A GROUP of menders and fixers has received an award that will help them to increase the number of items they can restore.
A national Lottery Grant will enable fixers at Spencers Wood Repair Cafe to improve their testing facilities, roll out workshops for young people, and to take on apprentice menders.
Organiser Billie Bachra says that the award will enable the purchase of electrical checking equipment.
This will help volunteers to assess electrically operated household items and give them a clean bill of health when they are fixed.
The grant also allows the group to run fully funded repair workshops in local schools, to teach sewing skills, and to enable young people to troubleshoot and repair their own broken items.
The organisers are open to ideas from schools for workshops, which could include activities such as enabling children to create and decorate bird boxes to set up in their own gardens, using pre-cut wood offcuts.
At their regular cafe on the third Sunday of each month,broken household items are repaired for free.
However, the group gratefully accepts donations, which help to secure the future of the venture.
Spencers Wood Repair Cafe is keen to hear from any would-be apprentices who would like to learn troubleshooting and repair skills alongside experienced fixers.
Their next event is at Lambs Lane Primary School, on Sunday, January 21.
Doors are open from 10am until 1pm.
For information about repairs, schools workshops, or apprenticeships, visit: www.spencerswoodrepaircafe.co.uk or email: billie@spencerswoodrepaircafe.co.uk
