I am coordinator for my local community centre. We started last month with Clothing (my area of expertise) and Bikes. There is a strong push to include Electronics. The centre is inviting everyone to volunteer if they show an interest. I think it is possible that some of the people they are inviting may not have very high skills. I think the message going out is that if you believe you can do your own home appliances then you can do someone else’s. So our standard will not be to the sophisticated level of the groups I see here – but I am worried about safety. I am currently on the hunt for a free/cheap PAT tester in the hope that they would be able to oversee the mends. I would love to hear your thoughts about this situation.
I expect you’ll need a PAT tester because using one might be a requirement of your liability insurance and because they do help with safety, and certainly some PAT testers require little technical knowledge to perform the electrical test - HOWEVER you really need someone who understands what they’re doing to perform the physical inspection and to help ensure safety. they can hopefully also mentor others to increase their skills.
Thanks Ian, really appreciate your response. I will go back to the centre and share your advice with them.
Is there a particular liability insurance needed? I believe the community centre already has some cover.
Sorry I’m no expert on insurance - I suppose you need to confirm with the community centre that their insurance covers electrical repair activities. Our insurance requires “competent” PAT testers, e.g. having completed a course on PAT testing. However a bit like PAT testing devices it’s not very difficult to pass a very basic course without being very knowledgeable. I’m sure some courses are quite good at building knowledge, but I’m also sure some aren’t so good.
That’s useful. Thank you.
Trying to get the terminology clear, it’s a “PAT testing device” that you’ll use to do the electrical test, but “PAT testing” as a whole involves the physical inspection as well as the electrical test. Using “PAT tester” is ambiguous if it could refer to the device or the person doing the whole PAT test - may be best to use that term to refer to the person performing the PAT testing. Or not use it at all. If the person is also called Pat that could be more entertaining or confusing, depending on whether you know the terminology 
What you really want is someone who can confidently guide the “PAT Testing” and also how to safely work particularly with mains-powered devices but also where no mains is involved but perhaps devices using high-energy batteries like Lithium technology.
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Thank you - I’ll remember this.
Hi Penn 
,
You don’t say where your community centre is… There may already be Restarters in your area who can help?
Cheers,
Dave.
Thanks - I’ll follow that up.
There are workshops around to help build people’s confidence and skills. Can’t lay my hands on the details just now, but others here may have the information readily available.
Thanks. I guess we maybe could ask to shadow other’s events. But we don’t have money for training.
You Some times can get PAT courses through Charities Link to local Authorities. PAtT testers the people need to be competent They can get this from Training.
Contact me for if you need help.
Pat tester the uniroyalin Repair cafes are usually purchased at special prices Need annual calibration at a set fee.
Again contact me if you need advice
There is an errot error typo in last message typing in back of car ! just contact me
Thanks Richard. I have put out calls for help and am waiting to see if I can find someone with the appropriate experience.
Really appreciate your offer of advice - if needed, should I contact you through this thread?
Hi there back from a walking weekend
Email any time!
richard.haysom@icloud.com
I will talk to admin person if Kingsbridge Repair Cafe and find out how we funded of PAT tester.
We use some of donations to pay for the recalibration of unit using our RC bank account again I will get you details! On On! with the good work to are doing Has to be repair (where we can) Reuse and pass on / the Skip is not the first choice!!!
Penn Hello here in Devon our County County Council has funds available for reducing Electrical and Electronic waste Maybe you have a scheme similar in your area That would enable you to buy a Pat Tester and pay for a course and calibration? Just a thought Kindest Regards Richard
Or you could ask your local council or the manager of the community centre about opportunities to get a grant for volunteer/community groups to help with costs.
A swathe of suggestions. Thank you. I will speak to the Centre’s director.
Hi Penn,
I’m Shelini the London Network Lead here at Restart.
Where are you based in London? Would you like to have a call to chat through some of the topics in this thread like insurance and finding repairers sometime next week?