On 15th February towns and cities across the country will take part in the Big Fix – Britain’s Biggest Day of Repair. In Totnes, Devon, where Network of Wellbeing (NOW) is based, we’ll co-host a local Big Fix to support this great initiative and be part of the repair revolution.
Inviting people to bring their broken items to the Mansion on Fore Street, the Big Fix in Totnes will bring reuse and repair to the attention of the wider public, and also play a part in increasing the popularity and number of Repair Cafes worldwide, which is currently over 1,500.
This event is being organised by NOW’s Share Shed – A Library of Things together with the Restore Dartington, Recycle Devon and Transition Town Totnes. At the event, skilful menders will be offering, on a volunteer basis, electrical and electronic repairs, bike maintenance and repairs, fabric repair, garden tool sharpening session, and possible a few other things.
Mirella Ferraz, NOW Project Coordinator, says: “Similar to the Share Shed, Repair Cafes want to support our community to shift its relationship with consumerism. The more we share and repair, the better for everyone, including our planet”.
Melissa Milne, who will be showing people how to sharpen garden tools at the Big Fix Totnes event, says: “It’s so important that we make the most of what we have available to us. Mending, renovating, adapting, re-purposing are simple ways we can avoid unnecessary waste whilst gaining skills and the great sense of satisfaction that comes with making something usable again”.
The Big Fix Totnes event will happen on Saturday 15th February, from 10am to 1pm, at the Mansion building, on Fore Street. This is a free event. On the day donations will be welcome to cover costs. For further information, contact mirella@networkofwellbeing.org.
For those local to Totnes, it’s worth noting that the Restore, based in the Dartington Shops, run regular Repair Cafes on the last Saturday morning of every month, from 10am to 1pm, free of charge.
For those based around the UK, check out if there are Big Fix events happening close to you here.