Carlisle’s Rebuild Site has been awarded £19,000 National Lottery funding to expand its community repair and reuse programme over the next two years.
The cash from The National Lottery Community Fund will support the creation of a new part-time community repair and reuse officer role, helping to co-ordinate workshops, repair cafés, school visits and community sessions across Carlisle and surrounding areas.
The project will help local people learn practical repair and maintenance skills, extend the life of everyday items, and reduce waste through hands-on, community-based activities.
The Rebuild Site is a community reuse hub that rescues surplus construction materials and makes them available for reuse through its shop, Tool Library and community programmes.
Over the past four years, Rebuild has supported hundreds of local projects with donated materials, delivered practical workshops, and built a strong network of community groups, schools and volunteers engaged in reuse and sustainability.
Emma Porter, founder of The Rebuild Site, said: “This funding allows us to build on the momentum we’ve already created and take our community repair and reuse work to the next level.
“We see every week how much people value the chance to learn practical skills, save money, and take positive environmental action.
“This support means we can reach more people and build something lasting for the community.”
This new funding will allow Rebuild to significantly expand its community offer, including a regular programme of repair cafés where local people can bring broken household items to be fixed, learn repair skills, and take part in practical environmental action.
The project aims to make repair and reuse more accessible to local residents, schools and community groups.
Activities will focus on:
- building practical repair and DIY skills
- increasing confidence to fix and reuse everyday items
- reducing waste and extending product life
- bringing people together through shared learning and activity
The programme will also support volunteers to take an active role in delivering sessions and sharing their skills with others.
Rebuild already sees between 200 and 300 visitors a week through its shop and community activities, runs a successful Tool Library with over 1,000 loans, and reaches a wide audience through its community networks and social media channels.
