Farnham Repair Café is celebrating its tenth anniversary, marking a decade of service dedicated to sustainability and community support.
The volunteer-led initiative, which helps residents repair household items instead of discarding them, was founded in 2015. Since then, it has hosted over 100 sessions and repaired more than 2,600 items, ranging from vacuum cleaners to bicycles and even sentimental keepsakes.
The café, which operates on the second Saturday of each month at The Spire Church in Farnham, has welcomed 6,000 visitors over the past decade. Organisers estimate that their efforts have prevented 7.5 tonnes of waste from going to landfill and saved approximately 70.1 tonnes of CO₂ emissions.
Repair movement inspiration
The idea for the repair café came from Professor Martin Charter, who was inspired after hearing a talk by the founder of the global repair café movement at the Hannover Fair in 2013. Charter, now chair of Farnham Repair Café, collaborated on research into similar initiatives worldwide before adapting the concept for Farnham. A series of pilot sessions ran in 2014 and 2015 before the café officially launched later that year.
Despite challenges, including the Covid-19 pandemic, the café has continued to thrive. It adjusted its approach during lockdowns to maintain support for the community. Last year, it was recognised with the King’s Award for Voluntary Service, the highest honour for voluntary groups in the UK.
Professor Charter said: “The café has become a cornerstone of sustainability and community spirit in Farnham, providing residents with free repair services while fostering a culture of environmental responsibility.”
Promoting repair and reuse
One of the core aims of Farnham Repair Café is to promote a culture of repair and reuse, encouraging people to fix broken items rather than throw them away. Volunteers not only provide repairs but also teach visitors new skills, helping them gain the confidence to carry out their own repairs in future.
“This educational aspect is central to what we do,” said Charter. “It’s about more than just fixing things—it’s about empowering people to extend the life of their possessions.”
The power of volunteers
The café’s success has been driven by its dedicated volunteers, who bring a range of skills from electrical and mechanical repairs to textile mending. Their efforts ensure the café can cater to the varied needs of the community.
Beyond technical expertise, volunteers also create a welcoming space where visitors can collaborate and learn from each other.
As the initiative marks its tenth anniversary, organisers say they remain committed to their mission. “Farnham Repair Café extends its heartfelt gratitude to everyone who has contributed to its journey over the past decade,” Charter said.
“The café remains dedicated to reducing waste, fostering repair and reuse, and strengthening community ties for years to come.”