𝗥𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗶𝗿 𝗖𝗮𝗳𝗲́?

• Reduce the amount of waste you produce.
• Reuse items as much as you can before replacing them.
• Recycle items whenever possible.

Many of us separate our waste and use the Blue Bin to help our Council extract useful materials that can generate income and reduce dependence on scarce resources.

There appears to be less prominence given to re using items that are beyond their best. We tend to replace appliances and tools that could be repaired or repurposed. If only we had a repair café.

Many communities have Repair Cafes that mend clothes, cycles, sharpen mowers, and mend furniture using skills that volunteers offer free of charge. Someone may have tools that many of us do not possess and know how to use them.

It is easy to see why a repair can extend the working life of something, and the cost might be a modest donation. We should consider the potential problems:

A location that is large enough to hold volunteers, their tables/tools and space for up to 50 visitors.

Power and utilities need to be paid for and appliances tested.

Indemnity Insurance in case something goes wrong.

Enough varied specialists to offer a range of services.

Help move heavy items to and from the venue.

Someone to organise the work, volunteers, safety, and security.

Most venues operate once a month – would someone donate suitable premises, or would a permanent building store equipment?

Over 2,600 repair cafes in the UK involve over 40,000 volunteers, repairing 48,000 items per month! On Monday, 8^th May, the BIG HELP OUT: https://thebighelpout.org.uk asks for new volunteers to mark His Majesty the King’s Coronation. Thousands of organisations across the country are getting together to give us all the chance to help out in our own local communities.

Is a Whittlesey Repair Café possible? Would it be an elegant long-term legacy for our community? Can enough people with the right skills, knowledge, and attitudes make this happen?