Residents made the most of our second repair café at Brent Cross Town last weekend (Sunday 19 October) bringing the community together for another inspiring day of fixing, learning, and making new connections over tea and biscuits.

A brilliant team of electrical fixers, seamstresses and bicycle renovators made this repair café a success by giving people the opportunity to breathe new life into their personal belongings.

From clothes to blenders, vacuums and toothbrushes, the repair café saw over 30 people from the Brent Cross area and wider borough drop-in throughout the day to repair their items for free. Even when items were unable to get fixed, participants received handy advice and suggestions for what to bring with them next time.

David Glassman from Golders Green came by to have two coats repaired. He told us “I’m delighted to have my two favourite coats fixed just in time for the winter, and for free! It has already become chilly, and I’ve not been able to wear them yet. It’s nice to know that this repair café is helping people”. After his first successful appointment, David was keen to make use of this service and returned later that afternoon to have his old radios seen and fixed by the electricians.

Ashi and Hamad are a couple who moved from Iran six months ago and now live in Colindale. They shared with us that they read the Barnet First newsletter every week as it has been helping them both settle in, join new communities such as the Mill Hill Community Garden and participate in events like this repair café. Ashi added: “I would recommend the repair cafe to anyone wanting to fix their items, everyone has been warm and welcoming. I had these trousers that I love which have become too big for me to wear. But now, after this repair café, I am happy I can wear them again. Thank you!”.

Mushirah lives minutes away from Brent Cross Town and attended the first repair café in June to repair her niece’s bike. After a successful experience, she attended this repair café with her mother, Afsati, and brought along with them a desk fan and electrical sweeper. Both items were fixed and Mushirah told us: “This has been a great experience and a new way for us in trying to implement sustainable ways of living. I only bought my fan months ago and felt I wasn’t ready to throw it just yet. I’m glad I brought it in today and it was fixed so quickly!”.

Another Barnet resident named Yi brought in her broken hair dryer which she got fixed so that it was ready to be donated to a charity – a true example of community spirit

This repair café formed part of Circular Economy Week ) and was made possible by government funding from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) which is also supported by the Mayor of London. Keep an eye for more Repair Cafes taking place across Barnet and at Brent Cross Town by signing up to the BarNET ZERO newsletter.

Barnet Council is committed to becoming one of London’s most sustainable boroughs, and we encourage you to join us on this journey. Learn more about how Barnet is becoming more sustainable here.