Repair café celebrates decade of reducing waste

Volunteers give up their time to repair items which could otherwise end up in landfill

A Surrey repair café which has become a "cornerstone of sustainability and community spirit" is celebrating a decade since its launch.

Farnham Repair Café runs on the second Saturday of each month at The Spire Church, and this month's session will be exactly 10 years since it began.

The café's volunteers have repaired more than 2,800 items, from household appliances to cherished personal belongings.

Founder and chairman Prof Martin Charter said he and the team were looking forward to reducing waste and strengthening community bonds for years to come.

Prof Charter began a series of pilot repair cafés in 2014 before officially launching the project the following year.

More than a hundred sessions have since been held and the café even picked up the King's Award for Voluntary Service in 2024.

"The award highlights the vital role the café plays in promoting sustainability and building strong community connections," said Prof Charter.

"The award also reflects the dedication of its team of volunteers, whose diverse skills and commitment have been the driving force behind its success."

More than 6,000 people have visited the café, all playing their part in diverting an estimated 7.5 tonnes of waste from landfills and saving roughly 70.1 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions.

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