What is a Repair Cafe?

A Repair Café is a community space where people can bring broken or damaged items to be fixed for free with the help of skilled volunteers. It’s more than just a place to repair things—it’s a hub for sustainability, education, and connection.

The first Repair Cafe was held in 2009 in Amsterdam, and the movement has grown to over 2500 Repair Cafes worldwide!

At the Nelson Repair Café, we are hoping to support items such as:

• Small appliances (e.g., toasters, blenders, lamps)
• Clothing and textiles (e.g., torn pants, broken zippers, missing buttons)
• Bikes and small tools
• Electronics (basic repairs)
• Furniture or household items

For more information about the concept of Repair Cafes and their history, go here.

Why Repair?

Every year, millions of items are discarded simply because they’re broken, even though many could be repaired. Repair Cafés help:

• Reduce waste: By keeping items out of landfills.
• Save money: Avoid the cost of replacement.
• Learn skills: Gain hands-on experience in repairing your own belongings.
• Build community: Connect with like-minded individuals who care about sustainability.

How It Works

1. Bring Your Item: Drop in during our scheduled Repair Cafe events with your broken or damaged item.
2. Collaborate on the Repair: Work alongside our skilled volunteers to fix the item together.
3. Learn and Connect: Ask questions, pick up new skills, and enjoy connecting with others in the community.
4. Pay It Forward: While our services are free, donations are welcome to help support the initiative.

Where and When

The Nelson Repair Cafe is aiming to host our first event sometime in the first half of 2025. In the future, we would aim for regular events throughout the year at convenient locations in Nelson. Stay tuned for our full event schedule and venues.

Get Involved

We’re always looking for:

• Volunteers: Share your repair skills or help organize events.
• Donors: Support us with tools, materials, or financial contributions.
• Participants: Bring your items and spread the word!

Fill out our volunteer survey!

Together, we can make Nelson a hub for sustainability, creativity, and community.

For more information email us at repaircafenelson@gmail.com.