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Cost of living crisis tackled by Norwich Repair Cafe

Ian Barmer/BBC An item being repaired at Norwich Repair CafeIan Barmer/BBC
A new repair cafe has opened in Norwich

From household gadgets to clothes, electronics and bicycles, there is not much the Repair Cafe in Norwich will not take a look at. It has opened with the aim of helping people through the cost of living crisis while tackling unnecessary waste.

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'Throw-away society'

Ian Barmer/BBC Jane Saunders, 67, Norwich. Brought in a toaster.Ian Barmer/BBC
Jane Saunders believes repair shops like this can help reduce the throw-away mentality

For Jane Saunders, 67, the repair shop offered the best chance of getting small electrical goods fixed, like the toaster she took along to the service at the Phoenix Centre on Mile Cross Road.

She said: "We have become a throw-away society. It's a great pity both in terms of the environment and people's pockets. If this could be rolled out across the city I think it would be very popular.

"I think it's a brilliant idea both because it gets people together, it's lovey that they have the cafe here, and also because it is very difficult to get small electrical goods mended.

"And there's someone mending clothes here and again it's difficult. We've lost some of those skills."

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'We can all benefit'

Ian Barmer/BBC Ashley Whitfield-Greener, 52, from Stoke Holy Cross. Brought in an electric fire.Ian Barmer/BBC
Ashley Whitfield-Greener said it was great that the community can help each other

Ashley Whitfield-Greener, 52, brought in an electric heater from his lounge in the hope that it could be repaired.

He said he would rather get it fixed than replace it because "it's cheaper and better for the environment".

Speaking about the cafe, he said: "It's fantastic. If people in the community can help one another, let's do it.

"There's an awful lot to spend on bills, etc. If a little community hub like this where we can help one another out and we can all benefit, it's a good thing."

Fortunately for Mr Whtfield-Greener, the fixers were able to get his heater working again in time for the colder weather.

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'Might be some life in it'

Ian Barmer/BBC Frank Zappala, 52, from Norwich. Brought an air fryerIan Barmer/BBC
Frank Zappala says he hopes projects like this can save items that would otherwise be binned and replaced

Frank Zappala, 52, decided to bring in his air fryer, something he and his family use nearly everyday.

As someone who is "not a technical person", he had no idea how to sort it himself but thought it was worth seeing "if it had some life in it" still.

He said: "I was really impressed when I saw the advert and there's the possibility of recycling rather than throwing it away.

"That's a nice culture that's been introduced here and I was really impressed by that. I thought instead of throwing away this lovely air fryer, there still might be some life in it."

Unfortunately it turned out the air fryer was beyond repair.

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