Community groups lead repair revolution
When it comes to the environment, we’re often taught the importance of the three Rs: reduce, reuse, and recycle.
But a fourth, equally important R is forgotten about: repairing.
Pauline Cory, of Transition Town Worthing, has set up a monthly Repair Cafe at St Paul’s in an effort to promote repairing in the community, reducing the town’s carbon footprint.
Anyone can bring broken items to the cafe and have them fixed for free by expert volunteers.
“A huge amount of energy is used making things that have a short life deliberately,” said Ms Cory, 69.
“At the last Repair Cafe, a lady came along with some hair curlers. When our engineer took them apart, you could see they were built to fail a day after the warranty ran out.
“If we repair something, it doesn’t end up in landfill or halfway around the world.”
As well as carrying out repairs, Ms Cory hopes the cafe will promote the sharing of skills in the community.
“At the last cafe, someone wanted to learn how to use a soldering iron and in half an hour we taught him,” she said.
“It’s a re-skilling exercise — we’ve run tool-sharpening workshops, for example.”
Also involved in the initiative is Martin Osment, 72, who provides tools for the cafe as well as running his own repair charity, Freedom Powerchairs
“Transition Town Worthing came across us and asked if we could help. We’ve got everything they could dream of!”
Having been passionate about engineering since he was nine, Mr Osment now has to use a powerchair after being involved in a car crash 15 years ago.
“I couldn’t find one that suited me so I decided to build my own. Other people asked if I could do the same thing for them, so that was how the charity started.
“To build a bespoke powerchair now, we spend £7,500 just on parts.”
As well as building mobility aids for those in need, Mr Osment runs the Community Mobile Workshop, carrying out free repairs at clients’ houses.
“Our role is to provide support especially to the disabled, but also to the rest of the community.
“We’re anxious to transfer skills to people so they learn how to do things themselves. By fixing things, people will reuse more and buy less.”
Despite the facing the monumental task of fighting climate change, Ms Cory seems in good spirits: “As long as there are enough organisations like us, then I’m very optimistic about the future.
“I think we can turn things around, it’s not quite too late. A lot needs to change very fast, but I think it’s doable.”
The next Repair Cafe will take place on at 10:30am Saturday 27 October in St Paul’s, Chapel Road. Anyone interested in being a volunteer repairer can email ttwrepaircafe@gmail.com
Those who want to support Freedom Powerchairs can donate funds or unused equipment at www.freedompowerchairs.org.uk
