The Abingtons | Repair Cafe 2018

Abington's second Repair Café will run at the Abington Institute on the morning of Saturday 27 October, from 10.00am to 1.00pm. Those who left last year’s Repair Café with a successfully repaired item will welcome the news that a similar event is planned for this year.

These events aim to bring together experienced repairers with people who need stuff fixed. They are your opportunity to bring along something you own that has developed a fault, to see whether a knowledgeable expert can bring it back into use by a simple repair instead of it being binned. This way we can make a small contribution to conservation of the Earth’s resources, and incidentally save some of the cash in our pockets.

The scope of the Repair Café currently being planned for the Abingtons is expected to include electrical and mechanical devices and small domestic appliances, computers and electronic devices, books, jewellery, bikes, garden tools, pumps, and fabric items needing sewing repair.

There will be more information in the September and October issues of the Abington & Hildersham News. The latter issue will include details of how to book to make it easier for a volunteer repairer with suitable skills and tools to attempt a repair of your item. You will also be able to drop in with an item for repair on the day, but you may have to join a queue. Repairs, whether successful or not, are free, but donations will be invited to cover the costs of the Repair Café.

Running alongside this event, Jeremiah’s Cafe will be selling the usual hot and cold drinks, snacks and delicious cakes.

What can I bring to the Repair Café?

You can bring anything in need of repair that you can carry, and that will not be a safety hazard or make a mess. This could be small electrical, mechanical or electronic appliances such as hairdryers and toasters (but excluding microwave ovens and TVs), lamps, toys, mobile phones, laptops, printers, clothes, jewellery, bicycles, items that need gluing, etc. Whatever it is, it might not even be broken, perhaps you just can’t work out how to use it without the manual – bring it along. As well as repairers with general skills, we expect to have those more specialised in computers, electrical and electronic equipment, fabric, sewing machines, bikes and jewellery.

Do I need to book in advance?

It will help the repairers if you book in advance, with details of what needs to be fixed. This will help repairers to prepare, perhaps looking up service manuals etc. The Café organisers will then allocate you a timeslot with a repairer with suitable skills and tools, and tell you approximately what time to arrive. This should help to minimise waiting.

To book, please email the team at repaircafe@theabingtons.org.uk, with as many relevant details as you can find out - such as manufacturer, approximate date of manufacture, model number, nature of fault etc. Alternatively, you are welcome to turn up without booking, and probably join a queue.

What about spares?

Repairers may have common low-cost items such as batteries in their toolkit, which they will provide at cost. If you need something more substantial, the repairer will help you to identify the part, and suggest where you might be able to order it online – but it will then be up to you to fit it, or bring it to the next Repair Café.

There is no charge for entry or repairs, whether successful or not, but donations will be gratefully received to help cover costs such as room rental.

This Repair Café is one of a series in the South Cambs. area, organised by a group from the Abingtons and co-ordinated by Cambridge Carbon Footprint.

Last updated on 26 August 2018.