A volunteer fixer wearing watch-makers eye glasses — Credit: Mark A Phillips

Running throughout the whole of May, The BIG FIX has one aim – to fix and breathe new life into as many broken things as possible.

The event, coordinated by us, sees skilled menders fix broken items such as electrical equipment, garden equipment, clothing, jewellery, clocks and much more to give them a new lease of life.

Due to its huge success, The BIG FIX event is now nationwide across the country for the fourth time, with 60 Repair Cafés already registered to take part.

The BIG FIX hopes to help people save money, not only by repairing old items but also passing on skills to fix their own items in the future.

Repair Cafés are increasing in popularity as people are becoming more budget and environmentally conscious. They are organised and run by volunteers who offer their time and skills to help mend broken items and keep them in use for longer. Volunteers also help greet visitors, supply tea and coffee and restock supplies of cakes and other tasty treats.

Last year, 83 Repair Cafés and 800 volunteers took part in the BIG FIX, mending 2,761 items and saving 48 tonnes CO2e. Many cakes and biscuits were served alongside many more cups of tea and coffee!

The BIG FIX 2024 is taking place across May to enable as many Repair Cafés as possible to take part.

Roger Croad, Cabinet Member for Public Health, Communities and Equality at Devon County Council said:

“Repair Cafés are wonderful places where communities can come together to share skills and have a catch-up, whilst helping their pockets and the planet at the same time. This year we’re hoping to again increase the number of Repair Cafés taking part and items being fixed, whilst also recording why items are unable to be repaired. All data will be shared with the Repair Cafés as well as help us to report on the impact of the event.”