If you have something that needs fixing your local repair café may be able to help you mend it. This helps prevent items being thrown out needlessly and saves the cost of buying a replacement. It's better for the environment too with less materials and energy needed to make new goods.
Volunteer repairers can tackle small electrical items such as toasters, hairdryers, lamps, radios and headphones. Clothing, garden tools, bikes, computers, hand tools and small items of furniture can also be considered for repair.
Goods that are beyond repair can be taken to our household waste recycling centres.
The repair service is free but donations are very welcome. An important aspect of the work of the cafés is about empowering people to be able to do their own repairs in the future. Where possible you'll sit with the repairer and learn from them. This may be something like replacing a fuse, mending a ripped jacket or cleaning an item to keep it working properly. People cannot leave items and then pick them up later.
The cafés are very sociable events – often with free or low cost refreshments and a sense of community.
All the cafés welcome enquiries from potential volunteers with relevant skills and qualifications. Please contact them direct.
For more information about the movement generally visit Repair Cafés worldwide and The Restart Network.
Derbyshire repair cafés
Belper
Belper Beau Repair Cafe organised by Transition Belper.
Meets on the fourth Saturday of every month from 10am to 1pm at:
No28
The Market Place
Belper
DE56 1FZ
Contact Layla Marshall email: laylatransition1@hotmail.com or tel: 07970 277358.
Buxton
Buxton Repair Café organised by Transition Buxton.
Meets on the fourth Saturday of the month from 11am to 3pm at:
Buxton Methodist Church
Market Place
Buxton
SK17 6HX
Contact Jean Ball tel: 07770 416649 or email: repaircafe@transitionbuxton.co.uk
Transition Buxton on Facebook.
Transition Buxton on Twitter.
Chesterfield
Chesterfield Repair Caféorganised by Transition Chesterfield.
Usually meets on the third Saturday of the month from 10am to 1pm at:
Baptist Church
15 Cross Street
Chesterfield
S40 4ST
Contact Margaret Hersee, email: repairs@transitionchesterfield.org.uk
Transition Chesterfield on Facebook.
Eyam
Eyam Repair Café.
Meets on the second Saturday of the month, except August from 10am to 2pm at:
Eyam Church Centre
Church Street
Eyam
S32 5QH
Contact Colin Shaw, email: eyamrepaircafe@btinternet.com
Eyam Repair Café on Facebook.
Long Eaton
Long Eaton repair café and swap shop. Meets at:
Infusion Coffee House
Derby Road
Long Eaton
NG10 4LB
The events alternate between the repair café and swap shop and run every other month on a Saturday afternoon.
Contact Isobel Holloway, email: aitone.collective@gmail.com or tel: 07594 962703.
Aitone Collective on Facebook.
New Mills
New Mills Repair Café organised by Transition New Mills.
Meets on the last Saturday of the month from 9:30am to 12:30pm at:
New Mills Volunteer Centre
33-35 Union Road
New Mills
SK22 3EL
Contact Phil Frodsham, email: transition.newmills@gmail.com or tel: 07900 893358.
Transition New Mills on Facebook.