A monthly Repair Café, where people can bring their broken items to be fixed by a team of local volunteers, will hold its first event on 1st June in Blandford Forum, Dorset.

The Repair Café was started in Blandford by two local women who wanted to help people do simple household repairs, with the aim of reducing the amount of unnecessary waste.

Eleana Humphreys, one of the organisers, said, “I have always tried to fix things at home when they’ve been broken, but I realised that not everyone had the confidence to try to repair items and threw them away instead.

Recycling and reducing the use of plastics is something many people are concerned about and we saw this as a way to help educate people and lessen the amount of rubbish being dumped in to landfill.”

Over 20 local men and women have offered their services, including seamstresses, electricians, carpenters, gardeners and advice on upcycling. Volunteers will be able to fix items at the event, offer advice on upcycling and talk to people about other household repairs.

At the event there will be tea, cake and a raffle to help raise funds to support the project.

People are invited to bring their broken items and questions to the Royal British Legion in Blandford Forum town on 1st June, 12.30pm - 3.00pm. The next event will be on 6th July.

Find out more at Blandford Repair Cafe Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/groups/271141423766157/