Repair Café Gosport Signs Manchester Declaration,
Releases their first Impact Report whilst celebrating their first year.
On Saturday 8th October 2022 the repair cafe local to Gosport held its 1st Birthday celebrations. Founder David Marks thanked his fellow volunteers for their hard work before Deputy Mayor of Gosport Councillor Martin Pepper cut the birthday cake. Also in attendance were Dame Caroline Dinenage MP, Gosport and Hampshire councillors, and community leaders.
The first annual Impact Report was launched at the event. This report summarises the story of the organisation in its first year, details the impact on the local community and recognises the people and organisations that have supported the growth of this non-profit event held every month in Gosport.
To get your copy of the report visit www.repaircafegosport.co.uk/impact
Repair Café Gosport announces that it has recently become a signatory to the UK community repair movement’s Manchester Declaration. The declaration asks UK legislators and decision-makers at all levels, as well as product manufacturers and designers, to stand with Repair Cafés for a Right to Repair: making repair more accessible and affordable.
At the event, Repair Café Gosport invited Dame Caroline Dinenage MP to join with the organisation in endorsing the Manchester Declaration. By doing so she would join local colleagues Penny Mordaunt MP and Caroline Nokes MP. The request was met warmly by Caroline, who said that she looks forward to attending future Repair Café Gosport events with items to repair.
All over the world there are thousands of Repair Cafes and there are at least a dozen in Hampshire. Gosport is distinctive because this Cafe is based in a workshop. The Repair Cafe runs for 4 hours a month but MAKE Gosport, the community maker space, is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The leaders and members of MAKE Gosport deserve recognition. The Repair Cafe is aiming to increase visitor numbers and find more volunteers, so please help and tell everybody about us!
David Marks, Founder of Repair Café Gosport
The Repair Café is already proving its worth in saving local people money and reducing waste.
It was great to join the team on their first birthday and learn more about some of the items they repaired and rescued from landfill.
Dame Caroline Dinenage, MP for Gosport
Voluntary organisations have always been very important to me. For the sake of current and future generations, we want to reduce waste. I would prefer people not create waste in the first place but the second best option is to make sure that we renew! Repair Cafe Gosport are playing a part and I encourage them to stay true to their aims, encourage others to take advantage of their service and get more people to come and help along the way.
Cllr Martin Pepper, Gosport Borough Council