ABOUT THE REPAIR CAFE PROJECT:

Before binning a ripped t-shirt or faulty hairdryer, consider repairing instead. Approximately 92 million tonnes of textiles and more than 50 million tonnes of electronic waste end up in landfills every year. Not only that, but the production of new items produces further carbon emissions and drains natural resources – manufacturing a single pair of denim jeans produces roughly 30kg of CO2! 

One of the ways we can mitigate these effects is to move away from a linear economy, where goods are produced, used and discarded, to a circular economy, where goods and materials are continuously kept in use, with waste and pollution significantly reduced.

The Repair Cafe was founded with this ethos in mind. Through our pop-up events, we offer a space to meet with skilled volunteers, to fix or refurbish broken or worn-out goods. Whether it’s an electrical item that needs a new plug, a coat that needs a new zip, or a teddy that needs a new eye; our team will be able to offer guidance, advice or practical help to give the item a new lease of life.

We currently have volunteers who can repair clothing, textiles and soft toys, small household appliances and electronics, and small household items such as furniture and picture frames. We aim to broaden and extend our scope as we grow. If you have experience repairing computing and audio equipment, jewellery, books, pottery or porcelain, and would like to join the team, please get in touch. 

Our cafes are free to attend, however donations are welcome. Learning a new skill and developing a mending mindset underpins the principles of the project, and because of this we do not offer a drop-off / pick-up service.