Very few people even consider repairing old items. Most people no longer know how to repair things, and those who do have skills often don’t have the time to use them.
This is changing in Bexley as we are now home to two thriving Repair Cafés, in Sidcup and Thamesmead. These provide residents with a friendly place to fix everyday items for free, helping them reduce their waste, saving them money and strengthening their community ties.
Repair Cafés are urgently needed because far too many things get thrown away unnecessarily. They are a way of bringing the community together to make sure that valuable practical knowledge is passed on and that the volume of raw materials and energy needed to make new products is reduced.
Repair Cafés help people to see their possessions in a new light. And, once again, to appreciate their value. The cafés in Bexley specialise in repairing small electrical items such as kettles, toasters and hoovers, along with clothing repairs. Sometimes other items may also be fixable at an event, too, depending on volunteer skills and availability, such as costume jewellery, which was available at the May event held in Thamesmead at Youthbuild Ventures UK, 90 Titmuss Avenue, SE28 8FD.
An amazing group of volunteers enable these events to take place, who also make sure any visitors can have some refreshment while they are waiting for their item to be fixed, making it a friendly place to help the local community. There are already some regular attendees who have found the events have really helped them in their everyday lives.
Comments from visitors include:
The fixer was brilliant, very patient and he had all his tools and what he suggested was amazing."
The next Repair Café in Thamesmead is on Saturday June 13 from 12pm to 3pm, with a community cuppa and chat opportunity afterwards from 3pm to 4pm. You can turn up on the day but it is best to prebook your place to guarantee a slot with a repairer.