Cambridge Repair Cafés go online to help bring items back to life in lockdown

Repair Cafés are going online in a bid to breath new life into objects during the Covid-19 lockdown.

Throughout May, people across Cambridgeshire will be able to use Zoom to talk directly with an expert and get the help they need to repair a broken item.

Electrical repairs are being restricted to battery operated goods only, but advice for repairing other household and garden items, bicycles, toys, jewellery and clothing will be available.

Software troubleshooting will be on offer too

Nicole Barton, Cambridge Carbon Footprint’s events organiser, said: “People hate waste and are realising that there is no ‘away’ when we throw away.

“During the crisis many will be worrying about money but have a little more time on their hands, so we’d like to help people develop new repair and maker skills.

“You get a great sense of achievement when fixing something with your own hands and it’s good for the climate crisis – globally our stuff accounts for around 25 per cent of global greenhouse emissions.”

The free Repair Cafes, which have also been supporting the NHS during the Covid-19 crisis by making PPE, will be on Wednesdays, 12.30pm until 2pm.

Visitors will be invited into a repair room in Zoom where they’ll meet an experienced repairer who will work through the fix with them.

To take part you’ll need a PC, tablet or phone that can be used for video calls and a Zoom account.

Visit circularcambridge.org/events.