Frome care home residents team up with youth group for DIY project

A care home in Frome has teamed up with a local children’s charity to join a nationwide campaign for International Repair Day.

Residents at Rossetti House on Welshmill Lane 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 have been teaming up with children from local schools and charities to revive traditional repair skills, such as fixing furniture, mending clothes, and tackling small maintenance jobs. The initiative, launched in the run-up to International Repair Day, aims to celebrate the invaluable knowledge older generations can pass on while promoting sustainability.

At Rossetti House, residents teamed up with children from Purple Elephant to build their very own compost bin out of wooden pallets in the home’s garden.

Ray, a resident at Rossetti House, said, “It should always be the first port of call to see if we can fix something rather than buying new all the time. It helps all round.

“I remember during my senior school days, as part of “PFL -Preparation for Life” going to visit older people in the community where they would help them with any jobs they needed doing. Sometimes it might be tidying the garden, doing the washing up or just making them a cup of tea and having a chat. I remember those lessons fondly as it gave us a break from the classroom and a sense of pride when I helped someone.”

Home Manager at Rossetti House, Phil Vale, 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 Purple Elephant for coming to the home to build our very own compost bin. It was a brilliant morning, and we look forward to many more visits in the future.”

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

For more information on Rossetti House, please call Customer Relations Manager Helen Cross on 01373 887 988, email helen.cross@careuk.com or visit careuk.com/rossetti-house.