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Repair and reuse
Some people reuse, some people replace.
At the Repair Cafe in Caistor, everyone lives by the same motto: repair before buying new.
Pre-Covid, a local teacher from Caistor C of E and Methodist Primary School started the environmental group Caistor GO2, to encourage children and their parents to get involved with the community and help look after the local environment.
The group runs community activities all year round, like litter picks, and volunteers have also planted thousands of trees at Caistor Park and Caistor Yarborough Academy School.
Inspired by how the group was positively impacting its local community, Paul Collins and his fellow GO2 committee members set up the Repair Cafe, which has been running for over five years now.
From a young age, Paul’s father taught him to always try to fix broken items before buying new, and he has used this lesson throughout his whole life.
As the general repairer at the Repair Cafe, Paul mends a variety of items from Bluetooth speakers to vacuum cleaners and lawn mowers.
Paul said: “My two passions are repairing things and improving our environment, so we wanted to be involved with the group but also go one step further and help set up the Repair Cafe.”
The cafe opens on the Second Saturday of every month between 10am and 1pm at Caistor Methodist Church. As well as general repairs, volunteers also specialise in mechanical and sewing repairs, and there’s a clothes swap for people to donate items and refresh their wardrobes.
All services are free of charge, and the community are welcomed to make donations towards refreshments.
£808 was raised for the Caistor GO2 group as part of Lincolnshire Co-op's Community Champions scheme in winter 2022 – 2023, and funds have helped pay for hall hire and refreshments.
He said: “Thanks to funding and help from 18 local volunteers, we’re able to create a space to bring local people together and have their much-loved items mended while also reducing waste.”
One person who has benefitted from the Repair Cafe is twelve-year-old Matilda Ward, who started volunteering in the clothes swap area.
While helping people find new wardrobe items and accept donations, this young volunteer was inspired by those mending garments and was taught to sew by a member of the local community.
Matilda said: “I started volunteering at the clothes swap because reusing clothes is so important for the planet, and I wanted to help people find new items for their wardrobes.
“I love when I’m given clothes to repair because it shows that if something is special to you, it’s worth taking the time to fix it.”
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