TWO events this weekend will help you reduce household waste by repairing, recycling or reusing.

Sustainable Wallingford is running Wallingford’s first repair café this Saturday, April 14, at Centre 70 from 10am to 12.30pm.

A repair café is where volunteer repairers try to fix any broken items that visitors bring in an effort to prolong the life of household possessions and reduce waste.

Although repairs are performed free of charge a voluntary donation will be greatly appreciated.

Tool sharpening and bike maintenance are among the services being offered on Saturday to get gardening tools and bicycles ready for the warmer months.

There will be experts for electrical/ electronic and textile repairs plus electrical safety testing and ad hoc repairs like gluing.

Only minor repairs and maintenance can be undertaken due to time constraints but generally, the experts on hand will advise visitors how to complete the repairs or maintenance themselves where safe to do so.

Sharing skills with visitors is one of our group's aims to help more people consider repair or maintenance instead of the rubbish bin when an item breaks.

Wallingford’s repair café will be the latest in a programme of such events held by community groups across Oxfordshire to encourage a 'fix-it' attitude and reduce electrical waste.

Items repaired at earlier events have included a sewing machine, vacuum cleaner, cuddly toy and remote control car.

We‘re looking forward to seeing what challenges are presented to our repairers this Saturday.

To keep everyone refreshed there will be hot drinks and homemade cakes available alongside the repair activities.

Our quarterly swap shop will also be at Centre 70 on Saturday from 9.45am to 11.30am for passing on undamaged, unwanted items or finding something useful.

This is a free event and there is no charge for taking any item although they are all weighed to record how much has been taken for reuse.

Please do not bring clothes, shoes, paint, computers or phones but household, toys, DIY and gardening items are all welcome.

Working portable electrical devices (with CE mark) can be donated for reuse.

All donated items should be brought by 10.30am to give the best opportunity that a new owner can be found. Non-portable items can be offered for reuse on freecycle.org.

For more information or to offer your help email sw@sustainablewallingford.org