Cambridgeshire Repair Cafe Network

Repair Cafes are community events that match people who need stuff fixed with people who like fixing things. The international Repair Cafe movement kicked off in Amsterdam and now there are nearly two thousand Cafes around the world, covering most continents. Visit the webpage of the original Repair Cafe Foundation to browse a map of all locations.

Repair Cafes are completely non-commercial. There are no promises and no guarantees, but if something can be saved the repairers will do everything they can. Repairers are always keen to teach visitors how to do the repair themselves and at the very least  watch while they do it. We organise occasional repair skillshares on introducing electrical repairs, upholstery, sewing, bike maintenance etc.

Cambridgeshire is blessed with a huge number of Cafes, with more starting up all the time. In fact, we are probably a global hub with more individual Cafes than anywhere else and in 2017 we set the record for organising the 'World's Biggest Repair Cafe', since broken by groups in Devon. Local villages, towns, community groups, companies and parish council's are being supported to start their own Repair Cafes with the help of the Cambridgeshire Repair Cafe Network (CRCN). CRCN is a partnership between Cambridge Carbon Footprint, Transition Cambridge, South Cambridgeshire District Council and trailblazers Chris Moller of Cottenham Repair Cafe and Chris Lee of Royston Repair Cafe. Our Cafes are brilliantly supported by Mackays and Draper Tools who have supplied us with extensive tools boxes and gear to ensure successful repair rates of around 65%.

Repair Cafes are run by volunteers and you’ll find at least two Cafes happening most months in the Cambridgeshire and Royston region. They usually happen at the weekend and are organised by green groups, charities, enthusiasts, community groups and parish councils. There is no charge for entry or repair but donations are gratefully received to help pay for costs such as room rental. You’ll find a friendly cafe at each event, serving hot drinks and delicious homemade cakes. Each Repair Cafe is listed locally and on the Circular Cambridge website.

You can basically bring anything you can carry that will not make a big mess in the venue (TV's and microwaves are exceptions). Here are some suggestions:

Small electrical or electronic appliances, bicycles, clothing in need of repair, toys, lamps, small pieces of furniture, mobile phones, laptops, printers, items that need glueing and jewellery that needs a clean/repair.

Whatever it is, bring it along. It might not even be broken – just dirty, and we can help you clean it. Don't understand the manual? We can help you with that too! You can even bring several things – though to be fair, you may have to join the queue several times!

Most, but not all, Repair Cafes in Cambridgeshire operate some sort of booking system, using a simple electronic form, Eventbrite or email. This means you get to tell the organisers what you're intending to bring, and the organisers can allocate you a timeslot with a suitable repairer.Waiting isn't totally eliminated as some repairs take longer than the allocated slot, Sometimes all the booking slots will be allocated ahead of the event in which case the organisers will let you know. You are welcome to turn up without booking. You can enjoy tea and cake and soak up the lovely atmosphere whilst you wait for a repairer to hopefully become free to see your item. Please note that booked items do take priority.

Repairers will have access to common low-cost items (e.g. screws, clips, batteries, fuses etc) in the Mackay’s toolkit which they may provide free of charge.  If you need something more substantial, the repairer will help you to identify the part, and suggest where you might be able to order it online – but it will then be up to you to fit it or bring the broken item and spare part along to the next Repair Cafe.

With 23 separate Repair Cafes running between one and four events  a year, and the network expanding by an average of five a year, we need LOTS of great repairers. We need electrical and electronic engineers, mechanical engineers, jewellery repairers, bike repairers, sewers, restorers of books/art/ceramics, carpenters and generalists.

Our case studies will give you an idea of who currently repairs. If you would like to join our wonderful movement and friendly team then please contact the individual Café organisers listed on the map or contact Nicole at Cambridge Carbon Footprint on 01223 301842 or email Transition Cambridge’s Kate at cambridgerepaircafe@gmail.com.

You’ll be invited to sit alongside an experienced Repair Café repairer and if all is good, then you’ll be ready to start.  You can join a Repairers Register that lets organisers around Cambridgeshire know the locations you’d prefer, when you might be available and what skills you’d like to share.