Repair Cafés are free meeting places where you’ll find volunteers with repair skills in
all kinds of fields – electrical, mechanical, sewing and other specialist expertise.
Topsham has its own Repair Café in the Dorothy Holman Centre, Ferry Road (by the
recreation ground). We meet on the 1st Saturday of each month from 10.00 am to 1.00pm.
Rather than taking your broken items of clothes, pieces of furniture, electrical appliances, crockery, toys, et cetera to the tip, why not try the Repair Café first? We do ask that you can carry your item so, sorry, no dysfunctional washing machines or broken-down cars! If the repair job is too complicated or will be very time-consuming the volunteer will discuss the options with you. Generally, but not always, items will be accepted if they can be sorted out within 30 minutes. We ask for one item per household only please and suggest that you check your warranty first. We make no promises but will do our best to help you.
You will be asked to sign that you have read and agreed to the House Rules.
There will only be a minimal stock of spare parts, so please think about what might be needed in order to make the repair. For example, if you need a new zip put in your favourite pair of trousers you will need to bring the right length and colour zip with you. If you are bringing in an electrical item, please make sure you have chargers, leads, light bulbs and batteries as appropriate for your item so that the repairers can fully test and check out your appliance.
If on the day, there is no one with the right skills to help with the repair, we will discuss other options with you. You must take away your item, repaired or not.
If you have nothing to repair, come anyway and enjoy a cuppa and a piece of cake and a
friendly chat with other visitors in the warm. Who knows, you may be encouraged to become a volunteer – it is not just repairers that are needed, but administration staff, refreshment organisers and general helpers as well.
Repair Cafes are free but of course there are costs to cover such as the hire of then hall, so
donations are encouraged for both the refreshments and the repair. We will happily accept donations in cash or by card.
FIND OUT MORE ABOUT BECOMING A VOLUNTEER
