Repair café & tool library beginning

 Repair Workshop at the Hub


The hub's retrofitting project is a great example of how we need to reimagine the way our communities functions. We must focus on better management of our resources and embrace the circular economy instead of the linear approach that promotes designed obsolescence, which has become such a significant part of modern life. This transition will require a lot of education; we all need to learn from the mistakes of our past.




For over a year, we have been expressing our intention to include various types of repair workshops as part of our recycle, repurpose, reimagine, upcycle, and repair groups. The main goal is to keep items out of landfills and reimagine how communities can move away from the overconsumption of resources. Become active citizens, not mere consumers




Recently, we were delighted when a repair business owner approached us about making the hub a drop-off point for items that no longer work. We agreed enthusiastically and explored how much further we could collaborate. When Julian first contacted us, we loved the idea right away; it brought to mind charming images reminiscent of Bagpuss and the mice scenario in Emily's lovely little shop! 


We further discussed how to combine the drop-off point for repair items with a repair café or workshop group here at the hub, in collaboration with our tool library. After months of planning, we now have a start date and time for our first repair workshop. This will tie in with our tool library. While there isn't much to see in the tool library just yet, we anticipate its growth. We're already searching for potential funders for shelving and refurbishing storage areas, and we hope to have the tool library ready for sign-up by the first workshop.




Fendie, an old Scots word meaning "useful," is the name Julian has chosen for his social enterprise. We aim to launch a weekly repair café that will coordinate with the hub's tool library, with plans to expand this initiative. The café will take place on Wednesdays from 4 PM to 8 PM, starting on December 3rd.

Link to Fendie website - t/fendie handy scot


Throwaway societies produce mountains of rubbish; we in Polmont have one right on our doorstep. Plastic pollution is growing out of control, and some people seem to care so little that they simply litter the streets. While we recognise that changing habits overnight is challenging, we are beginning here at the hub with our waste management, recycling, upcycling, and zero-waste groups.


In Scotland, being called a "waster" is a derogatory term, yet every single household in the country is sending millions of tonnes of so-called waste to landfill. Does that make our community a bunch of wasters? Aye bit Naw. Most of us try to do something meaningful, but the system often makes it harder for communities to shift away from the linear economy.

 Fixing things is a great way of keeping stuff from landfill, sharing libraries is also an easy move away from wasteful economics, which brings sustainable wealth and skills into communities


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