3rd UK Repair Café Conference

21^st June 2024
University for the Creative Arts
Farnham
Surrey

Organised by The Centre for Sustainable Design (®) at the University for the Creative Arts

Supported by Farnham Town Council

Background

As the concept of Circular Economy evolves, Repair Cafes are playing an increasingly important role locally, reinforcing the importance of social and community alongside reducing environmental impacts. Repair Café numbers in the UK and around the globe are growing: nearly 3100 Repair Cafes are now highlighted on the Repair Cafe International Foundation (RCIF) website. The ‘Right to Repair’ is moving up the policy agenda in Europe but legislative change will take time to be implemented. Significant repair rates are being achieved by repair cafes due to the experience and skills sitting into communities. The RCIF Repair Monitor dashboard indicates that repairers are currently achieving 62% repair rate. 

The 3^rd UK Repair Café conference will bring together Repair Cafes from throughout UK to share practical experience and knowledge, and transfer best practice and skills. 

Target audience

The conference is focused on practical issues being faced by Repair Cafes and is targeted at trustees, managers, repairers and other volunteers; and will be suitable for those that are in start-up or more experienced Repair Cafes. 

Event objectives

The conference will focus on practical issues associated with running Repair Cafes. In addition, the event will provide excellent networking opportunities for existing Repair Cafes or those that are considering setting up a Repair Cafe.

Agenda

The conference is chaired by:

Professor Martin Charter, Director and Chair, Board of Trustees, Farnham Repair Café, The Centre for Sustainable Design (®), University for the Creative Arts (UCA)

10.00 Registration

10.30 Welcome & Introduction

Professor Martin Charter, Director, The Centre for Sustainable Design ®, UCA and Chair, Board of Trustees, Farnham Repair Café

UCA representative* 

Mayor of Farnham*

10.55 Repair Cafes in Australia

Professor Leanne Wiseman, Australian Research Council Future Fellow, Griffith Law School, Griffith University, Australia 

11.25 Repair Cafés: Case studies

Presentations

Panel discussion

12.25 Data & Information

Panel discussion

1.00 Lunch and networking

2.00 Spark presentations & roundtable discussion #1 

Glues

Tools

3.00 Networking

3.30 Spark presentations & roundtable discussion #2

Clothing

Spares

4.30 Summing up and next actions

4.50  Complete questionnaires

5.00 Close

** To be confirmed

** The programme may be subject to change

Registration

The event is free of charge, but you need to register via rcarruthers@uca.ac.uk by sending your name, position and repair cafe. On receipt, you will be sent instructions to join the conference. More information is also attached here on travelling to the event and Farnham

Further information

For more information contact:
Ros Carruthers
The Centre for Sustainable Design ®
Business School for the Creative Industries
UCA
+44 (0) 1252 892772

Funding

Funding received from Research England 2019-20 QR Strategic Priorities Fund. Research England is part of UK Research and Innovation, a public body funded by the UK government. For more information visit www.ukri.org or re.ukri.org