A monthly repair cafe which stops items going to landfill is celebrating its third birthday this weekend.

The Repair Cafe Sandbach, run by Sandbach Partnership, was set up in September 2023 and since then has gone from strength to strength.

Repair Cafe Sandbach, which takes place at St Peter's Church Hall on the third Saturday of the month at St Peter's Church Hall in Elworth will celebrate with a cake at its event from 11 am until 2 pm on Saturday (19 September).

It is a popular place for residents to get their items repaired and even had their work their work commended on BBC Breakfast TV earlier this year.

Repair Cafe Sandbach was mentioned as part of a feature in February on repair cafes up and down the country which stop items going to landfill.

A spokesperson from Repair Cafe Sandbach said: "It was very quick but they showed a repair and another showing a sewing repair being done. It's great to get a mention."

With a group of volunteer 'fixers', each specialists in their own field, the cafe is led by Helen Dorney, Chair of Sandbach Partnership, pictured below.

"I am so proud to run this project for Sandbach. We have a great team of volunteer fixers together with hosts and a café stocked with homemade cakes," said Helen previously.

"We have a team of general fixers including skills such as mechanical, electrical, electronic, pottery, and crafts. Collectively, they have fixed vacuums, lamps, children's toys, stereos, food mixers, bikes, pottery ornaments and clocks, to name just a few. Lastly, we have our IT section, and they fix laptops, smart phones and tablets."

What is the difference between a Repair Café and BBC's popular Repair Shop programme?

"In essence repairs undertaken at Repair Café Sandbach are 'smaller' and can be performed by a skilled repairer within about 30 minutes," said Helen.

"With the aim of reducing items going to landfill, we also have an additional focus on skills sharing. We ask the member of the public who brings the item to stay and help/watch the repair sharing knowledge and skills.

Helen added: "The aim is to reduce items going to landfill and we also have an additional focus on skills sharing. We ask the member of the public who brings the item to stay and help/watch the repair sharing knowledge and skills."

Repairs are undertaken free of charge (subject to any part requirements), with donations made by visitors which contribute toward operating costs.

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