[A]lston Moor residents who can fix things are in demand, as the area’s new Repair Café gets under way this summer.
DIY enthusiasts and experienced tradespeople are all being invited to share their skills to help others on Alston Moor and keep useful goods from going to waste.
Repair Café volunteers typically find themselves fixing electrical goods, IT equipment, electronics, furniture, clothing and textiles and even mechanical goods like lawn mowers.
“We’re going to run four repair cafés over the next year and the hunt is on for volunteers who enjoy “having a go” to fix the items that members of the public will bring in,” said Roe Baker from Cumbria Action for Sustainability (CAfS), who is organising the events on behalf of Alston Moor Partnership.
“It’s not a big commitment, as the Repair Cafés only last for a few hours each time and we can even offer free training in PAT testing for two people who are willing to fix electrical items.”
Roe added: “I’d particularly appeal to qualified electricians and joiners or carpenters to help out for a few hours – especially at the first one.”
She’s also keen to hear from people with the skills to repair books, musical instruments, or even sharpen knives and gardening tools.
“I’m really open to people’s ideas on what they could fix,” Roe said.
“Currently we have some really skilled crafters willing to get involved – so there will definitely be a textile station to mend clothes, rugs and furnishings.”
Besides the volunteer repairers, the café needs other helping hands, too.
“We need someone to run the reception desk, and the refreshments,” Roe said. “I’m hoping that a local organisation might like to organise the drinks and cakes, as a way of bringing in some donations for their group.”
The Repair Cafés on Alston Moor follow on from a successful pilot last September and they are possible thanks to funding from Cumbria County Council’s Waste Prevention Fund, matched by the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation as part of the Alston Moor Greenprint. The first event will be in early summer. Dates and venues will be publicised well in advance.
Anyone willing to lend a hand should contact Roe by emailing [email protected] or calling 01768 210276.
