Gravesham Repair Café

A repair café is so called because not only do people get things repaired for free, they also benefit from a café offering free hot drinks and more.  This is especially appreciated by anyone who has to wait a while during the repairs. We can afford this because many of our visitors are happy donate a small amount in return for the repair or drink. Indeed some visitors are willing to pose with their newly repaired item though many more successful repairs go without mention.  On this particular day there were plenty of other items being dealt with and here's that work in progress.

It was a bumper crop of items brought for repair.  In addition to those shown in the photos, we had more clocks, garden tools for sharpening, clothing to be mended... all the usual things. Our new signage placed around the town centre on the day was noticed as evidenced by the comments received. Every member of our team gives their time and expertise for free and the kind hearted donations from visitors provide the funds for hall rental and supplies of tools etc.  Thank you. We are happy for visitors to bring their well behaved dogs as you'll see in the photos below.  

It is pleasing to report that we are gaining more volunteers.  In the last few months several have joined with their skills at repairing items while others have joined to assist in the kitchen or help with administration. Obviously our primary aim is to repair household items so that they don't end up contributing to landfill. But a secondary function is providing a facility that fosters a community of friendship and mutual support.  It seems we are succeeding. Our volunteers do everything for free, and fortunately many of our visitors make donations which helps us afford the venue rental and supplies like glue and batteries. Speaking of free, the fully serviced small bike shown with a tape measure is waiting for a new home.  Email GraveshamRepairCafe@gmail.com if you are interested. Saddle height adjusts 55cm to 75cm

We were all entertained by a music box this time.  It looked lovely but didn't work.  So it was dismantled and repaired of course.  We've a little video of it playing The Anniversary Song seen in that movie The Jolson Story of 1946.   Naturally we had other things to repair.  Film camera, Christmas lights, tea caddy, CD player, vacuum cleaner, walnut clock... and quite a lot of table lamps this time.  

A busy day with visitors bringing a wide variety of items for repair.   How many can you identify in this one minute silent video? (zoom to see larger)   PLUS A pair of spectacles  A pair of kettles  A garden clock   And a lot of sewing repairs

Pushchair, clothing, skates, table lamps, vacuum cleaner, converted oil lamp, bicycle, clocks... it was a fairly typical day at Repair Café today - apart from the incessant rain! Unfortunately we couldn't repair the two pairs of headphones .  One had a break somewhere along its cable which wasn't replaceable.  The other had a burned out loudspeaker on one side.  A video player was presented as having a stuck disc drawer. It turned out that the electronics were no longer working - perhaps because it had been powered by the wrong supply with too high a voltage. As usual we have a few photos:

Our Gravesend Repair Café was delayed a week to accommodate the New Year holiday.  However, we still had a reasonable number of visitors to keep us busy repairing throughout. At Vigo, two days later and despite the bitterly cold weather, we enjoyed repairing several bicycles, a music keyboard, and other small items.  It was remarked by visitors how welcoming and friendly everyone was. Sewing experts This last image shows what we call the "table of kindness".  Various items no longer wanted that are free to take by visitors.  If things remain for several weeks we dispose of them anyway.