LEDBURY’S popular Repair Café will be back in action at the Burgage Hall on Saturday 4th September, and also on the first Saturday of each month for the rest of this year.
Their talented team of volunteer repairers is looking forward to breathing new life into your portable household items of an electrical, mechanical or ceramic nature. Sharpening of small garden tools etc, is also available. The situation regarding textile repairs is still under review.
Repair Cafés are local schemes that promote repair as an alternative to throwing things away. The idea was born in Amsterdam, which held the first Repair Café in 2009, and there are now over 1,500 Repair Cafés worldwide. Repair Cafés do not charge a fee for repairs, but cash donations towards the cost of running the sessions are gratefully accepted.
Ledbury’s Repair Café held its first events in February and March last year, as part of a the wider Sustainable Ledbury initiative. “Before we started a Repair Café in Ledbury, I used to get my own things fixed at the one in Malvern” said front-desk volunteer, David Murdoch.
“Chris and Jan Dyer, who have run Malvern Repair Café since 2012, gave us lots of encouragement and guidance which ensured we had a really successful start, by largely following their well proven model.’’
“Inevitably, the global pandemic interrupted our operations. We are really proud to have succeeded in keeping repair alive in Ledbury however, by introducing a booking system last year which avoids crowding and maintains social distancing.
Bookings can be made either online or by telephone so people who do not use the internet can also easily benefit from using the Repair Café.
“Our pre-Covid events also enjoyed the more sociable aspects of hot drinks, home-made cakes, and greater interaction with our repairers. We would dearly like to re-introduce this, but until we are able to, please support one of the many great cafés in town.”
As this important community service has evolved, one of the other aspects which many Repair Café clients have found helpful, is advice on how to achieve better outcomes when dealing directly with manufacturers to get something fixed.
“A lady customer recently had a fault with a vacuum cleaner which our repair team diagnosed as needing a new brush-head. Armed with our diagnosis, she approached the manufacturer who sent her a brand new part at no charge, which she easily fitted herself” said David.
For information on Repair Café Ledbury, visit the website repaircafeledbury.org.uk
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here