The Henley Repair Café continues to gain momentum with the successful completion of its second event last Saturday. With strong community support, the Henley Repair Cafe is proving to be a valuable initiative, helping reduce waste and encouraging a culture of sustainability while fostering a sense of local camaraderie.

Event Highlights

At the second meeting, 45 attendees brought in a total of 74 items for repair, covering a wide range of categories:

• Electrical Repairs: 28 items, with 16 fixed, 4 not fixable, 5 requiring parts, and 3 ongoing.
• Mechanical Repairs: 6 items, with 1 fixed, 1 requiring parts, and 4 ongoing.
• Furniture Repairs: 3 items, with 3 fixed and 1 not fixable.
• Stitching and Clothing Repairs: 5 items, with 5 fixed, 1 requiring parts, and 1 not fixable.
• Sharpening Services: 29 items, all fixed.

Overall Results
We’re thrilled to report that 73% of the items brought in were successfully repaired, with the sharpening category achieving a near-perfect success rate. If we exclude sharpening, 55% of items were fixed, and that percentage is expected to rise as some ongoing repairs are completed. These results are in line with other well-established Repair Cafés, and we’re excited by the progress made in just two events.

Some of the more memorable repairs included two vintage German hoovers, a charming candelabra, and a nostalgic Goblin Teasmade. And for a personal touch, even the moth hole in one of the team member’s T-shirts was mended!

The total CO2 emissions that would have been produced in the re-manufacturing process for 74 items is approximately 1.72 tonnes.

Improvements and Future Plans
We’re excited to share that a new queuing system was introduced at our latest event, which was well received. Attendees were able to relax with a drink and a slice of cake without the stress of losing their place in the queue. Additionally, our improved registration system for items taken home ensures a more organized process and better record-keeping.

Looking ahead, we’re feeling confident about the future of the Repair Café and are committed to running regular events. As long as attendance and donations remain steady, we are optimistic about covering our costs and continuing to make a positive impact in the community.

Mark Your Calendar
We invite you to join us at our upcoming Repair Café events on:

• 16th August
• 20th September
• 18th October
• 15th November
• 20th December

All events are held on Saturdays from 10:30am – 12:30pm at the YMCA. We offer repairs for furniture, household items, electrical and electronic devices, jewellery, clothing, and provide knife and tool sharpening services.

Let’s keep repairing, reusing, and connecting as a community!