The BIG FIX returns on May 14th with one aim – to fix and breathe new life into as many broken things as possible.
Skilled menders, fixers, tinkerers and tailors from all over the country will give their time and expertise for free to help fix items that might have otherwise been thrown away.
Anything from broken clocks, jewellery, clothing and textiles or gardening equipment to broken electronics can be brought for repair.
Other volunteers help in organising the visitors and running the café supplying teas and coffees, and stocking them with gastronomic home-made treats, like cheese straws and lemon drizzle cake.
Excitingly, due to its previous success in Devon, the project is for the second time going nationwide. Cafés from Devon, Wiltshire, Sussex and Buckinghamshire are already involved, with many more expected to join.
Dozens of Repair Cafés around the country will be held at the same time, with one goal – to fix as much as possible.
You can find a full list of Repair Cafés in Devon by visiting the Recycle Devon website (Repair Cafe – Recycle Devon) and Repair Cafés nationwide through Visit | Repaircafe. There is no booking required, just complete a form about your item on arrival.
The BIG FIX hopes to help people save money, not only by repairing old items but also through future proofing by teaching you how to fix the items yourself.
All of those involved are on a mission to prevent items from being thrown away. Every day we throw away thousands of items which if given a little attention could be easily repaired.
As it becomes increasingly more convenient to replace items rather than repair them, the importance of these events grows. They could have a large impact in reducing the environmental effect of waste.
Sue Williamson has helped organise six sessions at the new Repair Café of High Bickington and Atherington. She said:
“As a community we are doing our best to address the need to save resources. We know from recent reports that our planet, and life as we know it, is endangered by the climate crisis. The Repair Café is one way in which communities can come together and make a small but positive difference.”
She added: “Although the main aims of the Repair Café is to keep household items in use and to hand on mending skills, it also serves as a meeting place for villagers to meet and mix – much needed after all the months of isolation during lockdown. People pop in for cake and coffee. “Everyone involved speaks passionately of how great an opportunity this is for the Repair Cafés to reopen their doors to the public, after the long closures of the pandemic. After the isolation of the lockdowns, it provides an opportunity for residents to enjoy some interaction with a visit to a Repair Café. You don’t even need to bring something to repair!”
To find out which repair cafes are taking part, check out the BIG FIX facebook page. Several CAG Devon Repair Cafes are taking part including Blackdowns Hills, Bradninch, Chudfix, Tiverton and Uffculme.
