Make a DIY repair video

Before you begin

• Use the safety checklist  to help you plan and risk assess your activity. There's also more guidance to help you carry out your risk assessment, including examples.
• Make sure all young people and adults involved in the activity know how to take part safely.
• Make sure you’ll have enough adult helpers. You may need some parents and carers to help.

Planning and setting up this activity

• Choose a well-lit, quiet space for groups to film their videos in. If you don’t want to make a video, you could perform a sketch or skit instead.
• Gather necessary tools or props, such as a plunger, duct tape or a screwdriver
• Always have consent for anyone being photographed or recorded. Anyone without consent could take a role behind the camera. You can use our photography and video guidance.
• Make sure to have any recording equipment ready, such Smart-phones, tablets, or cameras, and plan how you'll store, edit and share the final videos, such as social media, group presentation).  Always follow our GDPR guidance and retention periods. You can delete all videos and recordings once the activity has been completed.

Running this activity

1. Gather everyone together and see if anyone can think of any DIY problems or emergencies. They might have had one happen at home, such as a blocked sink, a leaking pipe or a loose door hinge.
2. Ask everyone why it might be important to know how to fix these types of problems. If we know how to fix them ourselves, we can save time and money. We can also make sure we keep everything in our homes, or other buildings, working properly, so we can use them and so that there’s no damage caused to the building or its contents, including people. For example, a leaking pipe might cause water damage, or a loose door hinge might cause the door to fall off and hit someone.
3. Ask everyone to get into groups and find a space. Each group should be given an example of a DIY emergency. . For example, unblocking a sink, patching a leaking pipe, changing a lightbulb or fixing a loose door hinge.
4. Give each group some paper and pens. Ask them to write down the steps involved in fixing the problem they’ve been given. They should try to include any safety tips and helpful tools they would need.
5. Once the groups have written their steps, bring everyone back together. Each group should explain their DIY emergency and share how they thought it could be repaired. An adult should check that the steps the group suggested are correct using a reliable source, such as by using a DIY shop guide. For example, B and Q, Wickes or Screwfix.
6. Ask everyone which emergency might be the most challenging to fix and why.
7. Explain to the group that they’re going to film a video that demonstrates how to fix one of these DIY emergencies. They should explain the steps to repair their emergency, but it’s up to them how they want to do this. They could use puppets, make it a funny sketch, include props, use voiceovers, act it out, draw the steps out on paper and hold them up to camera, or use stop-motion animation. They need to show the problem, clearly explain each step, including any safety information, and demonstrate how to use the tools or materials. They may wish to include a ‘before’ and ‘after’ shot to show what the problem was and that it’s been fixed.
8. Give each group a few minutes to plan out what they’ll say and do in their video. They may wish to create a storyboard or script. They may also want to make props or have different roles, such as camera operator, director or presenter.
9. Once the groups are ready, each group can take turns recording their video to demonstrating their DIY emergency and how it’s fixed. Always have consent for anyone being photographed or recorded. Anyone without consent could take a role behind the camera.
10. You can record the video as one continuous clip or film it into short segments and edit them together. Filming it in short segments can be helpful if you want to change backgrounds or want to check the scripts.
11. After the videos are recorded, each group may want to edit their video. There are several free apps that are easy to use, such as iMovie or InShot. They may wish to add in transitions, subtitles or background music. You could also add in credits to say what everyone did, especially if some of the groups were working behind the scenes.
12. Once the videos are finished, you can all watch them. You may wish to hold a screening and invite in parents or carers to watch them.
13. If you don’t want to film a video, groups could create a performance, sketch or skit instead. They could be performed in front of each other without being filmed.