Ady Dayman's Breakfast Show on BBC Radio Leicester

The BBC Radio Leicester segment about The Fix It Group 23 highlighted the community's repair café, modeled after The Repair Shop. Volunteers from various trades—mechanical, electrical, textile, and more—repair a wide range of items, helping people reduce waste, save money during the cost-of-living crisis, and foster community spirit. Items fixed range from garden tools to sentimental family items like a cherished barometer.

A central theme was the emotional attachment people have to their belongings, like a family spade or a barometer, which hold sentimental value and memories. The show featured heartwarming stories, including a woman who had her late husband's gardening tools restored, bringing back emotional memories.

The Fix It Group operates similarly to The Repair Shop, but with broader services, fixing any broken item, not just sentimental heirlooms. Volunteers lend their skills for free, creating a sense of satisfaction for both the fixers and those benefiting from the repairs. This initiative promotes sustainability, reduces waste, and builds a stronger community.

Watch the full episode here.

BBC News Article: Inside the 'repair shop' fixing hundreds of items

The Fix It Group 23 operates from the Mountsorrel Memorial Centre and has become a hub for the local community, bringing people together through the shared goal of repairing and reusing items Jude Winter, BBC News East Midlands, wrote. Over its first year, the group has tackled more than 600 repairs, including everything from lawnmowers and treadmills to beloved personal items like sewing machines. The group's chairman, John Fitzgerald, expressed surprise at the high demand, with people lining up on Sunday mornings for the service.

Unlike the BBC’s The Repair Shop, which mainly focuses on restoring family heirlooms, the Fix It Group 23 takes on all types of items, regardless of their sentimental value. Jonathan Rashleigh, a regular user of the service, praised the group for its effectiveness and convenience, stating that he has brought in various items over time.

Gemma Andrews, a volunteer who also runs her own repair café in Woodhouse Eaves, highlights the significant demand for repair services, especially in textiles. Each session sees about 70 items brought in. Another user, Susan Slater, expressed her gratitude for the group's repair of her 50-year-old sewing machine, which had deep sentimental value.

The group, which operates every five weeks, plans to continue repairing a wide variety of items, further supporting their mission to reduce waste and foster community connections.

Read the full article here.

BBC East Midlands Today Evening News Programme

In a recent feature on BBC East Midlands Today, viewers were introduced to the remarkable efforts of Fix It Group 23, a group of dedicated volunteers based near Loughborough, Leicestershire. With sustainability in mind, this group has set up a repair workshop at the Mountsorrel Memorial Centre, where they have successfully repaired over 600 items in their first year of operation.

Each month, the workshop buzzes with activity as volunteers tackle a variety of repairs, from household appliances to sentimental items. One participant shared their excitement about having a sewing machine repaired, allowing them to return to their favorite hobby. The initiative not only helps reduce waste by preventing items from going to landfill but also provides reassurance to individuals who may feel uncertain about discarding items that can no longer be repaired.

The team members, motivated by a desire to help their community, assist in sourcing spare parts for items that can’t be immediately repaired and aim to salvage components for sentimental pieces. Donations from attendees go toward charity, further emphasizing the community spirit of the project.

The Fix It Group 23 is not only making a tangible difference in people's lives but is also inspiring the establishment of similar repair groups in surrounding villages. Their commitment to sustainability and community support highlights the growing importance of local initiatives in addressing waste and fostering connection.

Watch the full programme here.

For all media or press related enquiries, please contact our Events and Publicity Manager, Joanne Liversidge, via email to thefixitgroup23@gmail.com.