2025 has already seen a shift towards sustainability, with many people trying to get the most out of old items rather than replacing them immediately.
Repair Cafés are one of the latest trends in eco-friendly living, so I went to Beeston to find out how these events help the environment.
A keen group of volunteer fixers assembled on 18 January to encourage local people to reuse rather than replace their broken items.
Entering Beeston Methodist Church, I was met by a busy atmosphere despite the event only starting five minutes prior.
Three fixing teams were spread out across the hall, covering textiles, electricals and general items.
The aim is to stop people sending objects to landfill and save money, as often a simple fix can give a damaged item a new lease of life.
Rose Harvey, volunteer, said: “In today’s society where items are no longer built to last, it would be easy to just replace a broken item with a new one.
“The fixers at repair cafés want to buck this trend and show how items can often be fixed and saved from the scrapheap.”
Products the team worked on throughout the afternoon varied from toy trucks to coffee machines and cooking pans to hair accessories.
Its unique appeal lies in the two-way nature of the café – visitors can sit on the opposite side of the table and watch their belongings being restored, building their knowledge and confidence in repairing things themselves.
This face-to-face strategy created a lively, supportive environment and was something an internet search for fixing instructions could never provide.
“It’s about changing people’s thinking and turning up the volume on recycling.”
Judith, team member
Volunteer Simon informed me that the event has run four times a year for the past two years, with a mix of regular dedicated volunteers and some new fixers.
He said that whilst visitors are encouraged to book their free appointment online beforehand, the repair café often must deal with unexpected arrivals.
The team’s expertise was shown in their ability to deal with these challenges, with no fix too intimidating and the right volunteer for the job being found wherever possible.
Hot drinks and cakes were also on offer for people to enjoy whilst waiting for their item, with all money raised from this and other donations going towards hiring the building and repair resources rather than making a profit.
Textiles volunteer Judith has fixed things all her life and said: “It’s about changing people’s thinking and turning up the volume on recycling.
“We normally manage to fix all items, there’s only a few where we have to refer them to somewhere else.”
The Repair Café teamed up with a clothes swap and plant sale to increase footfall and further encourage waste reduction.
Many individuals either brought a clothing item or a donation and exchanged this for a new addition to their wardrobe.
Beeston Repair Café is one of four across Nottingham, with other repair cafés in Keyworth, Sherwood, and West Bridgford, meaning an event will be run almost every month in 2025.
To find out more about the Beeston Repair Café, visit facebook.com/Beeston-Repair-Cafe
