Two regular monthly Repair Cafés are opening their doors this month (May 2023) in South Leeds.
The idea behind Repair Cafés, which started in Holland in 2009, is simply to bring together people with things that need fixing with volunteers who have the skills to fix them.
There are now over 2,500 Repair Café groups operating around the world. Here in Leeds a group has held over 70 city-wide events since 2016. Now they want to make them more local and aim to have a Repair Café in every Leeds postcode by 2025.
Holbeck and Belle Isle are the latest areas to get a café, with The Holbeck club and BITMO’s GATE hosting.
The Belle Isle Repair Café will run on the third Saturday of the month, 1-4pm at Belle Isle Tenant Management Organisation (BITMO)’s GATE centre on Aberfield Gate, just off Belle Isle Road, LS10 3QH, starting on Saturday 20 May.
The Holbeck Repair Cafe will run on the last Saturday of every month, 1-4pm at The Holbeck club, Jenkinson Lawn, LS11 9QX, starting on Saturday 27 May.
What sort of thing can you bring to get fixed? Cafe’s focus on
- electricals and mechanicals,
- textiles and clothing,
- computers and IT,
- household items like kitchenware and toys;
- no cars or bicycles please
Remember, there’s no guarantee they can fix everything, either because the item is beyond repair, or there isn’t a volunteer present with the necessary skills.
To be successful the cafés need a group of volunteers with a good range of skills. If you think you can help please contact the Community Development Team at BITMO: Peter, Tracey and Jo on (0113) 378 2190. or email gate@belleisletmo.co.uk
As well as fixers the cafés need people to help organise the events and ensure they run smoothly.
Commenting on the new cafés Cllr Ed Carlisle (Green, Hunslet & Riverside), who has been involved with Leeds Repair Café for many years, said:
“It’s been amazing seeing Repair Café grow Leeds-wide over the past years: a simple and effective way for us all to save money and save the planet. Huge thanks to all who’ve helped make it happen, and particularly to BITMO for stepping up now to bring it properly into south Leeds. We and they would especially love to hear from people willing to get involved, as fixers or organisers – come and join the magic!”
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