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I’ve been inspired to start a local Repair Cafe. Unfortunately the repair cafe organisation don’t provide any tools to actually find local like minded people.
Might be a poster on lamp post job…
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@sam I'm not Romsey based but might be worth asking the folks at IBM Hursley: they have a maker space and lots of people from that office live in Romsey
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@sam it was when I worked there but you'll certainly find some kindred spirits who might be interested in setting up a repair cafe with you. Jonah Luckett and Damien Bemben have both also moved on from IBM I believe but may be able to introduce you to the current organisers
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I'm not Romsey based, but have experience of Repair cafes setting up (we've volunteered at 4 or 5). Flyers in libraries might be a good start, but if you can find the local Green party, they may have links to groups/folk who are interested. Also look up other Repair Cafes in Hampshire who may have good leads.
And go for it. We really enjoy being involved. Any other questions about setting up, ask away....
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Thanks for the info. I will process properly and come up with a plan when not at EMF.
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One thing to remember when getting people interested is that the actual repairers are not the only vital roles. Admin, publicity, meet-and-greet are all just as important, so if someone likes the idea but has no repair skills, they may be very valuable in other areas.
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@suearcher @sam Butting in to say - we run our Repair Cafe monthly, and some of our fixers would happily do a 2nd Repair Cafe each month in a nearby town. So dont assume they wouldnt be interested, just make sure your days dont clash. #repaircafe
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@Sarah111well @suearcher @sam
Yes, very much so.
For years, Sue and I did four different repair cafes each month, we now only do two as it was getting a bit much.
Many of the repair cafe volunteers do more than one a month, and enjoy the different dynamics, and range of people and repair items that come in.
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@suearcher @sam
Would add local Charity Shops and Supermarkets too.
Also approach your local council. If they have a waste management team, and most do, they may include links/publicity for repair cafe events as they have an environmental responsibility to promote such things. Local papers, if you still have any, and local radio might be interested doing a piece on a repair cafe starting up.
Always use the #RepairCafe hashtag too 🙂
Edit: fix typo
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@sam Hi! I’m committee at Ringwood Repair Café and attend the County Council Repair Café Network - fancy a drink? (I tried DECTing you but the phones are sad - try 5730)
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I’ve got a gap 3-4 if you want to head to the pub about then? Going home at 7 so not much time for pubbing today…
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@sam can strongly recommend going to a couple of surrounding ones and talking to people there. You may find other fixers who already travel a bit to do it.
I used to do the Reading repair cafe until someone from my own town came in wanting to find out how it worked and I discovered a much easier one to get to.
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Do you know Lemon and Jinja? Might be worth advertising there, as there might be some like mindedness there.
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@sam
Local community groups on Facebook (unfortunately) might be quite good for finding people.
We set one up in Coventry a few years ago. Do you have a venue? We use the central library, which is fantastic as we can leave a banner in the window for advertising the next date, the staff are really helpful, we don't have to pay anything to use the space, it is easy for people to get to. The only downside is we can't fix bikes (they are not allowed inside the library).
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@sam We have two other much smaller ones, one in a Salvation Army shop and one in a church hall in a suburb. I am not involved in them personally but most of the volunteers at those do ours as well.
For big repair cafes (let's say with more than 15 visitors per session) greeting people, making sure they are in the queue (on a whiteboard where everyone can see) and getting them to fill out a form are really important to keep everyone happy and manage expectations.
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@sam We also have a qualified PAT tester for mains electrical items. This at least means a second person gives these items a careful once over before they are released to the visitor to take home. I know many repair cafes do without, but it helps me sleep at night!
We also do a 'toolbox talk' before each session, and make sure new volunteers are inducted properly and we have their emergency contact details.
Many RC's don't do all this, but I am a bit keen on everyone going home unharmed!
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@sam If you want I can send you the item form we use, just send me an email address.
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I’ve got no venue or anything at this point. Need to find some helpers. I’ll process all the information you’ve sent when I’m home and have had a proper sleep. 🙂
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@sam
Have you approached SoMakeIt (Southampton Maker Space)?