Repair Cafés and the Joy of Fixing Things
Volunteers armed with screwdrivers and sewing machines are keeping tonnes of goods out of landfill — and rebuilding community along the way.
On a Saturday morning in a church hall, a toaster, a torn coat and a wobbly chair are all waiting their turn. This is a repair café: a free, volunteer-run event where people bring broken things and learn to fix them.
More than mending
The environmental case is clear — every repaired kettle is one less in the bin. But regulars say the real magic is social. Retired engineers teach teenagers to solder; neighbours who’d never met share tea while a lamp is rewired.
The right to repair
Repair cafés have also become a quiet campaign. Volunteers see first-hand which products are designed to be opened and fixed, and which are glued shut. Their experience is feeding into a wider push for spare parts and repair manuals to be made available.
Find one near you
Many towns now host a monthly session. If yours doesn’t, starting one needs little more than a venue, a few skilled volunteers and some basic insurance.
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