Bury St Edmunds to host its first Repair Café thanks to a band of ‘problem solving’ volunteers
A new repair café is set to launch in a Suffolk town thanks to one man and his band of volunteers.
Mark Wharton, a semi-retired software engineer, is holding the first Repair Café in Bury St Edmunds on Saturday, July 8, with the help the volunteers, who have a wide range of repair skills and all share a problem-solving mindset.
The pop-up café at the Unitarian Meeting House in Churchgate Street will be a meeting place where people can go to get things fixed - be it anything from bikes to electronics, garden tools, furniture, clothing, electrical equipment to toys.
All they have to do is a make a donation to help cover costs, if they wish.
“People can book as a slot, bring their item along and see if we can fix it,” said Mr Wharton, who lives in Chevington.
“But rather than just watch, we also encourage people to get involved themselves so they learn new skills along the way.”
Repair Café is worldwide charity which originated in Holland in 2009. The motto of the charity is: Bin it? No Way!
Mr Wharton says he has spent his life investigating how things work. He went onto found a pioneering hi-tech company.
“My favourite book when I was young was How Things Work,” he said.
“After that I have spent most of my life taking things apart and putting them back together.
“I first had the idea to start a café a few years ago, and then volunteered for a couple of other Repair Cafés, which were great.”
The Bury St Edmunds Repair Café now has 15 volunteers. These include repairers, as well as catering staff for refreshments, and admin.
The Facebook group has 70 members.
The Repair Café will be held between 11am and 2pm.
Mr Wharton hopes to hold the cafés every two months, depending on demand.
To book a slot for repair, email repair.cafe.bse@gmail.com; to volunteer, search Repair Café Bury St Edmunds on Facebook.
To find out more about Bury St Edmunds Repair Café, www.repaircafe.org/en/cafe/bury-st-edmunds-repair-cafe
