Westbury Community Shed volunteer repairers fixed all kinds of broken household items at Westbury’s first ever Repair Café on Saturday 2nd June at Paragon Hall.
Keen Shed volunteers mended several lamps, a heater, a pot and a strimmer and gave advice on mending a mini-stereo unit. A pop-up bike repair stand was set up just off the High Street, offering free bike repairs and helped bike owners of all ages who came along. The Shed was joined by Emma from EJ Crafts who volunteered her time, giving advice about a fault on a sewing machine and carrying out a sewing repair. Imperial Charity also helped at the café, kindly PAT testing all the electrical repairs. Community Shed volunteers were on hand to help set up and wash up.
All the mends at the Repair Café stopped items being thrown away, meaning the resources and energy used to make the items were saved and as there is no ‘away,’ it helped reduce rubbish too.
Nearly 30 people stopped by the Café, bringing items to mend or just having a look to see what it was all about, including three people from Warminster, who said they’d love to see a similar initiative in their town. People bringing items to repair said it is a “great idea” and they’d like the Repair Cafes to be held regularly. True to its name there was plenty of tea and delicious cake to fuel the mending, thanks to some star baking from a Shed family member. The cafe raised £19.40 through donations, to help with running and refreshment costs.
One of the organisers, Linda Hallowell said, “It’s great our first Repair Café was a success and to get requests for a regular Repair Café. This was a truly community event – local organisations coming together to help the people of Westbury and the environment.”
The Repair Café was an initiative organised by Westbury Community Shed with support from the Waste Education Team at Wiltshire Wildlife Trust, which is funded by Wiltshire Council. The Shed is hoping to run another café in Westbury so if you missed this one, hold onto your item in need of repair – don’t bin it.
Funded by Wiltshire Council, Wiltshire Wildlife Trust’s Waste Education Team educates and engages communities across Wiltshire, encouraging residents to reduce, reuse and recycle more of their household rubbish. Follow the Waste Team on twitter @SlimBinsWilts and Wiltshire Waste Watchers Facebook page and Pinterest board – add ideas #MyRubbishIdea.
