Robertsbridge and Brightling Repair Cafe

Preventing waste and building communities

 

Project location

  • The project repairs a variety of domestic products so they can be reused or recycled to extend usage and decrease waste. The repair cafe teaches attendees a variety of repair techniques so they are able to carry out independent repairs in the future or pass on their knowledge to others. The item categories targeted for repair include

    • Fabric (Darning, patching, new zips, knitting and crocheting, soft toys)

    • Electricals (Vacuums, toasters, radios, kettles)

    • Software instruction (Help in programming and operating mobile phones, tablets and laptops)

    • Bicycles (Health checks and minimal repairs),

    • Sharpening of knives and garden implements

    • Wooden furniture and toys

      The repair cafe is also seeking to develop a collection point for commercial tools so they can be donated to other charities that support third world countries.

  • Teaching the skill of repair has increased the skill and confidence levels of all participants, whilst significantly reducing repairable equipment from entering landfill.

    The repair cafe provides a meeting point for local people to socialise and has strengthened community cohesion, developing a sense of belonging and friendship.

    The teaching of repair has also helped to reduce personal expense for participants by avoiding the need to purchase new products.

  • The repair cafe supports communities surrounding Robertsbridge and Brightling typically, but not limited to, a 10 mile radios. The cafe launched by assisting participants aged 40 and above but, now established, will be seeking to expand the demographic of its group in the future.

  • £500 - Micro Grant

  • The Sustainable Communities Fund Micro Grant will be used to purchase generic tools to carry out specific repairs, these include include

    • Bike stand

    • Grinding wheel

    • Files and whetstones

    • Ironing board and iron

    • PAT Tester

    • Electrical continuity tester

    • Extension leads

  • The Robertsbridge and Brightling Repair Cafe maintain a Facebook page for news and updates. This can be viewed by visiting https://www.facebook.com/robertsbridgeandbrightlingrepaircafe.

Bicycles for Ukraine

The Robertsbridge and Brightling Repair Café were able to facilitate the gift of two bicycles to Natasha and Artem who arrived in their village last month.

The bicycles will give them independent transport to move around the area for work, school and recreation.

The bicycles were donated by Chris Levers of Classic Cycle Maintenance who is a volunteer expert at the Repair Café.

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