Repair Cafes are a global movement with over 2,000 venues worldwide. Designed to be a positive force in sustainability, the cafe‚Äôs are community events where people can turn up to get their items repaired for free.  

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We spoke to Elspeth Levitan from Hadfield Repair Cafe, which launches this Saturday at the Methodist Church on Station Road.  

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Elspeth said: "Hadfield Repair Cafe is a new venture linked to Repair Cafe International, which started the movement in Holland. It aims to provide a venue where household items can be repaired for free and refreshments are available while customers wait their turn.  

"Customers will only need to provide any spare parts if we don't have them. It will be open on the third Saturday of every month from 10am to 1pm at Hadfield Methodist Church, starting on May 21^st.  

"While the idea for the cafe came from the church (linked to the church being an EcoChurch), the repair cafe will be run by volunteers from the community, some of them repairers and some organising the session or working in the kitchen. We are starting with repairs to electronic items (laptops, tablets etc.), small electrical items, bikes, portable furniture including upholstery and clothes including knitwear.  

"Some of the repairers (particularly for electrical items) have previously had jobs and qualifications in their area. Others may have just built up experience over many years of doing repairs for friends and family. We welcome applications from all sections of the community and beliefs and backgrounds.  

"This seems the perfect time to start this type of initiative. We recognise the need for everyone to reduce what they buy and what they throw away as we try to keep global warming to a minimum. Part of the solution is in making things last as long as possible and repairing broken items will extend their life. As well as doing the repairs, we will try and help customers to learn how to do their own repairs in future and/or maintain items so they don't break again. Sometimes we will have to concede that an item is past repairing. It is great that it is a community event run by volunteers from the community.  

"A few of us know other people who run a similar cafe elsewhere which provided the impetus in the first place and we found that everyone we spoke to thought it was a good idea too. We aim to increase our range of repairs as time goes on. We'd love to hear from anyone who can repair ceramics, toys, jewellery or clocks for instance. We also aim to do PAT testing on customers' items and knife and tool sharpening at a future date."  

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There's also a Repair Cafe at Glossop Labour Club on the second Saturday of every month. Find out more on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/RepairGlossop/

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‍Check out the first Hadfield Repair Cafe on Saturday 21st May, 10am, Hadfield Methodist Church

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