|
Canine for new Merseyside
Police recruits
WHAT do you do with a broken lamp,
toaster or chair? Toss it? No way! Stitched Up are bringing repair BACK, by
launching Manchester's First Repair Cafe.
A Repair Cafe is a free community event where people get together to mend broken
things. Run by volunteers, it aims to reduce waste but also to pass on important
skills and provide a space for people to get to know their neighbours.
Known for their clothes swaps and upcycling workshops around Greater Manchester,
sustainable fashion collective Stitched Up wanted to help further reduce
Manchester's mountains of waste by offering a regular event for repairing
household items.
The Manchester Repair Cafe will be held
monthly, with tools and volunteer repairers on hand to help visitors to fix
their broken electricals, furniture, clothing and bikes. All visitors need to do
is bring along their broken item on the day, and the team will do their best to
help repair them.
In Manchester, like all of the UK, we generate huge amounts of waste. By sharing
skills in repair, Stitched Up hope to keep some of those household items out of
landfill, helping save people money and reduce CO2 emissions in the process. But
most of all, the team are passionate about bringing back the love and knowledge
of mending.
Co-founder Emily says:- "Lots of it is
about having the confidence to have a go, to dismantle something and see how
it's been put together. We want people to be inspired to tinker! Repairing is
fun and often really easy. When you make the effort to repair something, not
only have you learned a new skill, but somehow it becomes a bit more special to
you. Nowadays we don't necessarily have a financial incentive to repair, what
with household items being relatively cheap, But there's definitely something of
a repair revolution occurring; a growing appreciation of the art and practice of
repair. We want Manchester to be a part of that, so we're making the 1st step.
Now we're calling out to people across the City to roll their sleeves up and get
stuck in!"
The team are looking for enthusiastic
volunteers whether they have an interest or knowledge of repairing household
items, or they'd simply like to come along, hang out with like minded people and
perhaps make the odd cup of tea! Donations of tools are also welcome.
The Repair Cafe will take place on the 3rd
Saturday of the month, at 10am to 2pm (starting 16 July 2016), at Stitched Up
HQ, 527B WIlbraham Road, Chorlton, Manchester, M21 0UF.
If you'd like to know more about the events, or would like to volunteer, you can
contact the team at Stitched Up on:- 0161 881 7141 or
hello@stitchedup.coop. The Manchester Repair Cafe has a Facebook
Page,
and you can sign up to the mailing list by clicking on to
here, |
