Now in its eighth year, Penrith Repair Café continues to offer a wonderful service to local people who need a hand to get all sorts of goods back into use. 

Reporting to the PACT AGM in September 2025, the organisers revealed they’d successfully repaired 370 items in the year from June 2024 to May 2025. 

On top of those, they were able to give advice or do a partial repair for another 40 items.

Overall, they assessed a grand total of 503 items for repair, welcoming 379 visitors. 

The repair cafe is run solely by volunteers, with no paid support. The team of 30 people
volunteer their time to administer, publicise, set up, repair, welcome, serve refreshments, and clear away at the end.

They gave 561 hours for repairing alone, plus more for all the other tasks that make the repair cafe successful.

Feedback gained from visitors is always positive, with comments saying how friendly, kind and knowledgeable the repairers are, complimenting the setup and saying how well organised it is, that
people get a nice welcome and the great cake!

The team continues to take advantage of free or low budget marketing tactics, with paid Facebook ads working well.

They worked with the council to get a banner promoting the repair cafe put up at the Household Waste and Recycling Centre at Flusco.

They’re also exploring a partnership to repair toys in the run up to Christmas with a view to them being donated to children who might need them.

Their main development this year has been the new website at www.penrithrepaircafe.org.uk, where you can find out more, including dates. It runs on the second Saturday of each month, with the exception of October.

A massive thank you from PACT to the volunteers who give up their time to make the Repair Café happen.