#highbridge — Public Fediverse posts

#RepairCafe starts #TechAmnesty to support #community

by Alexandra Bassingham, June 24, 2025

"A community project, which encourages people to bring in items to be fixed for free, has opened an amnesty point for unused #technology to be handed in and repurposed for others.

"The Repair Café, started by Biddy Hammond from Somerset, has helped hundreds of people since being set up in October 2023.

"It has two donation drop-ins a month, one in #BurnhamOnSea and the other in nearby #Highbridge. Items can also be donated at the information bureau on Burnham seafront.

"They now have almost 20 #volunteers, fixing items including #SoftToys, #upholstery, #electricals, and #clocks, which in turn, reduces items sent to #landfill sites.

"Ms Hammond said they are looking for an offer of a storage facility space so they can support the community even more

"Ms Hammond said it was after hearing a woman at a charity shop saying she could not afford to fix her iron, that she came up with the idea of opening a repair café.

" 'I thought it's such a simple thing to do to help people out and it's pointless buying a new whatever every five minutes, because items work for such a short while nowadays.'

"Repair Cafe volunteers also visit homes with a thermal imaging camera, to help people increase insulation with 'simple fixes in their homes like thicker curtains,' Ms Hammond added.

"She said after lockdown the repair cafe has built the community in quite a strong way, offering a service and a social space.

"Hugh Champion, one of the repair team, said: 'We have a good time, hopefully delight a few customers, and send them home with things they had written off that are back to working condition again.

" 'And people are so delighted when you help them fix something especially when it has high sentimental value,' he added."

Source:
https://bbc.com/news/articles/cly8n90v504o

#SolarPunkSunday #RepairCafesUK #RepairReuseRecycle #RepairReuse #RightToRepair #Fixit #ReUse #UK #ReduceRepairReuseRecycle #Waste #eWaste #Volunteer

📍: Bridge 57, High Bridge
ℹ️: track bridge
🗺: https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=52.8729913517527&mlon=-2.45136818357714#map=17/52.8729913517527/-2.45136818357714
📸: Photo by David Jones on Flickr https://www.flickr.com/photos/45457437@N00/8700054302

#canal #narrowboat #england #uk #flickr #bridge #shropshireunioncanal #highbridge #fourcountiesring

#BurnhamOnSea #RepairCafe returns today to fix household items for free

January 8, 2025

"Burnham-On-Sea Repair Cafe returns today (Wednesday, January 8th) with volunteers on hand to help repair household items.

"The Burnham-On-Sea repair cafe is held every first Wednesday of the month from 10am-1pm at the Waffle Hub in Burnham’s College Street at the Methodist Church.

"The free service launched in 2023 for local residents to help them save money by getting items fixed, avoiding new purchases, and also reducing the number of items that go unnecessarily to landfill.

"Leader Biddy Hammond told Burnham-On-Sea.com: 'Around 500 items have been repaired by our wonderful team of volunteers over the past year.'

"'We can’t repair everything that is brought in, but our team will have a look and make an assessment whether they can help or refer to other specialists.'

"'Around 70% of the things brought in are repaired or fixed, saving people money and avoiding it going to #landfill.'

"'Why throw it away when you can try the Repair Cafe? Clothing, furnishings, small household electricals and other items, including toys and portable items, can be brought along to our willing band of volunteers. There’s no charge, although donations are welcome.'

"The #HighbridgeRepairCafe is held every third Saturday of the month at The Purple Spoon, YMCA, #Highbridge from 10:00am – 1:00pm."

Source:
https://www.burnham-on-sea.com/news/burnham-on-sea-repair-cafe-returns-today-to-fix-household-items-for-free-2/
#SomersetUK #UKRepairCafes #RepairCafesUK#FixIt #SolarPunkSunday #RepairCafes #RightToRepair #DIY #PlannedObsolescence

End of a Day at Highbridge
#Highbridge #RiverBrue #Sunset #ColourPhotography #PhotogSocial