A rural Northumberland community is hoping to tackle the climate and cost of living crises by opening a repair cafe.
Rothbury Climate and Nature are aiming to bring a repair café to the town's Jubilee Hall every 6 - 8 weeks, helping people to reduce waste and save money. Listed as number three of 90 ways to save money on Money Saving Expert Martin Lewis's website, a repair café sees volunteers fix everything from toys and clothes to big ticket items such as computers and electronics, with a donation appropriate to what the user can afford.
To make it a reality, the group has established a fundraising page as part of the Crowdfund North of Tyne initiative from the North of Tyne Combined Authority, which aims to give communities a springboard for a locally led recovery from the Coronavirus pandemic. The plan is that local volunteers will be on hand to repair items and teach new repair skills to those interested, while local businesses will also be involved and given the chance to meet new customers.
Read more: Martin Lewis explains how those not entitled to council tax rebate can still get £150
Elke Meiborg, one of the organisers of the Repair Café, said: "If things are broken, people can bring them to our repair café and volunteers will be seated around the room and you can bring your stuff and take it to the repairer you need. They'll repair it on the spot and will teach you how to do it yourself too - if a person has never held a hammer before, they can learn to hammer in a few nails, or find out how to put a zipper on clothes or things like that."
Repair cafés started off in the Netherlands, where Elke is from. However she wasn't aware they originated in her home nation until recently, when one of the other members of the climate group suggested starting it up as part of a reduce, reuse, recycle initiative.
Could you do with a repair café where you live? Let us know in the comments below!
As well as repairing damaged or past their best goods, there will also be teas, coffees and home made cakes, which the group hope will allow users to meet people in a friendly and relaxed atmosphere. Should the fundraising bid be successful, it could be a welcome relief to those in Rothbury in the surrounding areas, where many people have no option but to use their own transport and are feeling the pinch of petrol and diesel rises, as well as a hike in energy bills.
Elke continued: "It had been planned before the rise in the cost of living, but of course it helps. The idea was mostly from a green point of view for the climate, to save waste and recycle stuff instead of chucking it out and buying something new when it's broken.
"Of course, it is also a very good way for people to save money if they can get things repaired."
To find out more about Coquetdale Repair Café or to pledge, click here.
Read next:
- Seasonal bus service launched to link Newcastle with three Northumberland beauty spots
-
Six easy ways you can save up to £5,000 as cost of living crisis sees energy bills rise
-
Bank of England warns of £2,800 energy bills and 10% inflation in chilling prediction
-
Cruel screen-sharing scam cost victim £48,000 - how to avoid making same mistake
