Ledbury’s popular Repair Café returns to the town’s Community Hall on Saturday morning, February 3. This will be the first of ten sessions planned for 2024 and it will also mark four years since their very first event was held, just before the world was overwhelmed by the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The team of talented volunteers who operate Repair Café Ledbury have evolved and refined how their events are run, including moving to much larger premises two years ago. They are also proud to have assisted several other Repair Cafés to get off the ground throughout Herefordshire over the last year, and to have been recognised by the County Council for providing this invaluable practical support.

“We can handle up to 40 household item repair jobs on the day, including tool sharpening, electrical, mechanical, glueing of ceramics, sewing and woodwork” said chairman David Hewitt. “All items for repair must be booked in advance and must be taken home by their owners before the end of the session.”

The other big attraction of Repair Café Ledbury is the very sociable atmosphere, where visitors can enjoy delicious home-made cakes with a cup of tea or coffee, while their repair is underway. People often bump into old friends or make new ones, so nobody should feel like a stranger by the time they leave!

Repair Cafés are local schemes that promote repair as an alternative to throwing things away, which becomes ever more relevant in these challenging economic times. The idea was born in Amsterdam in 2009, and there are now around 3,000 Repair Cafés worldwide.

In November 2023, Repair Café Kyiv joined the international repair movement. Despite the war in their country, a group of about ten people in their 20s and 30s decided to start hosting repair events in the Ukrainian capital. You can read their story in full at www.repaircafe.org/en/

Repair Cafés do not charge a fee for repairs, but cash donations towards running costs are gratefully accepted. If you have a portable household item that needs fixing, you can reserve a time-slot for the next event on Saturday 3rd February now, either online at repaircafeledbury.org.uk or by telephoning 07518 921300.