Somerset celebrates repair and reuse as the Fixy initiative turns one

Somerset celebrates repair and reuse as the Fixy initiative turns one

Somerset’s Fixy initiative celebrates its first birthday this month, having started the repair and reuse conversation with nearly 3,000 people since its launch last May. The celebrations coincide with this year’s, ‘The Big Fix’, a month of repair and reuse activities that started in Devon and is spreading across the UK. The Fixy project encourages Somerset residents to repair and reuse, focusing on giving new life to electricals but also bang the drum for wider repair and reuse. The team has attended over 80 events during the last 12 months, speaking to more than 2,900 people about the benefits of breathing new life into old items. Many of these have been alongside or promoting Somerset’s thriving network of volunteer repair groups, highlighting their great work and encouraging more volunteers to get involved. Fixy also runs a ‘tech take back’ service, accepting donations of unwanted or broken smart tech, such as laptops, tablets, smartphones. Donations are data-wiped and repaired as necessary by Somerset specialists DonateIT, and passed onto schools, community groups and families who need them. Since it launched in May 2022, over 1,500 items have been reused in this way. The Big Fix event, aims to fix and breathe new life into as many broken things as possible. Councillor Sarah Dyke, Somerset Council Executive Member for Climate and Place said: “Repair and reuse is the way forward, to help reduce our waste and tackle climate change. “It’s great to see many groups starting up across Somerset. I was excited to hear that a staggering 1,500 items have been rescued via Fixy’s tech take-back service. “We are committed to a greener, more sustainable Somerset. Our recycling rate has never been higher, but we want to move the conservation on to reusing and reducing.” The BIG FIX hopes to help people save money, not only by repairing old items but also passing on skills to fix their own items in the future. In Somerset, Compton Dundon Repair Cafe, Glastonbury Repair Café and Taunton Repair Café are all supporting The BIG FIX 2023 by holding events. Visitors are welcome to drop in with broken household items for skilled menders to fix. Their events are on the following dates: Compton Dundon, Saturday 13 May Taunton Repair Café, Saturday 13 May Glastonbury Repair Café, Saturday 20 May However, a whole host of repair groups are available across Somerset, holding regular drop-in events. Repair groups open in May include: Repair Café in the Blackdown Hills Repair Café Bridgwater Chard Community Hub Ilminster Share and Repair Langport Repair Café Otterford Repair Café Sheption Mallett Repair Café Wellington Repair Café Repair Café Wincanton Wivey Repair Café A full list of dates, times and locations can be found on Somerset’s Repair Café Network webpage. Repair groups are increasing in popularity as people are becoming more budget and environmentally conscious. They are organised and run by volunteers who offer their time and skills to help mend broken items and keep them in use for longer. Volunteers also help greet visitors, supply tea and coffee and restock supplies of cakes and other tasty treats. Due to its huge success, The BIG FIX event is now nationwide across the British Isles for the third time, with 60 Repair Cafés from Wales, Scotland, N. Ireland and England already registered to take part. Last year, 50 Repair Cafés and 580 volunteers took part in The BIG FIX, mending 1,100 items and saving 31 tonnes CO2e. Over 830 cakes and biscuits were served alongside 1,000 cups of tea and coffee.

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Financial Risk Management Policy - March 2023

Grant Application Kings Coronation Form

The Coronation of His Majesty King Charles III will take place on Saturday 6th May 2023, with an additional bank holiday on Monday 8th May 2023.

We are keen to hear from groups/organisations in Burnham-on-Sea and Highbridge that are looking to celebrate the Coronation. The Town Council has £1500 available to allocate to events being organised to celebrate the Kings Coronation. The maximum grant to be allocated per event will be £500.

You must meet the following criteria for your application to be considered:

– The event will be open to all members of the public

– The event will be free of charge

– The event will take place within the Coronation weekend

– The event will take place within Burnham on Sea or Highbridge

 

Applications will close on Monday 6th March at midday. 

Your organisation and contact details

What happens next....
Applications will be considered at the Finance and Resources Committee Meeting on Monday 13th March 2023. You will be notified after this date whether your application has been successful.
Burnham & Highbridge Town Council takes your privacy seriously and will only use your personal information for the purposes of contacting you about this grant. The Council’s privacy notice can be found here.

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