There’s so much inspiration across the Sid Valley – providing practical examples of how we can build a more sustainable future. This is the first of a series.
Showcasing sustainable projects: Sidmouth Repair Café
It was in September 2018 when the Repair Café was launched at the Youth Centre in Sidmouth: Sidmouth opens first repair cafe | Sidmouth Herald
It’s purpose is pretty clear:
The Sidmouth Repair Café had its first session last September – and it’s proving popular. Not only can folk take along a teddy or toaster to be brought back to life, but they can sit for a chat over a cuppa. So, it’s about reducing landfill and maintaining repair skills – and working with the local community. Up-cycle and repurpose at Sidmouth Repair Café | Sidmouth Herald
Here’s lots of inspiration and many more examples from their social media pages:
Sidmouth Repair Cafe | Sidmouth | Facebook
A study from Exeter Uni considers Repair Cafés as full of promise: Research news – Repair cafes and “20 minute neighbourhoods” should be used to revitalise Cornish high streets – University of Exeter
It’s fundamentally about ‘sustainability’:
Toss it? No way! Repair Cafe is a non-profit organization that aims to inspire sustainability at the local level. While specialists volunteer to repair broken belongings, participants can pick up on hands-on skills. Repair Cafes Inspire Hand-On Learning, Reduce Waste, and Strengthen Community Bonds | Machine Design
As the original Repair Café website tells us:
Visitors bring their broken items from home. Together with the specialists they start making their repairs in the Repair Café. It’s an ongoing learning process. If you have nothing to repair, you can enjoy a cup of tea or coffee. Or you can lend a hand with someone else’s repair job. You can also get inspired at the reading table – by leafing through books on repairs and DIY.
Furthermore, people who visit Repair Cafés are not usually customers of repair specialists. They say that they normally throw away broken items because paying to have them repaired is, in general, too expensive. At the Repair Café they learn that you don’t have to throw things away; there are alternatives. About | Repaircafe
Would this make a good candidate for a Sustainable Sidmouth Champions Award? What is ‘make do and mend’ – and what can we do to help save some money? – Sustainable Sidmouth Champion Awards
Here’s the entry form: Enter the Champions Awards 2023 – Sustainable Sidmouth Champion Awards