CHANGES are afoot for Wellington Repair Café when it returns next month, on Saturday, November 4.

It will be moving to a new venue in the Scout Hall, off Fore Street, which can also be accessed from South Street car park.

The repair cafe has previously been held in Wellington Baptist Church.

But a spokesperson told the Wellington Weekly: “We had been very happy using the Baptist church hall, and would like to take this opportunity to thank the church for allowing us to use their premises.

“However, a change in certain circumstances beyond our control meant that we needed to find an alternative venue.

“The Scout Hall meets our requirements, and we have been encouraged by the apparent enthusiasm of the scouts for accommodating the Repair Café on their premises.”

It opens its doors at 10 am and runs until 12.30 pm, and one feature which will remain the same will be members of Wellington Women’s Institute providing refreshments.

Trades which will be available include electrics, sewing/textiles, sharpening, jewellery repair, computers/phones/laptops, and ‘general stuff’, although the clock mender will not be attending this time.

The spokesperson said: “If you are bringing something that needs a new zip, you need to bring the new zip with you.

“If any sewing job needs something to be unpicked first, it would also help if you can do that at home rather than leaving it to the sewing ladies, as it takes a long time and means that they can mend fewer items in the time available.”

The Repair Café movement began in 2009 in The Netherlands and has since spread worldwide with events locally organised in alternate months on a Saturday morning.

Volunteer repairers donate their services for free and anybody can take items to be assessed before usually being repaired on the spot.

If a repair is not possible immediately the volunteers will advice and guidance on buying the correct parts to be fitted later.

Anybody who enjoys mending and repairing thing and would like to be part of the movement to reduce waste, share your skills, and meet new people should email Holly Regan-Jones here.