Make Do & Mend

Make do and mend is a creative and oral skills project that engages senior citizens in residential homes in arts and craft activities.  Funded by Awards For All the project has sort to to document and “save” textile techniques whilst introducing new textile skills to the residents while, generating discussions on the theme of “make do and mend” and compiling useful snippets and tips that will be documented in a booklet that will form the culmination of the project.

The residents involved in the project are from two of Leicester's Residential homes Danbury Gardens and The Wolsey.  To date the residents have expressed their delight at being involved in the projects and are keen to do more.  They have made rugs and purses so far and next they will be lookingto make a quilt working with children and young people from the Junior Yes You Can Club.    We are hoping that bringing these two different ages together to work on a project will help to break down age barriers and also produce a nice piece of work.

This kind of project is greatly needed.  Residents expressed their need for a variety of activities and getting attention to make them still feel like a productive part of society.   They have said that their social needs are being met by bringing them into contact with other residents, craft tutor and worker from Kainé Management.

     

Skills we have been looking at introducing, include knitting, sewing techniques and stitches; crocheting; darning a sock, rag rugs, quilting, patchwork and dress making/hemming, 

We are hoping to expand this project to other homes, funding permitting.