions about the residents’ own experiences with the war and the impact it had on them. 

Also taking part in the activity was Gladys, who recently celebrated her 100^th birthday at the home, and she was joined by her grandson Josh who is a student at the local school.

Quote from Gladys: “It was so lovely to spend the morning with my grandson and his school friends. We all enjoyed making the wreaths, and it was nice to share my stories of growing up during WWII with everyone. All the students were such a pleasure to spend the afternoon with!”

Trish Banks, Home Manager at Mill View, said: “Residents have honed their crafting skills over a lifetime, and the Fixer Uppers’ project has been a fantastic way for them to connect with young people and share their knowledge in a meaningful way.

“It was especially wonderful to see everyone fully engaged and residents swapping stories with the children, learning from one another, and genuinely enjoying the process. Their work to support Remembrance Day activities and share their memories with the children was really lovely to be a part of.

“We’d like to thank The Meads Primary School for coming to the home to craft poppies with the residents. It was a brilliant afternoon, and we look forward to many more visits in the future.”

The ‘Fixer Uppers’ 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 

Mill View has been designed to deliver the very best standards of care and to enable residents to live active and fulfilled lives. The home provides full-time residential, nursing and specialist dementia care, as well as short-term respite. The home features state-of-the-art facilities including a cinema, café and activity space.