Give your pre-loved items a new lease of life in Repair Week! 20–26 March

The everyday items we buy all have an impact on the planet. For example, it takes 2,500–2,700 litres of water (three years’ worth of drinking water) to produce just one t-shirt – so, think before you throw stuff away! If you can repair or reuse, you’ll not only be saving precious resources – you’ll likely save yourself money, too.

You can pick up new skills and learn practical tips from Islington experts by dropping in to one of Islington Council’s special Repair Week events, as well as getting your pre-loved items repaired on the spot.

Among the items you will be able to learn about repairing or upcycling are clothes, laptops and electrical gadgets, furniture and wooden household items and bicycles.

Be sure to follow us on Instagram @islingtonlife and share pics of your handiwork using the hashtag #IslingtonRepairWeek – you could be in with a chance to win a £50 voucher for zero waste shop Kilo! Find out more about Kilo.

Bike maintenance sessions

Sunday 19 March, 10am–12noon; Sunday 26 March, 10am–12noon and 1–3pm
Birchmore Hall, Highbury Quadrant, N5 2UA

Is your bike in need of a repair? Come along to one of the sessions at Birchmore Hall, where experts will provide you with tips on how to look after your bike and do some simple repairs.

Book your free spot

Garment upcycling and repair workshops by Fashion Enter

Monday 20, Tuesday 21, Wednesday 22 and Thursday 23 March, 10am–3pm
Designer Collective, 113–115 Fonthill Road, N4 3HH

Learn some sewing essentials like fitting zips and trims as well as how to upcycle your clothes with Fashion Enter’s drop-in workshops. Sewing machines and some materials will be provided, as will photos and videos, so you can put your new skills to use at home. On Friday, the best pieces from the week will be displayed in the shop!

Book your free spot

Computer maintenance and troubleshooting workshop by Mer IT

Wednesday 22 March, 6.30–8.30pm; Thursday 23 March, 3–5pm
MER IT, room 127, 40 Bowling Green Lane, EC1R 0NE

Join specialists from Mer IT for a two-hour, hands-on IT repair workshop and learn how computers work, how to maintain them, choose appropriate tech and to repair common software issues and basic hardware upgrades.

Book your free spot

Linux workshop by Mer IT

Wednesday 22 March, 3–5pm; Thursday 23 March, 6.30–8.30pm
MER IT, room 127, 40 Bowling Green Lane, EC1R 0NE

Is your laptop too old for software upgrades? Learn how to install this operating system to carry on using your machine with this four-hour beginners’ workshop.

Book your free spot

Furniture and small wooden items upcycling and repair workshop by Islington Repair Team

Thursday 23 March, 10am–3pm
Repairs Training Facility, unit 9, Bush Industrial Estate, Station Road, N19 5UN

Learn basic woodwork skills from experts and bring along small or medium wooden items (chests of drawers, bed side cabinets, shelving units, chairs etc) for repair and upcycling on the spot. You will be able to fix, polish, varnish, paint or apply patterns to your items. Run by Islington Council’s joinery team.

Book your free spot

Children’s repair workshop by Team Repair

Thursday 23 March, 3.45–7pm
Elizabeth House, Moonstone Room, 2 Hurlock Street, N5 1ED

In these one-hour workshops, children aged eight to 14 can learn how  to repair an item using a repair kit, including games consoles, remote control pads, microscopes and radios.

Book your free spot

Textile upcycling workshop by PatchPatch

Thursday 23 March, 2–6pm
Jean Stokes Community Centre, Coatbridge House, Carnoustie Drive, N1 0DX

Make a monster with your old t-shirt or a beautiful cushion cover by reusing old shirts, jeans or scrap fabrics! Bring an old, clean t-shirt and/or any clean old clothing (though it’s better if they don’t stretch) and an instructor will help you to design and make toys, cushion covers or bags out of it.

Book your free spot

Repair Cafe for electrical and electronic items

Saturday 25 March, 11am–3pm
Vibast Centre, 167 Old Street, EC1V 9NH

An opportunity to learn how to repair your electrical and electronic items from skilled technicians, who will help you repair your broken items on the spot. Be prepared to get stuck in!

Book your free slot

Dr Bike repair sessions

Saturday 25 March, 11am–3pm
Vibast Community Centre, 167 Old Street, EC1V 9NH

Get your bike checked and repaired, if needed, by a mechanic for free with Dr Bike.

Visit the website for more information.

Make a monster!

Monday 27 March, 10.30am–12.45pm
Mildmay Library, 21–23 Mildmay Park, N1 4NA

Make a stuffed toy monster for your child! Bring a clean t-shirt or baby clothes and the team will show you how.

This is an adult-only event and some sewing experience is necessary.

Places are limited. To book, call, text or WhatsApp 07734 777 466

Make a reusable shopping bag

Tuesday 28 March, 10.30am–2pm
Vibast Community Centre, 167 Old Street, EC1V 9NH

Bring a clean shirt or jeans (no stretchy material!) and learn how to make a reusable shopping bag for your family.

This is an adult-only event and some sewing experience is necessary.

Places are limited. To book, call, text or WhatsApp 07734 777 466

Make a reusable toy mat and tidy bag

Wednesday 29 March, 10.30am–2pm; Thursday 30 March, 11am–2pm
Vibast Community Centre 167 Old Street, EC1V 9NH; Mildmay Library, 21–23 Mildmay Park, N1 4NA

Learn how to make a reusable toy mat and tidy bag for your kids with the help of experts. Bring along clean shirts or jeans (no stretchy material) and Mildmay will sort the rest.

This is an adult-only event and some sewing experience is necessary.

Places are limited. To book, call, text or WhatsApp 07734 777 466

If you need help getting your items to an event, try Tiptapp: an app that offers an easy and affordable way to move and recycle items. Use the discount code #IslingtonRepairWeek and get £10 off! The code is active 18-28th March and credits will be valid until 31st March.

Visit the Tiptapp website for more information.

Visit the reduce, reuse and repair page of the council website for more information on how to reduce your carbon footprint.