SOUTH Lakeland District Council (SLDC) is encouraging residents to repair and restore household goods, instead of chucking them.

It has launched an online South Lakes Directory of Repairers to make it easier for residents to find a local repair business, besides helping organise pop-up repair cafes, which took place periodically before the Covid-19 crisis hit.

Although the second initiative, known as the Simply Repair Cafe, is unable to host its usual in-person meetings at present, it continues to link up with other eco- and sustainability group in the North West, as well as providing advice on how residents can limit their carbon footprint during lockdown (for instance, through purchasing masks made with recyclable or reusable materials).

The cafe runs free ‘pop-up’ events and also runs occasional courses, imparting skills to residents like sewing, crochet, kintsugi and lampshade-making

SLDC said the two eco-drives from part of its ‘Green Mission’ forms part of its response to SLDC’s climate emergency declaration last year.

The Repair Cafe's website set out the thinking behind the initiative in the following way: "We live in a ‘throw away’ society where it’s often easier to buy new rather than repair what we have, and skills of mending and repair are being lost.

"Whilst we aim to reduce the amount of waste going to landfill we importantly provide an opportunity to bring generations together to share knowledge and skills.

"There is an increasing amount of evidence to show that the repetitive, calming nature of crafting and repair can help with mental health and anxiety so another purpose is to work with community groups and schools to help address these issues.

"In addition our community activities help to combat loneliness by welcoming everybody and bringing people together."

For more information, or if your business would like to be featured in the directory, please contact Karen Bentley on: karen@bentley-brown.co.uk