ARBORFIELD’S Eco Skills Learning Centre has won a BBC Radio Berkshire award.
The volunteer-led community, an offshoot of Spencers Wood Repair Café, is located at Pudding Lane Nursery.
The group was one of the winners at BBC Radio Berkshire’s Make a Difference Awards, 2025.
There are eight categories in the competition, including Volunteer, Community Group, and Fundraiser categories, each designed to recognise people and organisations making life better for their communities.
One of four finalists, the Eco Skills Learning Centre won the Green category for its educational workshops for young people.
The judge, Jennie Gow, a BBC Sports presenter who used to live in Wargrave, praised the group for teaching children hands-on skills.
“We are very proud to receive the award,” said Billie Bachra, chair of the The Eco Skills Learning Centre and founder of the Repair Café at Lambs Lane Primary School in Spencers Wood.
“It will have pride of place at the Eco Skills Learning Centre, in a cabinet made by one of our skilled carpenters.”
The centre began teaching children practical skills by helping them to make their own birdboxes from unwanted wood.
It has since grown into an independent environmental venture run by the Repair Café team, with its range of workshops expanding to include the building of bug hotels and hedgehog houses.
The same volunteers help individuals at the café to repair their broken household items and reduce landfill.
The next Repair Café session is at at Lambs Lane Primary School on Sunday, October 19, from 10am to 1pm.
For more information, visit: ecoskillslearningcentre.square.site and spencerswoodrepaircafe.co.uk
