Leeds residents offered free workshops to brush up on their DIY skills

Leeds residents have been receiving free expert advice to help them get out of a sticky situation when decorating their homes.

West North West Homes Leeds (WNWHL) and improvement and repairs partner Connaught Partnerships Ltd have together provided expert tutoring in preparing a wall before decorating, hanging wallpaper and painting for Leeds City Council residents who had expressed an interest in learning how to make minor improvements to their homes.

Evelyn Gaughan, WNWHL customer involvement officer, explained: “The feedback we received from our customers was that many wanted to decorate their homes but they lacked the necessary ‘know how’ to go about this effectively. As a result we engaged with Connaught to provide a void property in which we demonstrated some basic skills and the response from tenants was excellent, with some even now seeking formal qualifications as a result of the workshops.

“Many people choose to decorate their homes in the New Year and if the skills learned during these sessions can help encourage customers to put their own stamp on their homes and make them proud to live there then we will be delighted.”

John Brockett, a WNWHL resident of Headingley, said: “I received a letter asking if I would be interested in attending a DIY taster session and I jumped at the chance. We learned to strip and prepare a wall, fill cracks and rub-down before painting and how to hang wallpaper. The tips I’ve picked-up are always going to come in handy to help decorate my home and if it can save some money by not paying for somebody else to do it then that’s got to help.”

WNWHL and Connaught are working in partnership to provide Decent Homes improvement works, voids, repairs and maintenance works to Leeds City Council properties.