Publication Date: 09-12-2024 09:00
Bellway London donation helps repair cafés in Gravesend and Vigo Village
Bellway London has donated £500 to help support Gravesham Repair Café.
The housebuilder, which is building new homes at Harbour Village in Northfleet, has made the contribution to the non-profit organisation, which offers a free repair service to local people at two venues – in Gravesham and Vigo Village.
The team of volunteers will try to repair items including bikes, toys, small electrical goods, such as radios and table lamps, clocks, and small appliances, such as food mixers and toasters.
Gravesham Repair Café meets at St George’s Church Hall in Gravesend between 10am and 2pm on the first Thursday of every month. The repair café began offering the service in December 2023 and was originally based Northfleet Veterans Club.
The team also run the Vigo Repair Café at Vigo Village Hall between 10am and 2pm on the first Saturday of every month.
There is no charge for the repair service and free tea and coffee and biscuits are also served. People can make a donation on the day if they want. The Bellway London contribution will go towards the running costs of the cafés.
Gravesham Repair Café organiser John Milner said: “Gravesham Repair Café was started by group of local volunteers keen to reduce the environmental impact of things being sent to landfill by repairing them to give them a new lease of life.
“As well as helping the environment, the repair cafés help local people in the cost-of-living crisis and also encourage them to learn new skills. In addition to the Gravesham Repair Café the volunteers have started a second café in Vigo Village.”
Repair cafés began in Amsterdam 2009 where volunteers offered free repairs, aiming to reduce waste and lengthen product lifespans. The concept blossomed, becoming a global movement with thousands of cafés fostering community and repair skills.
James Pitt, Sales Manager for Bellway London, said: “Our ethos as a socially responsible developer is not only to build new housing and create new communities but also to make a positive difference within the local neighbourhood.
“It is a pleasure to be able to make a donation to Gravesham Repair Café which runs sessions in Gravesend and in Vigo Village. It is a fantastic concept which extends the life of possessions and household items by offering free or low-cost repairs completed by skilled volunteers.
“The sessions promote sustainability and waste reduction and also help engender a sense of community by bringing people together where they can learn from each other's skills, build connections and have a good chat over a cup of tea or coffee.”
More information about Gravesham Repair Café can be found at https://graveshamrepaircafe.blogspot.com/.
Bellway London is building more than 500 homes at Harbour Village off College Road. It is part of the larger Ebbsfleet Garden City project, which will eventually create around 15,000 new homes in the area.
To find out more about the development, visit https://www.bellwaylondon.co.uk/new-homes/thames-gateway/harbour-village
