The guisboroughecogroup.co.uk website features HOME, ABOUT, ECO GROUP BLOG, REPAIR CAFE BLOG and CONTACT. The Eco Group and Repair Cafe Blogs are separated for your convenience.
Also there is a search facility so you can sort posts by year or subject, eg 2026 or Recycling etc.
On Monday 8 August 2022 Guisborough Eco Group met at Weatherspoons.
The weather was fine and the conversation lively. Various topics were discussed, basically but not entirely in keeping with the mission statement: Bringing residents, businesses and organisations together to make Guisborough a sustainable place to live, work and grow’ considered. Since then the Group has been involved in a number of community minded projects including starting the Sustainability sub Group and Guisborough Repair Cafe.
Both the Repair Cafe and Eco Group have their own Blogs on this website and each has its own Facebook page, however the Sustainability sub Group activities are integrated into the Eco Group. The Eco Group is always hoping that people will join and the Repair Cafe would like more volunteers.
Do you ever think something could be done better? Are you prepared to spend some time gathering information to prove it? Everything takes time and commitment but if you would like to work to improve sustainability, reduce waste and save resources and money let’s talk.
Other ideas that are good for the community could be on the agenda too.
If you are sociable and want to help the community and can do anything from meet & greet to repairing something or anything you would be welcome on a trial basis. It is generally fun and uplifting for 2 hours a month. If it isn’t we’ll want to know why.
Also, if you are skilled in an art and craft subject that you would like to demonstrate and pass on you may find a place in the Art & Craft corner of the Repair Cafe room.
On 30 September 2023 the Group opened a Pop Up Cafe to repair clothing in Guisborough Methodist Church hall where the Church volunteers provide refreshments. It expanded to repair bikes, general and electrical items and in February 2026 opened the Art & Craft corner to encourage everyone to try different things. Alan got it started demonstrating how to play the keyboard and more recently Anne demonstrates painting on silk and the fantastic Guisborough Woodcarvers demonstrate their craft.
The Repair Cafe, opens for 2 hours on the last Saturday of the month. It is a lively destination where it is possible to get repairs done, try some art and crafts and enjoy refreshments.
The Repair Cafe, opens for 2 hours on the last Saturday of the month. It is a lively destination where it is possible to get repairs done, try some art and crafts and enjoy refreshments.
Visitors arrive at the Repair Cafe and go to the booking-in desk to complete repair records and the disclaimer. With any necessary permission photos of items and owners are taken to be used to advertise the Repair Cafe on Facebook, in the Repair Cafe Blog and possibly posters. The repairs, which include hand and machine sewing, general and electrical fixing and bike checking/repair are done by volunteers. The machine and hand sewers repair clothes and toys; fixers repair general and electrical items and bikes are taken care of by the bike checker who checks and carries out reasonable repairs.
The Repair Cafe event includes an Arts & Craft corner and a cafe area. In the Art and Craft corner demonstrators invite visitors to play the Keyboard and Paint on silk and see Guisborough Woodcarvers in action. The cafe, run by Guisborough Methodist Church volunteers provide refreshments. (Excuse me saying, in my opinion it is a very good service).
Thankfully the mix of people carrying out the various activities creates a buzz, a vibrant atmosphere for visitors as they wait for their repairs and customers who sit and chat and enjoy their refreshments. It makes a great Saturday morning event!
Please note:
All repairs/activities are done at the discretion of the repairers.
Verbal permission is requested before photos are taken. They may be used to advertise Guisborough Repair Cafe on various Facebook platforms, in the Guisborough Repair Cafe Blog and potentially on posters for Guisborough Repair Cafe. The wishes of people who do not want photos taken of themselves or their items are respected.
I hope you think that the Repair Cafe is good for the community and wish it to continue.
Opinions are those of the author.
The Group aim is to build a ‘voice’ for the community. We are interested in global warming, climate change and anything that will improve the area.The group is a place to share ideas and special interests. Some of the things we have discussed so far include share schemes, personal carbon audits, bikes, buildings, cars, flora and fauna, recycling, repair cafe, garden compost and solar panels. If you have ideas and are interested in developing projects to get things done you are welcome.
We welcome guest speakers
On our facebook page we have talked about the things listed above. A project to reduce the frequency council staff need to empty waste bins is posted. It shows Sunderland Council’s interest in saving council workers’ time and effort but also reducing climate change activities. Fred sees this could be an opportunity to use the freed up time for training and working in green jobs that will reduce climate change.
Join the Group be part of the Guisborough Eco Group voice.
