15th October 22: Sharing updates about what we fixed today at the Keynsham Repair Cafe, and our latest stats!
Keynsham Repair Cafe 15th October 2022. Volunteer Kim helps new volunteer Joe. Volunteers Birgit and Steve busy fixing things.
Image credit: Peter O'Brien.
Today, Keynsham Repair Cafe was part of Keynsham Eco Festival...
15th October 2022: We switched the date of the 13th Keynsham Repair Cafe, to be part of the Keynsham Community Eco Festival. (We're back to our usual 2nd Saturday of the month for the rest of the year!) Eight volunteer repairers assessed 36 objects in the 2 hour session - read on to find out how they got on!
... and also part of International Repair Day
Co-incidentally, the 15th October 2022, was also International Repair Day, so Keynsham Repair Cafe was one of over 400 events in 23 countries. #RepairEverywhere
Keynsham, Let's Fix This
"We fixed a lot of toasters today in Keynsham!" shared Gwen, Keynsham Repair Cafe Co-Organiser. "Plus hairdryer's, radios, lamps and clocks. We had a few simple repairs, helping replace a fuse, or changing a battery, but other objects, things like CD players or a food mixer, are more fiddly. Some things are really fun: can we get a cine-projector working, so a family can watch old holiday films again? Our volunteers relish a challenge, and we do our best to get things working."
"We fixed a very cosy velour jumper today with a hole in it - a relatively simple fix with a crochet hook, as the yarn was very thick, it just takes a bit of patience. Some objects we can't repair, and we'll try to provide suggestions or advice. One chap today was able to pop out and buy the replacement switch we suggested, and we fixed his lamp before the end of the session. We had an amazing toy figure which we couldn't fix this morning, but we hope we'll see it again next month if the replacement connection can be bought."
Today's diverse list: trousers, hairdryers, food mixer, plates, spoon rest, microwave plug, drill battery charger, clock, watch, electric fire, hoover, jumper, toy figure, toasters, cine-projector, leggings, pastry knife, reading lamp, lighter, brooch, necklace, walking stick, sewing machine, clock radio, DAB radio, strimmer, kettle.
"Sometimes, we'll suggest people contact the manufacturer - one gentleman dropped in today to let us know that the electric blanket we couldn't fix last month has been replaced by the manufacturer. It's really nice to hear success stories like this - although we couldn't fix the original blanket, we've helped this chap."
"Some things need a spot of glue and some patience - and cocktail sticks to adjust things into place. Our box-of-bits is like a kitchen drawer of useful stuff!"
"We always get a buzz from seeing what the team fix, it's lovely to be able to help others use their household stuff again."
Above: "Our repair numbers are starting to pick up... but with Covid on the rise again, we're keeping an eye on how we manage things, and encourage people to wear masks at these volunteer run events - especially now the heating is on, and we can't have the front door open anymore."
Above: "Our average 'percentage helped' rate - by which I mean the fixed plus advice given, the green plus the blue bars in the graph above - is 90% since we started, which is really good! It's great to be a part of something which really helps others in our community, shares skills and knowledge, and makes repair normal."
What next?
Find out more about how the Keynsham Repair Cafe runs, what kind of stuff we fix (and what we don't), and how to get involved, here.
"Unexpected kindness is the most powerful, least costly, and most underrated agent of human change." Bob Kerrey
The next Keynsham Repair Cafe is back to the 2nd Saturday of the month, same as the Farmers' market......
.....but, unusually, we'll be in the Scout HQ, Ashton Way 15th November, full details here.
