North Wales’ Repair Café Revolution: Fixing the Future, One Gadget at a Time

The Rise of Repair Cafés

The repair café movement has expanded to 84 branches across Wales.  These cafés offer a delightful and affordable way for locals to fix their everyday items, from electrical gadgets and clothing to bikes. But it’s not just about saving money—these cafés are crucial players in the battle against climate change, reducing waste, and keeping junk out of landfills.

Meet Richard Hatton: The Fixer Extraordinaire

Enter Richard Hatton, a retired geochemist from Zimbabwe with a heart of gold and a knack for fixing just about anything. In 2021, Richard and four friends opened the Conwy branch to address the pressing climate and environmental crises. With no repair cafés in the area at the time, they quickly became local heroes.

Richard is one of 15 volunteer “fixers” at the café. His can-do attitude and wide range of skills make him the go-to guy for everything from kettles to wooden furniture. "I like to think of myself as a jack of all trades, willing to tackle almost anything that comes my way," Richard says with a grin.

Community Spirit and Government Support

Repair Café Wales, funded by the Welsh Government, provides start-up and ongoing support for these cafés. This initiative is part of a broader effort to reduce carbon emissions and tackle the cost-of-living crisis. Since committing to net zero emissions by 2050, the Welsh Government has been all in, working with organisations and businesses to pave the way to a greener future.

Richard’s Call to Action

Richard sees firsthand the impact of Repair Cafés on waste reduction and community building. "We make a real difference in reducing waste and landfill, and we bring communities together for the greater good," he says. But he knows that government efforts alone won’t cut it. "We need many more people to come on board and actively reduce their greenhouse gas emissions and waste."

A Movement Gaining Momentum

The success of the Conwy Repair Café has inspired others, with a new branch recently opening in Colwyn Bay. People travel up to 20 miles to get their items fixed, proving that this grassroots movement is more than just a trend—it’s a necessity.

Get repairing.

Check out the Repair Café Wales website for more information on how you can get involved. Whether you’re a tinkerer, or someone who just hates seeing good things go to waste. There’s a café here for you.

For more info, visit Repair Café Wales Let’s repair, reuse and make the world a little greener, one repair at a time!