Fixing Factory

Fixing Factories

The Restart Project and partners are developing the next wave of Fixing Factories. This post is a short story of the development of the latest one, in Hackney.

Fixing Factories provide a community resource to enable people to get their things fixed and also learn new skills (via workshops). They are based in the community and accessible. They provide a more consistent capability for repair and reuse. Run in partnership with Possible and funding from the National Lottery Climate Action Community Fund they are also resourced by paid staff and volunteers.

The first Fixing Factories were created in Brent and Camden and have been covered in earlier posts. Brent was a pilot, located in a local household waste recycling centre. That has now closed. The Camden factory continues and hosts a range of repair and educational events on Thursdays and Saturdays.

This post follows the development of two new facilities: one in Hackney and another in Haringey.

In Hackney, volunteers and staff refurbished an old nail bar in Dispensary Lane. Once open, it will operate in a similar way to Camden with repair events and some training events.

Local bespoke furniture makers OEK , who are located next door, provided the new ‘finding factory’ wall signage.

The new manager, Arthur, was appointed. He and Shelini who is managing the Restart’s Fixing Factory programme began installing the furniture and making final preparations for the opening.

On 23 April the Fixing Factory was ready to open its doors.

Cutting the ribbon …

In Haringey, pre-launch events are taking place with community repair events hosted by Haringey Fixers.

We need more Fixing Factories. Ideally, we should have one on the high street in every major town and in every London borough.

Second ‘Fixing Factory’ in London

Mark Phillips Events, News October 28, 2022 9 Comments

The second Fixing Factory was opened by the mayor in Camden.

The Restart Project in partnership with climate charity PossibleReady Tech GoWest London Waste Authority, and Mer IT, and with National Lottery Community Funding is creating new ‘Fixing Factories’ in London.  For more information see the dedicated Fixing Factory website.

Camden Fixing Factory was officially opened after Camden Mayor, Nasim Ali, cut the ribbon. There were also a number of other local politicians plus representatives from a number of local stakeholders and community groups. In addiction to the opening of the Queen’s Crescent Fixing Factory, the local community was also invited to take part in some hands-on fixing.

The final touches to the signage at Camden Fixing Factory

The aim is for these to become a ‘blueprint’ for Fixing Factories around the country, emulating the success of Kierrätyskeskus in Finland.

At the launch event there were demonstrations from Mer-IT of how to open your laptop, change hard drives, memory cards and batteries.

Mer-IT explaining the insides of a laptop and how to upgrade parts, extending its life.

Volunteers at opening event

Whilst the main goal is to make electronics last longer, to prevent unnecessary e-waste and the huge amount of carbon emissions involved in the production and transport of new devices, such facilities also provide wider community benefits – they help increase high street activity, create local community events, training and potential job opportunities, improve local environmental performance and help with the cost of living crisis.

Sian Berry AM (London Assembly Member – Greens) and Dermot Jones (Camden Fixing Factory in conversation

you can hear more about the Camden and Brent Fixing Factories are the Restarters Podcast.