It’s not always a case of ‘out with the old, and in with the new’. Redbridge Council is supporting two FREE Repair Café events in the borough to encourage local people to fix broken items instead of throwing them away.

The two Repair Cafes, run by local groups and volunteers, with support from the East London Waste Authority, and Redbridge Council, show people the environmental and money saving benefits of repairing household items and clothing, instead of buying a replacement.

Do you have a broken item? Head to a Repair Café to see if you can breathe new life into small, everyday items in need of some care.

• Transition Town Ilford led Repair Café on Saturday 13 January 2024, 2pm to 3:45pm at Lab Central, Redbridge Central Library. For more details, including items you can bring for repair go to: https://www.transitionilford.org/repair-cafe
• South Woodford Repair Café on Saturday 20 January 2024, 10am to 1pm at Memorial Hall, 209 High Road, South Woodford, E18 1BN. This Repair Café is run in partnership with St Mary’s Woodford, South Woodford Society, Co-op and Woodford Greeners. For more details, including items you can bring for repair go to: https://www.southwoodfordsociety.org/events/repair-cafe-mj9jc

Repairing items not only helps reduce waste, which is great for the environment and tackling climate change, it can also save you money.

Many local people are already feeling the financial strain of the cost of living crisis, and with soaring prices many items and household appliances are now more expensive than ever to buy brand new. A repaired item could prevent the need to pay out for a new, more expensive replacement. 

Redbridge Cabinet Member for Environment and Civic Pride Cllr Jo Blackman, said: “Repair Cafés are a great way to help prolong the life of many everyday items and appliances, leading to less waste and more pounds in your pocket. Hopefully these events will also encourage people to think twice before throwing things out that can be repaired or passed on. It really is a brilliant free green initiative for local people to take advantage of and I’m grateful to the local groups and volunteers for helping organise them. We can all do our bit to help tackle climate change and create a greener Redbridge, and a visit to the Repair Café is a great place to start!”

Find out more information, tips, and advice on easy ways to save money and help the environment by first reducing your household waste and then recycling whatever is left:  https://www.redbridge.gov.uk/our-streets/

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