Community / ‘Repair cafe’ aims to raise Alzheimer funds in memory of local joiner
A ‘REPAIR café’ is set to be launched in a popular Lerwick coffee shop as a tribute to local joiner Chris Smith.
Blyde Welcome is encouraging folk to come along and bring broken items to be fixed, mended or stitched while enjoying a cup of tea or coffee.
The initiative will also support Alzheimer Scotland in memory of Chris, who was the much-loved husband Blyde Welcome’s owner Celia Smith.
The repair cafe starts on Thursday 30 October, followed by Thursday 6 November, and will then run every second Thursday thereafter.
Part of the global Repair Cafe movement, which encourages communities to reduce waste, share skills, and bring new life to old possessions, the sessions will be run by volunteers, with visitors invited to make a donation in return for help.
The first session will see sewing and mending sessions from 10am-1pm, followed by support for broken or faulty laptops, tablets and phones from 2-4pm.
Celia said she was inspired to launch the repair café following Chris’ death earlier this year.
“Chris was a joiner by trade, but in retirement he turned his hand to all sorts of little fixes for friends and neighbours,” she said.
“He’d often mend something in return for a cup of tea and a biscuit.
“The repair cafe feels like a lovely way to carry that spirit forward, helping others, passing on skills, and supporting Alzheimer Scotland, who do such vital work locally.”
The mending sessions will be led by Katie Hatfield, an experienced sewer known for her creativity and attention to detail, and who can help with everything from loose hems and missing buttons to clothing repairs.
IT engineer Jamsie Skinley, of Skinley Tech Solutions, will run the afternoon drop-in.
Visitors will be advised when an item would be best handled by a professional, helping to strengthen awareness and appreciation for those local trades.
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