Two new community initiatives have launched in Chippenham, giving local people new ways to repair, reuse and share.
The Chippenham Repair Café is about to hold it’s 2nd session tomorrow, while Chippenham’s first Community Fridge has opened its doors earlier this week.
Both offer something practical and welcoming, whether you’ve got something that needs fixing, fancy a cuppa and a chat, or want to make use of surplus food.
Give it a go at the Chippenham Repair Café
The new Chippenham Repair Café is giving local people the chance to bring along items that need a little attention and see if they can be repaired rather than replaced. The Repair Cafe is run by Bath based charity Share and Repair in partnership with Zero Chippenham.
The Repair Café offers:
* Sewing repairs (not alterations)
* General repairs
* Electrical repairs
* Cycle checks and small repairs
Cycle checks are run in partnership with Cycle Chippenham as part of the #BigBikeRevival, with simple timeslot bookings available for cycle repairs.
And while you’re there, you can grab a cuppa, have a chat and meet other people from the community. The café is volunteer-run, with donations welcome.
The Repair Café runs monthly on the first Saturday of the month, from 10am to 1pm, at The Cause, 42 The Causeway, Chippenham, SN15 3DD.
Read about the first Chippenham Repair Cafe that took place in September here: https://shareandrepair.org.uk/our-first-repair-cafe-in-chippenham/
Find out more and check the next date on the One Chippenham event calendar: Chippenham Repair Café
Chippenham’s first Community Fridge
This week also saw the launch of Chippenham’s first Community Fridge.
The idea is simple: surplus food donated by local supermarkets, independent shops, cafés and restaurants is made available for anyone to take and use for free, whatever their circumstances.
The food available will depend on what’s been donated, but could include fresh produce, fruit and vegetables, bread, cupboard items and frozen food.
Where can you find it?
The Community Fridge is located at the Wiltshire and Swindon History Centre on Cocklebury Road, just minutes from Chippenham train station.
It’s open 9.30am-5pm every Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday, plus the first Saturday of the month.
So if you’re nearby, why not pop in and see what’s available.
The Community Fridge is run by Rooted Chippenham in partnership with the Wiltshire and Swindon History Centre and is part of the Community Fridge Network, coordinated by Hubbub, which brings together more than 700 community fridges across the UK.
It has been funded by Chippenham Town Council.
Get involved
Whether you’ve got something at home that needs fixing, you’re looking for some free surplus food or you’re a local business with food left over that could be shared rather than wasted, there are now new ways to get involved.
Why not give the Repair Café a try, pop into the Community Fridge, or get in touch with Rooted Chippenham if you have surplus food to donate?
