Need something fixing? Before you think about buying a replacement check if your local Repair Café could help…
A Repair Café is a place to go with items that need mending, to have a cuppa, and to put new life into your treasured but broken possessions. A team of DIY-savvy volunteers donate their time and skills to Repair Cafés each session, meaning the general public can mend something they may otherwise have thrown away. So many items are discarded without having had a trip to the Repair Café. Wouldn’t it be so much better if all these items were checked for repairability and saved from the tip?
All sorts of things are welcome at the Repair Café: clocks, clothing, knives for sharpening, appliances, and computers. The volunteers glue, reattach, diagnose, woodwork and sew their way through broken things people bring.
Kate Spohrer who used her local service said: “I took a vacuum cleaner that had refused to suck to Bewdley Repair Café. After a quick PA test to check it was safe (it passed), it was duly inspected by one of the talented repairers and I was told the broken part would be ordered and I could pick it up next time. I was truly delighted, not only would my lovely vacuum breathe life again and be fixed for a donation, but I had also saved an electrical item going into landfill.”
Did you know there are several Repair Café’s in the area? Kidderminster on the first Saturday of the month 10–1pm at Youth House, Bromsgrove Street; Bewdley on the third Saturday of the month 10–2pm at St Georges Hall, Load Street; and Stourbridge on the last Saturday of the month 10–2pm , at St Thomas’ Church Hall.
Find your nearest repair cafe
Repair Café West Midlands is a supportive network of 14 Repair Cafés across the region. Contact your nearest Repair Café for more details.
Alcester
Contact: Wendy Sherwood
Email: info@alcester-tc.gov.uk
Facebook: Repair Café Alcester
Bewdley
Contact: John Rhymer
Email: john.rhymer50@gmail.com
Facebook: Transition Bewdley
Bromsgrove
Contact: Ros Cooke
Email: repaircafebromsgrove@gmail.com
Facebook: Repair Café Bromsgrove
Kenilworth
Contact: Sharon Maxted
Facebook: Repair Café Kenilworth
Kidderminster
Contact: Sharon Cartwright
Email: ktransitiongroup@hotmail.com
Facebook: Kidderminster Repair Café
Ledbury
Contact: Susanna Perkins
Email: admin@repaircafeledbury.org.uk
Website: repaircafeledbury.org.uk
Leominster
Contact: Rupert Gulley
Email: repaircafeleominster@googlegroups.com
Ludlow
Contact: Di Lyle
Email: ludlowrepaircafe@gmail.com
Facebook: Ludlow Repair Café
Malvern Hills
Contact: Jan and Chris Dyer
Email: repaircafemalvernhills@gmail.com
Facebook: Repair Café Malvern Hills
Website: malvernhillsrepaircafe.co.uk
Redditch
Email: repaircaferedditch@gmail.com
Facebook: Repair Cafe Redditch
Solihull
Email: sol.repaircafe@outlook.com
Facebook: Solihull Repair Café
Instagram: solihullrepaircafé
Stourbridge
Email: repaircafe.stourbridge@gmail.com
Facebook: Stourbridge Repair Café
Tewkesbury
Contact: Tahir Rashid
Email: admin_team@tewkesburyrepaircafe.co.uk
Facebook: Tewkesbury Repair Café
Website: tewkesburyrepaircafe.co.uk
Worcester
Email: repaircafeworcester@gmail.com
Facebook: Repair Café Worcester