I am sure many of you are aware of Share and Repair. It’s an environmentally focused charity based in and around Bath, which works to encourage the local community to repair, borrow and reuse items rather than buying new or throwing them away.
Although typically recognised for their 11 Repair Cafes and Library of Things, Share and Repair has a small team of HomeKIT volunteers working hard to support local residents who are struggling to buy basic items for their homes.
This project is now 5 years old and has rehomed over 1,000 items! All items are supplied free of charge, helping recipients to save money which they can then use for other things for their new home.
Over the past five years, HomeKIT has grown and grown, not only with increased numbers of small electrical appliances being donated, but most importantly, the impact it is having on our community by supporting those most in need.
When HomeKIT started in 2020, 32 items were donated, and they distributed 28 items. At that point, things were coordinated by one dedicated volunteer. In 2025, 354 items were donated and 290 redistributed. The project is now run by 3 dedicated volunteers, and there are plans afoot to grow the number of items donated in 2026.
As the programme has grown, so has the number of partner organisations Share and Repair works with. They are now working with a wonderfully diverse range of local charities and organisations. For example, the Julian House, Bath Welcomes Refugees, BANES, Southside Family Project, and The Genesis Trust. Each week, their current stock list reaches 71 professionals, who then pass this on to the people they are supporting.
Another exciting development to the service they offer was the introduction of the cargo bike delivery service to local partner charities (within the city centre) last year. This has been very successful, helping those professionals who struggled trying to fit in collecting their requested items due to time constraints. In turn, this has also benefited HomeKIT by boosting awareness, alongside increasing the number of requests for donated items.
Understandably, the number of requests they are able to fulfil each week depends on how much available stock they have, but as an example, on average per month, 51 donated items are PAT tested, cleaned, and logged onto the HomeKIT database, and 32 requests are processed, which enabled 53 items to be distributed.
Tanya, one of the HomeKIT volunteers, recently processed a request where the charity asked for a TV, a kettle, 2 lamps, a toaster, a radio, a heater and a slow-cooker. Tanya said, “It is such a wonderful feeling knowing we have just basically set someone up with all these small electrical appliances…. It feels like Christmas!”
HomeKIT’s continued success is all thanks to the local community. Without kind donations, HomeKIT would not exist, and the beauty of this project is that instead of your item going into landfill, you know it will be passed on to someone who really needs it. Please do get in touch with Share and Repair if you have an item you’d like to donate. You can find their wish list here.
