The BIG FIX 2024
In today’s society, it has become easier than ever to fall into the trap of continuous consumerism. Buy, use, dispose, repeat.
We have become so used to replacing things when they break with the low price of new items and the convenience of next day delivery. Have you ever stopped to think if there was a better way?
The people of Devon certainly have.
What is THE BIG FIX?
In 2019, a call to action was put out for residents of Devon to counter this throwaway culture. Over 40 volunteers from Repair Cafés across Devon joined forces for the world’s first ‘THE BIG FIX’. People across Devon brought in their broken household belongings and a record 268 items were fixed in just one day!
The BIG FIX 2020 saw 2,000 people visit 66 Repair Cafés across the UK. A record 2,253 broken items were fixed at the largest event of its kind, still all in one day!
For 2023, the BIG FIX was so popular it became a month-long event. Over 800 volunteers from Devon and across the UK joined forces to help 2,242 residents fix their broken belongings and prevent them form going to waste. A total of 83 Repair Cafes took part across the month, successfully fixing 2,761 broken items.
What is a Repair Café?
A Repair Café is a free meeting place where people can bring things to be repaired by volunteers in their local community. This can include things such as clothes, furniture, electricals, bikes and toys. There are over 2,000 Repair Cafés worldwide, with the majority found in Europe. Their aims are often to reduce waste, share skills and create a more sustainable society.
Some of the benefits, other than reducing our waste, come from the connection between members of a community. Those involved have told us that they felt a sense of achievement as repairers, they learnt and shared skills, made new friends and felt even more connected with their community.
The question is, what will you take away from THE BIG FIX 2024?