In support of London Repair Week 2024, FREE repair cafes are being hosted in Redbridge to breathe new life into broken items, helping local people save money, as well as helping the planet.

As part of the London wide eco-campaign, taking place March 11th – 17th, 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:

• Transition Town Ilford led Repair Café on Saturday 9 and 23 March, 2pm - 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 April, 10am to 1pm, at Memorial Hall, 209 High Road, South Woodford, E18 1BN.

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.

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.

Alvin Hardy, aged 80, is one of the regular repair experts on hand at the Repair Cafes run by Transition Town Ilford, at Redbridge Central Library. The former engineer is hoping to impart his repair knowledge and skills to the community, while helping fix items.

“I have years of repair experience and would love to share that with the community so local people have the ability to carry out small, easy, repairs that could save them money” said Alvin.  

“The Repair Cafes are also a great way to raise awareness of the harmful impact on the environment every time a broken item is thrown away – especially in today’s disposable era where things can be bought and replaced easily.”

Over the years Alvin has helped repair all kinds of items for local people from kettles, toasters, and hoovers, to baby feeders, lawnmowers and even a Dansette Record Player from the fifties and a Juke Box.

“Anything that is portable, we’ll give it a go at fixing - so bring it along to the Repair Café” said Alvin.

Cabinet Member for Environment and Sustainability, 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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