AND HELP SAVE THE PLANET

If you haven’t visited one of local environmental charity Plastic Free North Devon’s (PFND’s) Braunton Repair Cafes at the Museum of British Surfing yet - what are you waiting for?

Designed to repair what might otherwise get thrown away, the Cafes are a hub for community engagement, featuring the patching up, mending, darning, and sewing of pre-loved items - the first Braunton Cafe of 2023 saw an electrician and carpenter join the team of superstar volunteers. A total of 33 items were repaired, including a trilby hat, a set of headphones, two electric blankets, and six coats.

The Cafes also serve to start a conversation around the impacts of fast fashion and throw-away culture, along with actions we can take to look after our environment (and save a penny or two in the process).

Cafe goers are encouraged to stick around, maybe learn some new skills, and share a cuppa and some cake.

The charity are on the lookout for more volunteers to expand the capacity and services offered by all of their Repair Cafes, including Braunton, so whether you’re a dab hand with a bike puncture repair kit, a sewing machine, or would like to help out by pouring the perfect cuppa or meeting and greeting new arrivals, please get in touch with Repair Cafe Coordinator Cathy Karniewicz cathy@plasticfreenorthdevon.org.

What can be fixed at each Cafe may vary due to availability of volunteers, so please contact Cathy or keep an eye on the charity’s social media beforehand to check what kinds of repairs are being offered that day.

Head over to www.plasticfreenorthdevon.org/whatson for details of all upcoming Repair Cafes, including new venues working with partners in Ilfracombe, Barnstaple, and Landkey, thanks to funding from The National Lottery Together For Our Planet Fund.