How can I volunteer at Didsbury Repair Café?

Didsbury Repair Café runs on volunteers - and we mean all kinds of volunteers. Yes, we love people who can fix things, but we especially welcome people who are curious, enjoy tinkering, or simply want to learn. If you care about helping neighbours, reducing waste, and making South Manchester a bit greener, you’re already halfway there.

Do I need repair skills to volunteer? cool

Many of our volunteers started out with little or no repair skills at all. If you like taking things apart, figuring out how they work, or learning by doing, you’ll fit right in. 

We’ll help you build confidence through:

  • Friendly, hands‑on guidance
  • Shadowing experienced volunteer repairers
  • Learning simple fixes step by step
  • Trying repairs together (with plenty of tea breaks)

If you’ve ever thought, “I’d love to learn how to fix things”, this is the perfect place.

What volunteer roles are available at Didsbury Repair Café? 

Repair Volunteers

Great if you enjoy tinkering, problem‑solving, or learning new skills. You don’t need to know how to fix everything - or anything - yet. We can help you with the basics and we all share skills.

Or maybe you are great at fixing things, and can help train the Repairers on new skills - it could just be a one-off workshop for us.  

  • You might help repair:
  • Small electricals
  • Clothing & textiles
  • Bikes
  • Toys
  • Furniture
  • Everyday household items

Front‑of‑House Helpers

Perfect if you’re more of a people person. You’ll help with:

  • Greeting visitors
  • Signing people in
  • Helping with the disclaimer form
  • Making tea and keeping the space welcoming

What other ways can I help?

If you’re not sure where you fit, that’s totally fine. We always need:

  • Set‑up and tidy‑up help
  • Someone to chat with visitors
  • People who can fetch tools or lend a hand
  • Social media support

There’s a place for everyone.

How Much Time Do I Need to Give As A Volunteer?

As much or as little as you like.

Most volunteers help once a month for about 3 hours, but some come every few months, and some pop in whenever they’re free. There’s no pressure, no rota, and no minimum commitment.

You choose what works for you.

Why Should I Volunteer?

People volunteer with us because they want to:

  • Learn practical repair skills
  • Help reduce waste and support sustainability
  • Meet friendly neighbours
  • Build confidence through hands‑on learning
  • Be part of a welcoming, low‑pressure community

It’s simple, social, and surprisingly uplifting.

Know Someone Who’d Be Good At This? 

If you know a tinkerer, a fixer, a maker, or someone who’s always curious about how things work - send them our way. Word of mouth is how community repair grows.

A quick message like: “Hey, I found this repair café in Didsbury - you’d be brilliant at it!” …goes a long way.

Can I Donate Tools or Spare Parts

As well as donating your time, you can also support Didsbury Repair Café by passing on any tools, fix‑it bits, or spare parts you no longer need. We often use things like screwdrivers, sewing supplies, bike cables, fuses, bulbs, zips, and other small parts to help visitors repair their items. If you’ve got a toolbox you’re clearing out, or a drawer full of “might‑be‑useful‑one‑day” bits, we’d be glad to give them a second life. Contact us or drop by on a repair day

Ready to Join Us?

If you’d like to volunteer, contact us or pop in to a Repair Day. There’s no commitment, just have a chat if you’re curious.