The Repair cafe revolution- CAG Somerset’s latest Repair Cafe in Street.

Photo credit Mark Adler Mendip times

How it started?

In Street, a group of people from different groups within the Eco Church movement and other community members got together to form a committee to reduce the towns waste, help make things last longer and provide a community service.

With the support of Street Parish Council, a monthly Repair Café was identified as an idea to addressing sustainability, reuse and waste while fostering a sense of community. Through local events and outreach, volunteers were recruited to join the initiative and contribute their skills and support to the running of the event. 

Getting off the ground

Sue expresses her gratitude for the support she has received from CAG Somerset in setting up the Street Repair café. With their assistance in arranging and financing public liability insurance, Sue and her team were able to hold their events with peace of mind. Additionally, the provision of document templates by CAG Somerset facilitated the establishment of the committee and the Repair Café, making the setup process smoother and more efficient. Sue acknowledges the valuable assistance she has received from CAG Somerset in getting the Street Repair café up and running.

Value of CAG

Street Repair Café recognizes that CAG have “provided ongoing support with the setting up phase of the project” as well as “ongoing support with running an organization such as a Repair Café.” “We have found CAG extremely helpful and have been successful in applying for funding for external training for our group. We have had excellent support also from other community groups within the CAG network.”

Going forward

The Repair Café has now become a vibrant hub where people come together to learn, share, and repair. Community members from all walks of life gather to participate and learn valuable repair skills. This not only extends the life of their personal belongings but also reduces the amount of waste that would otherwise end up in landfill.

The Repair Café has had a significant impact on the community of Street. Addressing sustainability and waste reduction but also strengthens community bonds and encourages meaningful connections. Through the Repair Café, community members have found a place where they can learn, share, and contribute to a more sustainable and inclusive future.

Another success story…

Fixy was parked outside the Repair Café for the launch. The interest and donations of old tech such as ipads, computers, cables and headphones exceeded expectations and sparked conversations around a permanent drop off point for old tech in Street.

There is now a partnership between the Repair Café and Donate IT, with the support of the Quaker House to provide this drop off point. This enhances the impact of the Repair Café and contributes to the town’s goals of waste reduction and sustainability. It shows the power of community collaboration and the potential for positive change when people work together.