UCL Repair Cafe - UCL East, Marshgate

Calling all repair and reuse enthusiasts! The Repair Cafe is back, and this time, it’s at the Institute of Making Stratford in UCL East. This event is free and open to all.

Bring in your holey socks, electronic devices, broken ceramics and damaged household items and more to learn repair skills with expert fixers from the UCL community.

Join us to learn how to mend your favourite objects for free, get involved in the repair and reuse process, and gain advice on the steps needed to bring your beloved belongings back to full working order. With a bit of help from our UCL Repair Cafe volunteers, you’ll become empowered to fix your device and mend your belongings. Come ready to learn!

Everyone is welcome and invited to this free event - even if you can’t bring anything to repair but want to come along to ask repair-based questions. The UCL Repair Cafe triages and advises on a wide range of items to make treasured possessions good as new - sometimes arguably better!

You can drop into the Repair Cafe between 12:00 and 16:00 (last entry 15:30) by reserving a free general entry ticket, linked below.

The event will feature the following activities. Most are drop-in, but some require an advance booking (linked below):

Textiles and Clothing Repair

Have you got holes in your jumper, (unwanted) rips in your jeans, broken bag straps or trashed trainers? Then drop in for an in-person guide to fixing textiles with the Institute of Making team! We'll provide the materials, thread, needles and pins needed for you to patch, sew or darn new life into your beloved clothes, accessories, trainers and other textile items. (Drop in)

General Repair

Visit the General Repair area with all of your miscellaneous belongings, and meet UCL MechSpace technicians who are ready to assist and mend anything, from small pieces of furniture to spectacles or umbrellas. You name it, they'll help you fix it! With a wide range of tools and extensive problem-solving skills. (Drop in)

Electronics Repair (advance booking required)

Bring in any electronic device in need of fixing - from smartphones and laptops to small household appliances like toasters and lamps - for a one-to-one consultation with the repair experts from Mechspace technicians, local repair business Sarasfix and UCL volunteers. (Booking a slot is required. Limited availability.)

Bike Repair and servicing (advance booking required)

Does your cycle need some extra love? UCL volunteers will be offering light servicing, simple repairs and advice to help you get your bike up and running smoothly again. (Booking a slot is required. Limited availability.)

Decorative Gilded Repairs

Is your broken but beloved object collecting dust? Visit the Decorative Gilded Repairs stall to celebrate and beautify the breaks and tears in your items with the support from heritage conservators from the UCL Institute of Archaeology. Learn the age-old technique of applying gold and gold-like materials to wood, metal, glass and ceramics to mend your piece with dazzling results. (Drop in)

Metal and Jewellery Repairs

Bring your broken bracelets, necklaces, clasps and buckles to our Metal and Jewellery Repair stand and learn to make your trinkets as good as new. We'll have everything from screws for glasses and new string for battered beaded necklaces, to opportunities for mini metal drilling. If your broken belonging is metallic, this is the place for you.

Clothes Swap Rail

In search of a new outfit that doesn’t cost the world? Then why not browse our clothes swap rail for brand-new pre-loved piece? Bring your old clothes for donation and in return, take home an item to refresh your own wardrobe. Let’s tackle the impact of fast fashion together. (Drop in)

E-Waste Collection Table

Chat with staff from Incador about their e-waste collection scheme Tech for Treasure. They’ll demonstrate how precious metals can be extracted from broken tech and transformed into new products.

About us: The Repair Cafe is an inter-departmental community event, sustained by expert volunteers from UCL Conservation, the Institute of Making, the Slade School of Fine Art, UCL Institute of Archaeology, Mechanical Engineering Researchers Society and Sustainable UCL.  

Everyone is welcome in our spaces. We strive to make all of our processes accessible, including attending our events and workshops, and using our website and booking systems. Please message us if you have any questions or requirements, or need assistance using our platforms - we'll be happy to help. We're always interested in feedback to help us improve access to our activities.

Please contact Lydia at [email protected] if you'd like to chat.

Pictures courtesy of The Institute of Making.

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