Originally published at: A new chapter for Fixing Factories - The Restart Project
Back in August 2022, we opened the doors to our very first Fixing Factory.
We were excited—and a little nervous—to put our vision for community repair into practice: a vision of breathing life back into derelict high streets, bringing people together through shared skills, helping communities navigate the rising cost of living through practical support, and, above all, resisting a culture that tells us to throw things away when they could be repaired, valued and loved for years to come.
We’ve come a long way
It’s been almost a year since I started as the Fixing Factory Lead at The Restart Project, having been the Workshop Manager at the Hackney Fixing Factory previously. A lot has happened in that time and we are really proud of what we have achieved.
There are now five Fixing Factories across London, each run by and for its local community. Thousands of people have rolled up their sleeves and got involved, with the majority telling us they feel more connected to their community as a result. Listen to our volunteer Ester share her experience for just one example.
And of course, we’ve given hundreds of electronics a new life every year – slashing waste, cutting carbon, and saving people money!
We have been given the opportunity to explore what a permanent repair space can look like in London and we believe we have developed a model that can be replicated and scaled up across communities around the UK and beyond.
So now we are looking for partners who might want to come on that journey with us!
Join us for the next chapter
A large proportion of the money needed to run our Fixing Factories comes from a grant from The National Lottery Community Action Fund. But from May next year, this funding will be significantly reduced. So we’re looking for strategic partners who can help us continue and scale the work of the Fixing Factories for years to come.
In particular we’re looking for:
- Waste companies who want to build social value into new contracts.
- Funders looking for tangible circular economy projects that show how climate action can benefit real lives.
- Councils who want to run repair activities, or launch their own Fixing Factory.
- Businesses or organisations with an interest in technology who want to collaborate on scaling Fixing Factories
Do you know anyone who could help?
We know there is power within our communities so we’re asking our network to think about whether there’s a friend, a family member, a neighbour, a colleague, who might work for any of these groups – someone who could open a door, make an introduction or point us in the right direction.
If someone comes to mind, please take a minute to share this with them. Or if you can help yourself you can get in touch.
We’re casting the net wide and trying to reach as many people as possible to have the best chance of people who can help us bring Fixing Factories to the next level. Our community has been invaluable to the success of the Fixing Factories so far so thank you for everything you do to help us keep doing what we do!
Or if you’d like to speak to us about how you can help keep Fixing Factories going for longer, please let us know here.
Thank you!
– Arthur, Fixing Factory Lead