Are Brits turning a blind eye to the toolbox, opting instead to seek professional assistance at the first hint of a flickering light bulb? Simon King, a seasoned handyman, believes so. With his trusty Collins Complete DIY Manual in hand, King points out a curious observation: the disappearance of DIY blunders from comedic television. If TV is a reflection of life, it’s no wonder we’re seeing less of DIY disasters akin to Frank Spencer’s escapades on our screens. ‘The DIY spirit seems to be dwindling,’ King quips from his 30-year experience on the frontline. Matt Walton, a senior analyst at Globaldata, concurs. According to him, the DIY surge witnessed during the lockdown has faded. The elements fuelling this trend range from housing ladder hurdles to the prohibitions faced by renters in upkeep activities. A gap in generational skill transfer is another significant factor. From his base in Lincoln, King notes a decline in the ‘make do and mend’ ethos. Today, homeowners lack skills, confidence, or simply the desire to tackle even basic DIY tasks, King observes. Rather than spending a weekend with a hammer in hand, Brits, he says, prefer to ring up their local handyman. Meanwhile, Alan Dalgairns, founder of the Hull Repair Cafe, is trying to revive the DIY spirit. His cafe encourages people to learn repair skills from seasoned DIYers, hoping to rekindle the love for fixing things. In a similar vein, his Hull Library of Stuff lends various tools to young people, offering demonstrations on their safe and proper use. Dalgairns believes the loss of basic skills is largely due to younger generations not observing their parents performing these tasks. In an effort to bridge this gap, Dalgairns’ organisation has even introduced a kids’ club, aimed at instilling hands-on practical skills in younger minds. Despite the current hiatus, Dalgairns is hopeful for a resurgence in the coming year.
This story was adapted by The Lincoln Post from original reporting by www.bbc.com.
