THE Repair Café, for visitors who would like to see their items repaired rather than consigned to the waste skip, is setting up shop in Wellington with the first event at the Baptist Church Hall in South Street on Saturday.

Transition Town Wellington has lined up a team of willing volunteers with expertise in a range of fields, including sewing, electrical items, bicycles, small furniture, garden tools and blade-sharpening. They will be at the church hall from 10am-noon, fixing things and demonstrating how to fix things.

Simon Ratsey, one of the TTW members helping to organise the event, said: “The Repair Café concept is totally in line with some aims of the Transition initiative. Having started in the Netherlands about ten years ago, it is now a global movement.

“For people in a local community to work together in pursuing the goal of reducing waste, and therefore unnecessary consumption, is unquestionably very worthwhile – for the planet as well as the pocket.”

He added: “Whether it’s taking up the hem of a favourite skirt or putting a new chain on a bicycle, our experts will be happy to show you how it’s done, and all electrical items will be PAT tested on site. Too many in the modern generation have never had the chance to learn the practical skills our parents and grandparents grew up with.

“Repair Cafes provide an opportunity for re-skilling in a social setting, along with a cup of coffee and a piece of cake. All very good for community cohesion. We’re planning to hold a Repair Café every other month, alternating with the one in Hemyock. If their experience is anything to go by, it will generate a lot of interest and its own momentum. We hope so.”

The Wellington Repair Café is being run with the backing of Somerset Waste Partnership and the Somerset Community Foundation. Cllr Catherine Herbert, Mayor of Taunton Deane, and members of Wellington Town Council will attend the event. Members of Wellington WI will provide refreshments. The event is free to attend but donations will be welcomed to help defray running costs.

Anyone who thinks they may be able to offer a particular skill for a future Repair Café, or who would like to help out at the event, is invited to email Holly at [email protected] or phone her on 01823 660161.

Further information about the Repair Café movement can be found at www.repaircafe.org

Simon Ratsey is one of the Transition Town Wellington members organising the event at the Baptist Church.