Repair Cafes are community events that match people who need items repaired with people who like fixing things. The international Repair Cafe movement began in Amsterdam, and now there are over two thousand around the world. Repair Cafes are non-commercial and the repairs are done free-of-charge, although voluntary donations are very welcome. There are no promises and no guarantees, but if something can be saved the repairers will do their very best. Repairers are always keen to teach visitors how to do the repair themselves, or at least have them watch while they do it. The items brought along for repair can include clothes, furniture, electrical appliances, bicycles, crockery, tools, toys, and much more.

Burwell Repair Cafe is a community initiative arising from Burwell Parish Council's Climate Forum.
An enthusiastic group of volunteers have worked together to organise Burwell Repair Cafes, starting on 6th November 2022 .

They have been a resounding success!

• November 2022: 49 items were brought in, with 53% of them repaired - despite the downpour!

• February 2023: 68 items were seen by the repairers, and an amazing 62% were repaired

• June 2023: 48 items were seen, and 52% were repaired

• September 2023: 50 items were seen, and 56% were repaired

• December 2023: 45 items were seen, and 60% were repaired

• March 2024: 49 items were seen, and a record 63% were repaired

• May 2024: 36 items were seen, and 53% were repaired

• September 2024: 56 items were seen, and 61% were repaired

• March 2025: 53 items seen, 48% repaired (plus a few to be mended after the event by very kind repairers)

• September 2025: 42 items seen with 69% repaired. 2 items were beyond repair.

• February 2026: a record 69 items seen, a record 72% were repaired. Only 5 items were not repairable. The best result yet!

Our Repair Cafes will continue to be held at Mandeville Hall (for directions, see the map below the pictures of our volunteers hard at work).
We plan to hold 2-3 Repair Cafes each year.

Our next events will be held on:

• Sunday 10th May 2026 - Bookings are now being taken for this event

• Sunday 4th October 2026