Repair Week returned to Cardiff this March, led by Cardiff Council’s Waste Strategy Team in collaboration with ReLondon. Building on the success of last year’s campaign, the initiative continues to inspire residents to repair, reuse, and rethink waste — a vital step when the UK spends an estimated £15 billion each year replacing items that could have been repaired.
As part of the programme, we partnered with Richard Melhuish and Martin Kilroy from Cardiff’s Men’s Sheds to host an electronic repair workshop at Canton Library. Residents learned hands‑on skills to diagnose and fix everyday electronic items, helping extend the life of gadgets that might otherwise have been thrown away.
We also teamed up with textile designer Martine Brown of Textiles Re‑Imagined, who delivered a series of creative mending workshops at Cardiff’s new community arts space, Art Hole. Participants explored Japanese repair techniques and discovered how simple sewing skills can reduce textile waste and make a meaningful environmental impact — one stitch at a time.
To inspire the next generation, the Strategy Team worked with Team Repair whose teacher‑led classroom sessions enabled classroom sessions in four Cardiff schools. Pupils disassembled, diagnosed, and repaired real gadgets, including a games console and a toy car, while learning the science behind how they work. The sessions helped build confidence, curiosity, and practical problem‑solving skills.
A total of 141 packages were distributed by Team Repair between Sant Illtyd Catholic High School and Eastern High School, supporting practical repair activities for approximately 282 pupils.
For Community Development Co‑ordinator Amy Hubbard, Repair Week was her first project after joining the Strategy Team. Reflecting on the experience, she said:
“Repair Week was a fantastic introduction to the work we do in the Strategy Team. The response from communities across Cardiff was overwhelmingly positive, and it highlighted how much appetite there is for practical, sustainable solutions. Supporting people to repair rather than replace isn’t just good for the environment — it builds confidence, skills, and stronger communities.”
Following the success of this year’s programme, we are exploring new opportunities to support communities across Cardiff in building a stronger culture of repair and reuse. Cardiff’s repair movement is growing — and everyone can play a part. By choosing to repair rather than replace, whether it’s fixing a broken zip, mending a gadget, or joining a local workshop, residents can reduce waste, save money, and help create a more sustainable future for the city.
Keep an eye on upcoming events and get involved as we work together to make repairing a natural part of everyday life.
First Published July 2026
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