Next Repair Cafes: Saturday 21 March, 18 April

2pm – 3.45pm

Redbridge Central Library, Ilford

Bring along broken stuff: electric gadgets, sewing jobs, bits and bobs.

We try our best to repair portable household items, sewing repairs, jewellery and we have a volunteer who is great at mending zips. We’ve saved a lot of coats, bags and rucksacks! 

We can’t look at microwaves – sorry.  At the moment we are not taking on desk top/computer software issues and upgrades.

It’s one electric item each time for a household, although if we are not busy we could possibly look at two. You need to book it on the electrics reception table – Ilford Repair Cafe Electrics House Rules. 

For sewing repairs you can bring along a few items in case we are not busy  and it’s a different reception/triage table.  Please note that we focus on repairs not alterations. If they are smallish repairs we will see if we can do them all. Ilford Repair Cafe sewing table house rules 

You are welcome to contact us with queries about your repair, to make sure it is worth bringing.  Email: ilfordtransition@gmail.com or Text/whatsapp (don’t ring please as it is a volunteer’s private number) 07957 534908

Cost?A voluntary donation if you can.

We are volunteers and we always finish by 3.45, so best to arrive at the start.

Ifixit is a great website with repair advice for a whole load of things! https://www.ifixit.com/Guide.  Espares is our great first point for finding spares.  Lots of info here on the Restarters Wiki page.  Our amazing zip mender uses a lot of these fascinating tips. click here for youtube video. And here’s some tips for mending sewing machines.

More help always welcome!  Contact us if you want to be a repairer, or help in other ways.  

We run an Energy Café at the same time with tips and support for energy reduction and saving money/carbon.

There is a pink bin for electrical recycling during Repair Cafes for the public to ensure their broken items and electrical bits and bobs are recycled, and the metals and components recycled.