Become a Repair Volunteer

Help people fix things, learn new skills and keep good stuff out of the bin

Do you love fixing things? Enjoy figuring out how stuff works? Or simply like the idea of helping people give their broken belongings a second chance?

 

Our Repair Volunteers are at the heart of Swansea’s growing repair community.

The Environment Centre runs free Repair Café events and our regular Repair Space, helping local people repair everything from small electricals and clothing to furniture and everyday household items. Since opening, our volunteers have helped repair thousands of items that might otherwise have been thrown away—and, just as importantly, have helped people learn how to repair things for themselves.

We’re looking for practical, friendly people to join us and share their skills.

 

What will you do?

There’s no such thing as a typical repair session. One day you might be helping someone bring an old lamp back to life; the next you could be repairing a favourite piece of clothing, fixing a chair or helping someone understand why their toaster has stopped working.

Depending on your skills and interests, you could:

  • 🔧 Help visitors diagnose and repair broken household items

  • 🧵 Share your skills in areas such as textiles, small electricals, furniture or general household repairs

  • 🛠️ Help people learn repair skills so they can tackle future repairs themselves

  • 🤝 Work alongside other volunteers, sharing knowledge and learning from each other

  • 📋 Help us record repairs and the items we've helped keep in use

  • 🌱 Talk to visitors about reuse, repair and other ways to live more sustainably

  • 📍 Help with setting up and packing down Repair Café events

  • 💚 Signpost people towards other local community, environmental and sustainability projects

You don't need to be able to fix everything. We’re interested in what you can do—and what you’d like to learn.

Where and when?

Volunteering is flexible and based around your availability.

Our regular Repair Space sessions take place at The Environment Centre in Swansea on Thursdays and Fridays, with our Repair Café held on the third Saturday of each month. We also occasionally take our Repair Café out into the wider Swansea community.

Whether you can volunteer regularly or just get involved when you have the time, we'd love to hear from you.

What are the benefits?

Repair volunteering isn't just about giving your time. It's an opportunity to learn, meet people and be part of something positive in your community.

As a Repair Volunteer, you'll have opportunities to:

  • Build and share practical skills by working alongside other experienced fixers

  • Learn more about sustainable living, reuse, repair and the circular economy

  • Meet like-minded people and become part of Swansea's repair community

  • Take part in training and social activities organised by The Environment Centre

  • Have your travel expenses reimbursed where applicable

  • Get a reference after 30 hours of volunteering, helping demonstrate your skills and experience to future employers or opportunities

  • Help shape the future of our Repair Space and Repair Café by sharing your ideas and feedback

  • Get free or discounted access to The Library of Things, giving you the opportunity to borrow useful items rather than buy things you may only use occasionally

  • And, of course, enjoy the satisfaction of helping people save money, learn new skills and keep useful things out of landfill.

What we're looking for

You might already be an experienced repairer, a keen DIYer, a dab hand with a sewing machine—or simply someone who enjoys learning how things work.

Ideally, you'll have practical skills in one or more areas such as:

Small electricals · Textiles · Furniture · Household repairs · DIY · Bikes · & Similar

But enthusiasm and a willingness to learn are just as important.

We're also looking for people who are:

  • Patient, approachable and good at communicating with the public

  • Comfortable working as part of a team

  • Curious and willing to share their knowledge

  • Responsible when using tools and equipment

  • Happy to follow our safety guidance

  • Passionate about helping create a more sustainable community

Be part of something bigger

Repair is about much more than fixing broken things.

It's about saving money, reducing waste, learning skills, building confidence and connecting people with their community. Every successful repair is one less item thrown away—and every person who learns how to repair something themselves has the potential to keep repairing for years to come.

By volunteering with us, you'll be helping Swansea become a place where repairing is normal, skills are shared and things are valued for longer.

Interested?

We'd love to hear from you.

For more information about becoming a Repair Volunteer, contact tomski@environmentcentre.org.uk