A new repair café is opening its doors in Shipston-on-Stour, offering a welcoming space for local residents to fix everyday items, learn new skills and reduce waste.
The initiative is being led jointly by Stour Health and Wellbeing Partnership and South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust, with support from Stratford-on-Avon District Council.
The repair café needs volunteers! We're looking for:
- Tinkerers and Fixers: electronics, bikes and furniture
- Sewers and Stitchers: clothing and textiles
- Greeters and Organisers: welcoming guests and managing flow
- Tea and Biscuit Champions: because every repair needs a cuppa!
Rowena Webb, Community Developer at Stour Health and Wellbeing Partnership, said: "We are so excited to be working with Stratford DC and the community to start this repair café, another initiative that helps reduce waste, making Shipston even more sustainable. This is a community project, so any help is hugely appreciated."
Karen Parker, Community Wellbeing Hubs Manager at South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust, said: "At SWFT, we're committed to reducing our environmental impact while strengthening our local community. The Repair Café at Ellen Badger Hospital brings neighbours together to give items a second life-saving money, preventing waste, and cutting carbon emissions. It's a simple idea with powerful benefits: by repairing rather than replacing, we're not just fixing objects, we're building a more sustainable future for Shipston and beyond."
Cllr Lorraine Grocott, Portfolio Holder for Environmental and Neighbourhood Services at Stratford-on-Avon District Council, said: "The Shipston repair café is a simple idea with a powerful impact. By empowering residents to repair rather than replace we not only reduce waste but strengthen local skills, resilience and shared learning. Initiatives like this play an essential role in helping us achieve our environmental goals and I look forward to seeing this initiative succeed for the Shipston community."
If you're interested in becoming a volunteer and want to find out more about the repair café, come along to a volunteer's meeting on Monday 8th December, 11am at Ellen Badger Hospital CV36 4AX.
