From Somerset’s growing repair cafe network to the new Fixy reuse van, repair is a great way to help people waste less, spend less and connect more. Got a Fixy Victory? Scroll down to enter our free prize draw! And check out … ■ Fixy reuse van at events ■ Repair cafes ■ How to get involved ■ How to donate tech for reuse Working alongside Somerset’s existing repair cafe groups, the new Fixy reuse van is visiting events, schools and businesses to promote repair, support repair cafes with tools and a PAT – portable appliance testing – safety service, encourage volunteers to get involved, and collect smart tech for reuse. With average households holding on to 20 unwanted electricals, Fixy’s first year is dedicated to giving anything with a plug or batteries a new lease of life if it stops working, and helping people to get things mended rather than throwing them away. Every year, we discard millions of tons of electrical and electronic items. Recycling is good, but reuse is even better, and it is often easy to fix things. You can save money, materials and energy, and take action against climate change. Why not love your stuff for longer? For more about Fixy and ways to reduce, reuse and recycle, bookmark this page, follow @somersetwaste on Facebook and Twitter, and scroll down to subscribe to the SORTED! e-newsletter by clicking on the green button, below. And to learn more about the circular economy, check out the resources at the Ellen MacArthur Foundation: https://ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/ The Fixy initiative is led by the Resource Futures consultancy, in partnership with Somerset Waste Partnership and Donate-IT, a local community interest company that data-wipes and refurbishes laptops, tablets and phones, and distributes them to schools, community groups and families who need them. Bring along to Fixy and donate any broken or unwanted smart tech, such as laptops, tablets, smartphones, smart watches, digital cameras, game consoles, routers, hard drives, external disk drives, and their leads and chargers. (Ensure your device is unlocked from your iCloud account or log out of your accounts on other devices so these can be reused. Items that cannot be reused will be recycled. See what to do before you sell, give away or trade in your iPhone or iPad. Can’t get to a Fixy event? You can donate your smart tech at one of DonateIT’s collection points.) Scroll down to find Fixy events and repair cafés, and click on the video below for why repair cafés are important… https://www.somersetwaste.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/repaircafebuildingresilience.mp4 ■ Friday 20 January 10am-1pm – South Somerset District Council/Department of Work and Pensions “Getting Help with the Cost of Winter” event at Martock Parish Hall, Church Street, Martock TA12 6JL. Fixy reuse van will collect smart tech, signpost future events, promote reuse, encourage volunteers (no repairers available). ■ Saturday 21 January 10am-1pm – Frome Town Hall, Christchurch Street West, Frome BA11 1EB. Fixy reuse van will collect smart tech, signpost future events, promote reuse, encourage volunteers (no repairers available). ■ Wednesday 25 January 10am-1pm – South Somerset District Council/Department of Work and Pensions “Getting Help with the Cost of Winter” event at The Guildhall, Fore Street, Chard TA20 1PH. Fixy reuse van will collect smart tech, signpost future events, promote reuse, encourage volunteers (no repairers available). ■ Saturday 28 January 10am-1pm – Repair Café in the Blackdown Hills, Hemyock Parish Hall, Hemyock, Cullompton, Devon EX15 3QW. Fixy will support the repair café, collect smart tech, signpost future events, promote reuse, encourage volunteers. ■ Tuesday 31 January 10am-12 noon – Old Small Hall, Village Hall, Mount Street, Bishop’s Lydeard TA4 3LH. Fixy reuse van will help visitors with minor PC issues (sorry, not repairs), collect donated smart tech for reuse, signpost future events, promote reuse and encourage potential volunteers. ■ Wednesday 1 February 10am-1pm – South Somerset District Council/Department of Work and Pensions “Getting Help with the Cost of Winter” event at the Balsam Centre, Balsam Park, Wincanton BA9 9HB. Fixy reuse van will collect smart tech, signpost future events, promote reuse, encourage volunteers (no repairers available). ■ Saturday 11 February 10am-12noon – Café Burtle, Village Hall, Burtle Road, Burtle, Bridgwater TA7 8NB. With “Pop Up Repair Event” – volunteer repairer fixing electrical and general items – Fixy reuse van will collect smart tech, signpost future events, promote reuse, encourage volunteers. ■ Saturday 18 February 9am-1pm – Farmers Market, Town Hall, Market Square, Crewkerne, TA18 7LN. Fixy reuse van will collect smart tech, signpost future events, promote reuse, encourage volunteers. ■ Saturday 25 February (time TBC) – Spring Seed Swap and Vegan Food Festival, High Street, Bridgwater. Fixy will signpost future events (Bridgwater Repair Café usually meets last Saturday of the month at The Engine Room, High Street, Bridgwater TA6 3BL), promote reuse, encourage volunteers and take smart tech donations (no repairers available). Upcoming repair cafes and hubs (details of all groups below – do re-check before travelling) Links for all the groups are in the next section. Repair Groups 2023 (Jan to Mar)Notes, patternTimeDates Bishop’s Hull Repair Café, Bishops Hull Hub, Bishops Hull Hill, Taunton TA1 5EBAd-hoc. Check direct with group. Repair Café in the Blackdown Hills Hemyock Parish Hall, Hemyock, Cullompton EX15 3QWThe fourth Saturday of every other month: Jan, Mar, May, Jul, Sep, Nov.10am-1pmJan: Sat 28 Feb: NA Mar: Sat 25 Repair Café Bridgwater The Engine Room, 50-52 High St, Bridgwater TA6 3BLUsually last Saturday every month, except Aug and Dec.11am-2pmJan: Sat 28 Feb: Sat 25 Mar: Sat 25 Burnham-on-Sea and Highbridge (under consideration)Please get in touch if you would like to help this group. Chard Community Hub (Sewing Repair) 9 Fore Street, Chard TA20 1PPUsually every Tuesday10-11.30amTuesdays Chard Community Hub (General Repair Hub) 9 Fore Street, Chard TA20 1PPUsually every other Saturday.9am-12noonJan: Sat 7, 21 Feb: Sat 4, 18 Mar: Sat 4, 18 Compton Dundon Repair Café Meadway Hall, Ham Lane, Compton Dundon TA11 6PQTBC10am-12noonJan: Sat 21 Feb: TBC Mar: TBC Share:Frome a library of things 3A The Bridge, Frome BA11 1ARPostponed until further notice Glastonbury Repair Café St Benedicts Church, Benedict St, Glastonbury BA6 9NBThird Saturday every month at alternate venues10am-12noonJan: Sat 21 Feb: other venue Mar: Sat 18 Glastonbury Repair Café St Edmunds Community Hall, Chinnock Rd, Glastonbury, BA6 8EWThird Saturday every month at alternate venues10am-12noonJan: other venue Feb: Sat 18 Mar: other venue Greener Hatch Beauchamp (under consideration)Please get in touch if you would like to help this group. Ilminster Share and Repair 18 Silver Street, Ilminster TA19 0DJUsually weekly Mon, Thu and Sat10am-12noonMon, Thu, Sat Langport Repair Café All Saints Hall, North Street, Langport TA10 0DJFourth Saturday every month12.30-2.30pmJan: Sat 28 Feb: Sat 25 Mar: Sat 25 New repair group in Minehead - details coming soonLaunch proposed for 15 April 2023TBA Otterford Repair Café Otterford Parish Hall, Bishopswood TA20 3RSApproximately every 3 months on a Sunday.11am-2pmJan: Sun 15 Feb: NA Mar: NA Porlock Vale Repair Café Allerford & Selworthy Community Hall, Hare Park, Allerford TA24 8HL Ad-hoc on a Saturday10am-12noonJan: NA Feb: Sat 25 Mar: NA Porlock Vale Repair Café Porlock Village Hall, Toll Road (New Road), Porlock TA24 8QDAd-hoc on a Saturday10am-12noonJan: Sat 28 Feb: NA Mar: Sat 25 Porlock Vale Repair Café Wootton Courtenay Village Hall, Wootton Courtenay TA24 8RHAd-hoc on a Saturday10am-12noonJan: NA Feb: Mar: Shepton Mallet (Art Bank) The Art Bank, 13 High Street, Shepton Mallet BA4 5AASecond Saturday every month11am-1pmJan: Sat 14 Feb: Sat 11 Mar: Sat 11 Street (under consideration)Please get in touch if you would like to help this group. Taunton Repair Café Moose Hall, Tower Lane, Taunton TA1 4ARSecond Saturday every other month.10.30am-12.30pmJan: Sat 14 Feb: NA Mar: Sat 11 Green Wedmore Wedmore Village Hall, Cheddar Road, Wedmore BS28 4EQAd-hoc, approximately every six monthscheck with group Wellington Repair Café Baptist Church Hall, South Street, Wellington TA21 8NRFirst Saturday every other month10am-12noonJan: Sat 7 Feb: NA Mar: Sat 4 Wells Repair Café St Thomas’ Church Hall, 94 Saint Thomas Street, Wells, BA5 2UZFirst Saturday every other month10am-12.30pmJan: Sat 7 Feb: NA Mar: Sat 4 Repair Café Wincanton Balsam Centre, Balsam Park, Wincanton BA9 9HB (new venue)Usual schedule may be disrupted during transition to new venue.10am-1pmJan: Sat 28 Feb: TBC Mar: TBC Wivey Repair Café (Wiveliscombe)Usually third Saturday of every month, but subject to change10am-12noonJan: Sat 21 Feb: Sat 18 Mar: TBC Yeovil Repair Workshop (under development)Please get in touch if you would like to help this group. Holding a repair café or other event you would like Fixy to attend? Email fixy@somersetwaste.gov.uk and tell us where and when your event will be. If we are not already booked, we will send you a booking form that covers everything we need consider your request.