From Idea to Reality: The Cheddar Valley Repair Café Journey

Just over a year ago, Liz and Suzanne met while out litter picking in their community. During their walk, they began talking about repair cafés—those wonderful community-driven spaces where people can fix broken items rather than throwing them away.

Suzanne had previously tried to launch green community initiatives, but without much success. Despite the setbacks, she remained passionate about sustainability. When Liz and Suzanne hosted their first meeting to gauge interest in the Repair Café, they were bracing for a low turnout. But to their surprise and delight, 25 people showed up! This overwhelming support was exactly the boost they needed to move forward with their idea.

A Little Help Goes a Long Way

With the ball rolling, the pair connected with Lucy, the Project Coordinator at CAG Somerset. CAG Somerset supported the project in several ways—helping with paying for the first years insurance and risk assessment support. Suzanne also took part in social media training, and two of their volunteers completed a PAT testing course. Plus, the group received a small grant to purchase a PAT tester, which allowed them to safely inspect electrical items brought in by the community.

These resources and guidance made a huge difference, and after months of hard work, the Cheddar Valley Repair Café officially launched on March 8, 2025.

A Successful Launch

The opening day was a great success! The team welcomed 22 repairs through the doors, a testament to the community’s eagerness to participate. But it wasn’t just the people who came specifically for repairs—passersby stopped in to see what was going on, and even one cyclist who happened to be riding by decided to have their bike checked on the spot. That moment reinforced just how important location can be. A spot that’s accessible, visible, and on a popular footpath can truly amplify the impact of a project like this, making it easy for people to discover and engage.

Celebrating Every Repair

Liz, who has a background as a teacher, brought a unique touch to the Repair Café by introducing an old school bell. After each successful repair, the bell is rung to celebrate the victory. It’s a small but meaningful ritual that adds a sense of achievement and joy to each repair. Additionally, the team has a “repaired” sign they use to photograph items that have been fixed, which serves as a wonderful visual record of all the things that have been saved from heading to the landfill.

Join the Team

The Cheddar Valley Repair Café has built a strong core team of dedicated volunteers, but they’re always looking for more people to join the cause. If you have a knack for repairing things—whether it’s sewing, clocks and watches, bikes, or electricals—they’d love to hear from you! They’re also in need of volunteers with skills in admin and social media to help keep the café running smoothly.

If you’re interested in getting involved, please reach out to the team via email at liz.m@phonecoop.coop

Visit the Cheddar Valley Repair Café

The Cheddar Valley Repair Café is open every second Saturday of the month, from 10 AM to 12 PM. So, if you’ve got something in need of fixing or just want to support your local community, stop by, meet the team, and help give items a second life!