Monthly Forres Repair Café invites attendees to learn how to fix items rather than throw them away
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A MONTHLY meeting of menders offers the chance to learn how to fix items rather than throw them away.
Forres Repair Café has been running since 2018, usually on the third Saturday of the month at Transition Town Forres (TTF) from 11am-3pm with a break over summer, but the latest meeting was on Saturday, April 15 in the town hall.
Organiser Andrew Drummond confirmed the nationwide repair movement has been growing for years, including at TTF’s Environmental Education and Healthy Living Centre on Bogton Road.
He said: “We typically see about a dozen participants with things to fix, and a few dozen guests dropping in to socialise over lunch. The most common items folk bring are lamps, radios, jumpers and jeans. The rarest have included an old record player, children’s toys, wicker furnishings, a solar electric fence, and even an oxygen concentrator. Most of these have been hit-or-miss when we can’t find spare parts or a manual but some of the most difficult to repair are the current trend in kettles for flimsy soft-touch switches, and of course inkjet printers built to be as opaque as possible.”
Entry is free with light food on offer from guest cooks for a modest sum.
Examples of skills covered include bike repair, clothing repair, electronics, IT troubleshooting, and mending toys and furniture.
Skilled volunteers teach how to make repairs - attendees are asked to bring any necessary connectors, accessories or spare parts. If these are missing, the group may be able to advise where to get them.
“Volunteers help out when they’re available,” said Andrew, “including experienced engineers, inspiring STEM teachers, skilled handcraft artists, savvy tinkerers, amazing cooks, and most importantly, friendly conversationalists. Mending your own things can not only save you money and energy but it’s also great for your confidence and to feel in more control of your life.”
Everyone is invited to see what can be done with a bit of know-how.
Andrew added: “Even if you don’t have anything you need to fix, you’re welcome to hang out, meet new people, cheer at our successes and laugh at our messes. You don’t need to be James Watt to volunteer with us either. Learners are welcome, and if you can help us advertise or record events, or even greet new people, we will be very happy to hear from you.”
See https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/forres-repair-cafe-tickets-596936100947 for more information.
