Another year, our second one, has passed and it feels that Rye Repair Café (RRC) is
as popular as the first year. The number of visitors varies each session, we have
had 80 down to 50 depending on weather or other events going on in the town.
As it is a free service, to encourage sustainability, we hope for donations to pay
for the hall, insurance, café items and keep the equipment used by the volunteers
in good shape. The number of people do influence any donations we get, but on the
whole, people are generous as they are glad to have the item repaired, been given
advice or just been told it needs to be recycled.
Just a few comments from visitors:
“Wonderful asset to Rye, long may it continue, thank you everyone.”
“Really enjoyed visiting the Repair Café and seeing the range of skilled repairers in Rye, good to meet new people.”
‘So grateful to the Repair Café.”
“Thank you Sian for taking up my curtains, such a brilliant service.”
We have several electricians, a computer whiz, someone sharpening garden shears or
knives, two experienced sewers, a professional who knows about clocks, watches
and jewellery. Another volunteer knows all about plants to give advice about growing
them or how to save them. Someone else knows about wood repairs and a couple of
volunteers seem to be helping with everything they can.
The core team, with the help of the volunteers, are trying to put a list together to tell people where an item can be taken to be recycled. Though cash donations are easier, we are hoping to have a sum-up machine next year as a few individuals wanted to pay by card. However, not being a charity yet or set up as a business, it may be too difficult.
We are encouraging other community projects to set up in the foyer of the Rye community centre, Conduit Hill, TN31 7LE where RRC is based, to show what they are doing.
One Saturday it was Graham Ellis explaining about composting or Strandliners encouraging individuals to help clean up the rivers and beaches. We had Michael Wachter from Great Dixter house and gardens. He had wonderful home made woodcarvings he made from nature, foraging and gathering bits during his wild life experiences. We had a visit from Human Magpies, artists from Climate Oxney, showing homemade treasures from trash. Being Christmas they brought amazing wreaths.
So far we have had only one rude or abusive incident which was immediately dealt with and notices are up now that this is not acceptable. Usually it is a warm, easy atmosphere with people having coffee and cake while they wait for their turn, meeting new people or chatting with friends. The team and the volunteers work well together and RRC would like to say again how thankful the team is for their time and skills to allow this service to function so well.
There will not be a session in December, the first session in 2026 will be 10 January. We hope to see some of you there with more needy items or new arrivals who could not come in 2025. The sessions are every second Saturday of the month between 10am and 12pm.
Image Credits: Heidi Foster , Caroline Still , Kt bruce , Sandra Lanigan , Jane Munro .