About us

A local space for fixing, learning & helping each other

Didsbury Repair Café is a simple idea: neighbours helping neighbours fix things instead of throwing them away. We’re a friendly, volunteer‑run repair café where people from Didsbury and South Manchester bring broken household items, sit down with a repairer, and have a go at fixing them together. How the day works.

You can find us on the first Saturday of every month, 2-4 pm at the  Methodist Church Parrs Wood Rd East Didsbury Manchester M20 5QQ  or contact us  WHAT3WORDS ///little.grit.loved

Every repair - even a small one - keeps something useful out of the bin, reduces waste, and cuts down on the carbon footprint of buying new.  

Why Did We Start Didsbury Repair Café? 

Most of us have a drawer or cupboard full of things that “might work again one day.” - A lamp that flickers, a zip that’s stuck, a bike that needs a bit of love. Too often, those things end up in landfill when they could easily be repaired.

Our repair café exists to make fixing feel normal again. By offering free community repair sessions, we help people:

  • Keep useful items in use for longer
  • Save money by repairing instead of replacing
  • Reduce waste and support a more circular, sustainable South Manchester
  • Cut down on carbon emissions linked to manufacturing and shipping new products
  • Learn practical skills from friendly volunteer repairers
  • Connect with others in a relaxed, welcoming environment

Every repaired kettle, coat, or toy is one less item heading to landfill - and one small step toward a greener local community.

Who runs Didsbury Repair Café?

We’re a mix of volunteer repairers, makers, tinkerers, and curious beginners. Some of us can fix small electricals; some are great with sewing machines; others love bikes, woodwork, or just figuring out what’s gone wrong. If you enjoy tinkering and fixing, get in touch to volunteer

Here are a few things we often help with:

  • Kettles, lamps, radios, small electricals
  • Clothes with rips, missing buttons, broken zips
  • Bikes that need tuning or basic repairs
  • Wobbly chairs, loose hinges, small furniture fixes
  • Toys that need a bit of attention
  • Items where you’re not sure what’s wrong - we’ll take a look

You don’t need to be “handy” to join in. If you’re bringing something to repair, volunteering your time, or just popping in for a chat, you’ll find a friendly face and probably a cup of tea.

What Matters to Us?

  • Community First: Repair Café Didsbury is built on kindness, patience, and neighbours helping neighbours. Everyone is welcome.

  • Eco‑Positive Action: Every repair- big or small- helps reduce waste, lowers carbon emissions, and supports a more sustainable South Manchester.

  • Sharing Skills: We don’t just fix things for you. We show you how, so you can feel confident tackling repairs at home and help build a stronger local reuse culture.

  • Free & Open to All: There’s no charge. If you want to make a small donation or bring biscuits, that’s lovely, but never required.

Part of a Global Repair Movement

Repair Cafés exist all over the world, encouraging repair, reuse, and community resilience. By joining this network, we’re helping shift our area away from throwaway culture and towards a more circular, climate‑friendly way of living, one repair at a time.

How can I get involved with Didsbury Repair Café?

Whether you’re from Didsbury, Chorlton, Withington, Burnage, or anywhere across South Manchester, you’re warmly invited to join us. Bring something to fix, learn a new skill, meet your neighbours, and help build a more sustainable future- one repair at a time.