Berliner Tageblatt - Bromsgrove Repair Cafe reports nearly 80% repair success rate

Bromsgrove Repair Cafe repaired 344 of 583 items brought in during the year to July 31, keeping an estimated 1,240 kilograms of waste out of disposal sites.

REPAIR cafes are going from strength to strength as people take along a host of household items to be fixed, rather than shelling out on ones.

And now, more people are being urged to see how their local repair cafe can help them.

The Bromsgrove Repair Cafe meets on the first Saturday of each month at All Saints Church Hall from 2.30pm to 5pm.

The last repairs are accepted by 4.30pm. and there is free parking on Burcot Lane and behind the hall, on Shenstone Close.

Volunteer repairers tackle a huge range of items – from CD players, TVs and vacuums to lawn mowers, fairy lights, food processors, kettles, toasters, clothing, bags, soft toys, clocks and jewellery. Tool sharpening is also available.

Anyone wanting to enquire about the repair cafe or ask if a certain item can be fixed should email: [email protected] or send a direct message to: facebook.com/RepairCafeBromsgrove for enquiries.

In the last 12 months, up to July 31 this year, the Bromsgrove Repair Cafe had 393 customers who bought 583 items. Of these a total 344 were fixed by the volunteer repairers – a success rate of 79.6 per cent.

This has saved the equivalent of 1,240kg of waste from landfill or the tip.

This equates to: 12 large refrigerators (each typically weighing around 100kg) or 16 front-loading washing machines (each typically weighing about 75kg) or 24 three-seater sofas (each weighing 50kg).

These figures, compiled by Worcestershire County Council, highlight just how much difference community repair can make.

Bromsgrove Repair Cafe runs thanks to its volunteers and from the voluntary donations from its customers.

The next two Bromsgrove sessions take place at 2.30pm on Saturday, November 7, and December 5.

The repair cafe will take a break in January and be back on February 6.

But it is not just in Bromsgrove where the repair cafe is thriving.

Redditch, Alcester and Studley

Other repair cafes in Redditch, Alcester and Studley are also well-attended.

In Alceter, the repair cafe takes place from 2pm to 5pm on the fourth Thursday of the month at The Depot, Eric Payne Community Centre (last entry 4.30pm).

The Redditch Repair Cafe takes place from 10am to 2pm (last entry 1pm) on the last Saturday of the month at Webheath Village Hall.

And the Studley Repair Cafe runs from 10am to 2pm on the second Saturday of the month at Studley Parish Centre.

N.Fournier--BTB