[L-R: Owen Rogers, Repairer, Joe G, Front of House Volunteer, Andrew Arnott, Customer, Columbus Mais-Harding, Repairer and student at Bath University, Wera Hobhouse MP and Lorna Montgomery, Founder and Chair of Trustees at Share and Repair.]
I was pleased to hear our MP has been in to chat to the people who run a very special shop in the city.
Wera Hobhouse stopped by Share and Repair’s George Street shop to join them in celebrating International Repair Day, and the 15th birthday of the Repair Cafe movement.
Share & Repair, the largest repair specialists in Bath, organised a series of events across its network of repair cafes in the city to educate and inform residents on how they can help reduce the amount of waste going to landfill by embracing the so-called “circular economy”.
At three venues across the city—Bear Flat, Larkhall, and the centrally-located George Street—Share and Repair cafes hosted a range of sessions, including sewing, mechanical, electrical, and electronic repairs.
Founded in 2017, Share and Repair has more than 250 volunteers and sites across a total of 10 locations in the wider Bath and North East Somerset area. To date, the registered charity has successfully diverted in excess of 5,200 items away from landfill – much of it electronic items.
According to the World Health Organisation, 62 million tonnes of electronic waste (old toasters, printers, TVs) is generated every year – almost 80% (22.3%) of which is sent to landfill.
At Share and Repair’s George Street shop, customers can borrow items from their “Library of Things”, a collection of over 700 household items. These include tents, hedge trimmers, drills, and carpet cleaners, all of which can be borrowed for a modest sum, saving residents money, space and helping the planet! They even offer a delivery service using an electric cargo bike, further reducing their environmental impact.
“How To” workshops such as “How to use power tools” are also on offer, and a successful hands-on programme has been launched in local primary schools to educate young people on how to reduce waste by sharing, repairing and reusing.
After helping blow out the celebratory candles on the birthday cake, Wera sat down with the team to see how a young repairer, Columbus Mais-Harding, could help rescue a beloved but broken item Wera had brought along.
Wera Hobhouse, Liberal Democrat MP for Bath, commented:
“I was so impressed by the enthusiasm and energy of the staff and volunteers of the Share and Repair Shop, and I was so delighted to have new life breathed into this beautiful old lampshade. Its owner was so sad when the frame snapped after 20 years and they just didn’t have the skills or tools to rescue it. Thank you so much to Share and Repair for reviving it!
“The movement is such a brilliant way to support members of our community to save money and to help save our planet. At a time when many are feeling the impact of the cost of living crisis and want to change behaviours to reduce our impact on the environment, Share and Repair offers a practical way forward. Please drop by their shop or visit one of their repair cafes to find out how they can help you.
“I was so pleased to be able to share their motto: ‘Mend it, don’t end it!’ “
Lorna Montgomery, founder and Chair of Trustees, said:
“This important event was a great opportunity for the community to come together and learn new skills in a truly collaborative and friendly environment.
“Many of us disregard everyday items when a fault occurs yet in most instances these things can easily be repaired – it’s simply a case of knowing how. Each of the events we are hosting aims to provide people with greater confidence to repair such items whilst promoting sustainability at the same time.
“As a society, we need to rethink how we dispose of our waste. The challenge is not a lack of desire to do so but limited awareness of exactly ‘how’ it can be done. I know because I was one of those people and that’s what prompted me to start Share and Repair seven years ago.
“It is my hope that this year’s theme of ‘Repair for Everyone’ both resonates with people and encourages everyone to reconsider if an item really has had its day or could be given a new breath of life. And if that happens, then we can all play a huge role in tackling climate change.”
