Start Them Young: DIY Enthusiasts on Closing the Generational Gap

At HIPPO, we believe in the power of DIY to bring generations together. Our latest initiative, the #DIYLegacy campaign, does just that by partnering with some of the UK’s most beloved DIY influencers. Through this campaign, we aim to inspire a new generation to pick up the tools and learn the skills that many of us have inherited from our parents and grandparents.

Sparking DIY Enthusiasm

With almost a million social media followers combined, DIY influencers Mavourneen Conway, Melissa Ritchie, Paula Denham, Rebecca Lewis, Stacey Dyer, and Anita Russell are leading the charge. They are sharing their DIY secrets and demonstrating how they are passing the torch to the younger generation within their families.

The Need for a DIY Legacy

Our campaign follows fresh research commissioned by HIPPO, championed by TV carpenter and tradesman Robert Bent. The findings reveal that over half (58%) of Brits aged 24 and under believe their generation is losing the skill of DIY. Additionally, 28% of Brits wish more people would pass on their DIY skills, and nearly 38% of young adults aged 18-24 admit they have at least two DIY tasks waiting for their parents to complete.

Gareth Lloyd-Jones, Managing Director of HIPPO, emphasises the importance of this tradition: “Many of us learnt DIY skills from our parents or grandparents, but sadly our research shows that this tradition is dying out. We’re calling on families to spend a little more time together to create their very own DIY legacies and it’s fantastic to be supported by our DIY influencers who are flying the flag for sharing tips via social media.”

Voices of Our Influencers

Here’s how our DIY enthusiasts are helping to close the generational DIY gap:

Mavourneen Conway

@oldhouse_newbeginnings - demonstrates putting up a shelf with her six-year-old son.

Mavourneen Conway shares her secret to balancing renovations with family life: “The secret to balancing kids, work and renovations without experiencing the dreaded mum guilt, is involving them in the renovations so that they're learning DIY skills for life. HIPPO’s research shows that some of these DIY skills are being lost through the generations so I’m really proud we’ve been sharing the last six years of renovations with our little ones – they’re always learning. It can be as simple as putting up a shelf together and teaching them how to get it straight; these little skills can add up and, hopefully, give them the confidence to tackle their own DIY jobs in the future.”

Melissa Ritchie

@littleterracedhouse - builds a bee hotel with her young son, guided by advice from her dad.

Melissa Ritchie reflects on her DIY journey: “My dad has passed on some great DIY tips to me over the years so whenever I start a new project, he’s the first person I call as a sounding board. His number one tip is to sketch things out to help make a plan – a visual aid can make such a difference! I’m now really excited to be passing on the skills I learned from my dad to my son and starting my own DIY legacy. He loved getting stuck into this bee hotel project!”

Paula Denham

@homewiththedenhams - shares painting hacks and inspires her own parents to pick up a paintbrush.

Paula Denham reveals how she inspired her parents: “I grew up in a house where my parents would usually hire tradespeople for simple DIY jobs. Since starting my own DIY journey – and sharing some of my top painting tips as part of my DIY legacy – I’ve actually inspired them to give DIY a go too and they recently painted their own hallway! I only started learning DIY at the age of 30 so it feels great to be passing on this skill to older generations as we often hear about teaching those younger than us.”

Rebecca Lewis

@love_this_old_house - involves children in building flat-pack furniture efficiently.

Rebecca Lewis highlights the importance of starting a DIY legacy: “I was really surprised to learn from HIPPO’s research that DIY skills are on the decline and that younger people feel like they’re missing out. I think it’s incredibly important to start a DIY legacy to help inspire our children. Children love to get involved with building things and the feeling of pride in seeing their finished product. I have taught my son how to construct flat-pack furniture and shown him how to approach this task in an efficient and organised way. Reading the instructions carefully and setting everything out before beginning is key to ensuring the build process is successful and straightforward.”

Stacey Dyer

@end_of_the_row - showcases her partner’s grandfather’s DIY shed and offers tips on sustainable decorating.

Stacey Dyer cherishes her partner’s grandfather’s wisdom: “My partner’s 92-year-old grandad is always sharing his DIY tips with us – he often drops off tools he’d like to pass on to us which is certainly part of his DIY legacy! Thanks to him, at the core of all our DIY jobs is the importance of being sustainable and updating pieces where we can rather than constantly buy new. His favourite tip of measuring twice and cutting once definitely comes in handy here and is one of many we’re passing on to our own children who love to get involved and help.”

Anita Russell

@by_anitarussell - engages her daughter in creating projects from second-hand items.

Anita Russell enjoys teaching her daughter: “My daughter loves getting involved with our DIY projects; I think it’s so important to get little ones interested so they’re learning from a young age. She’s helped me build this greenhouse using old windows donated by a friend and with reclaimed bricks we’ve been collecting. She is already handy with a sanding machine and as part of my DIY legacy I’ve taught her how to measure and carefully cut using a saw as well as the importance of upcycling.”

Get Involved

Join us in creating a #DIYLegacy that will inspire future generations to pick up the hammer and start building by sharing your tips on your social accounts! From simply repainting a room or building a greenhouse, passing on these skills gives future generations the confidence to attempt their own projects – or even developing a career using the skills they learn alongside you.

For more DIY tips and inspiration on creating your own DIY legacy, visit our DIY Legacy page with tips from Robert Bent, or get started by ordering a HIPPOBAG today!