Fixing and Mending is on the Up!

We’ve been running fixing and mending workshops in Tooting for nearly four years now with the help of the Restart Project and their team of volunteer fixers. 

Our amazing volunteers have fixed everyday items like irons, hairdryers, kettles and toasters and made repairs to trousers, dresses, rucksacks and bags. We’ve even tackled more unusual challenges like industrial food mixers, portable amplifiers, toy dogs and even a drone. During those years we have saved tonnes of electrical and electronic objects from landfill. 

In the last year or so we’ve seen a huge increase in the number of people bringing items to be fixed – perhaps because of an upsurge in awareness of environmental issues and the need to reduce our consumption and waste. We’d love to grow our group of regular volunteers so if you’re already a keen fixer – or you would love to learn more – do come along and find out more! 

We will be holding regular fixing parties in early 2020 – see dates below. At our February workshop we will have a special focus on computers. If you have a problem with your computer or if your computer has become too slow and can’t be used for much we’re happy to try and assist by either trying to fix it or make it a bit faster by installing another operating system. 

Upcoming Restart Parties:
1st February - 1.30 - 4.30pm 
28th March - 1.30 - 4.30pm  CANCELLED
16th May - 1.30 - 4.30pm 

at Mushkil Aasaan, 220 - 222 Upper Tooting Road, SW17 7EW (next to Nando’s) 

Do remember that our Restart Parties are a community self-repair space where you take responsibility for your own gadgets and data, so please don’t forget to take any back-ups beforehand, if relevant – and if possible arrive during the first two hours to allow time for fixing! 

More info about Restart including details of regular skillshares at www.therestartproject.org

Calling out for local fixers and menders!

Our regular fixing and mending workshop - Restart/Sewstart - has been getting more and more popular lately.

Whether it’s broken electrical or electronic items that people don’t want to throw away - a favourite bit of clothing or a bags that needs altering or mending - or a sewing machine that someone isn't sure how to use - more and more people are keen to fix things rather than throw them away.   Our September session had more than twice as many objects bought along to fix - check out all the happy people who were helped out by our volunteers!

But our growing popularity means we need more local fixers!

We'd love to find more people locally who'd like to join in.

Do you know someone who loves tinkering with things and making them work again?  Or someone who is handy with a sewing machine or a needle and thread and would be happy to share their skills?  

Do encourage them to come along and say hello at our next session  or email us for more information transitiontowntooting@gmail.com

13.30 - 16.30 on 30th November
Mushkil Aasaan, 220 - 222 Upper Tooting Road, SW17 7EW (next to Nando’s)   

We get lots of support from our partners The Restart Party with online resources and workshops - and we offer lots of thanks and cups of tea and biscuits on the day!

Restart Parties are a community self-repair space where you take responsibility for your own gadgets and data, so please don’t forget to take any back-ups beforehand, if relevant – and if possible arrive during the first two hours to allow time for fixing! 

More info about Restart including details of regular skillshares at www,therestartproject.org)
More about Transition at www.transtiontowntooting.org, on twitter @tttooting or email us at transitiontowntooting@gmail.com

Restart & Sewstart Party Sat July 6th

Help us break the myth that things can’t be fixed!  
Do you have broken electrical or electronic items that you don’t want to throw away? Or a favourite piece of clothing that needs mending or altering? Check out these happy fixers from our last session in May - who mended a pancake maker, a rucksack and a handheld vacuum cleaner! 

Maybe you’re already great at fixing and mending stuff – or you’d like to learn how? We have a great and growing groups of local fixers working together to solve problems and sort out fixes… 

Our head fixer, Mike Grahn, recently featured in the celebration of Volunteers Week– have a read of this lovely piece. 
 

Mike says: "We help fix, show how to fix and expel the myth that things can’t be fixed. Throwing away electronics as soon as they don’t work anymore is a mind-set that needs to be changed. And I can see from my involvement in Restart, that there are lots of community-minded people starting to change their opinions on how they view tech.”  

Or maybe you fancy a cup of tea, a piece of cake and a chance to find out more about Transition Tooting and what we get up to? Come along between 13.30 - 16.30 on 6th July 7th Sept 9th Nov Mushkil Aasaan, 220 - 222 Upper Tooting Road, SW17 7EW (next to Nando’s) 

(Restart Parties are a community self-repair space where you take responsibility for your own gadgets and data, so please don’t forget to take any back-ups beforehand, if relevant – and if possible arrive during the first two hours to allow time for fixing! More info about Restart including details of regular skillshares at www.therestartproject.org)

Restart: Sat 18th May

Join this month's Restart / Sewstart fixing and mending workshop on Saturday 18th May from 1.30pm to 4.30pm. As usual our volunteer fixers will be doing their best to fix your broken electrical or electronic items and importantly keep them out of landfill. Meanwhile on the Sewstart table you might get some help mending or altering a favourite piece of clothing. If you are already great at fixing and mending stuff why not join our growing group of local fixers? 

It is of course perfectly fine just to come along to see what's happening, enjoy a cup of tea, a piece of cake or find out more about Transition Tooting. Venue: Mushkil Aasaan, 220 - 222 Upper Tooting Road, SW17 7EW (next to Nando’s)

Do remember that Restart Parties are a community self-repair space where you take responsibility for your own gadgets and data, so please don’t forget to take any back-ups beforehand, if relevant – and if possible arrive during the first two hours to allow time for fixing! 

More info about Restart including details of regular skillshares at www.therestartproject.org 

And further Tooting Restart dates for your diary this year are:
6th July, 7th Sept & 9th Nov

Restart Party & Toy Mending this Saturday

Our next Restart Party in Tooting is at Mushkil Aasaan this coming Saturday 8th December, 13.30-16.30.  At this event, as ever, you can bring in broken electronics and see if our team of volunteer fixers can give them a new lease of life or at least identify the problem.  The ethos behind our Restart parties is to keep items out of landfill by repairing and re-using.  It's an antidote to the throw away culture that can sometimes prevail.

Mending Toys Too!
Just in time for Christmas this event also includes toy mending.  Why buy yet more new stuff when we could help you to repair some old things that you or your family love?  Dig those cherished broken items out of the bottom of the cupboard and bring them along.  What better gift than a surprise repair for the kids?  Our Supermen (and Superwomen) fixers will do our best to make them good as new!
 

And our usual reminder ...
Restart Parties are a community self-repair space where you take responsibility for your own gadgets and data, so please don’t forget to take any back-ups beforehand, if relevant – and if possible arrive during the first two hours to allow time for fixing!  More info about the Restart Project here

Restart Sewstart Reupholster Party!

The Fixed It List

This afternoon's Restart & Sewstart event saw a lot of smiling faces both on the Fixed It List and in the hall.  Thanks to everyone who helped out and attended!

While fixers battled to fix seemingly broken radios, lamps, toasters and phones, Shaz and her able helpers reupholstered a sofa that had been dumped in the street.  Check out the time lapse video of the work!

Phew, that's better!

At our events we aim to keep electrical or electronic items out of landfil by repairing them, and also mend and alter old clothing to give it a new lease of life. If you are just curious or would like to learn new skills come along to one of our Restart Parties

Our next Restart Party in Tooting is at Mushkil Aasaan on
8th December 13.30 - 16.30
and will include toy-mending as well - watch this space!

Restart Parties are a community self-repair space where you take responsibility for your own gadgets and data, so please don’t forget to take any back-ups beforehand, if relevant – and if possible arrive during the first two hours to allow time for fixing!   More info about Restart including details of regular skillshares at www.therestartproject.org

Don't forget more upcoming dates for you diary:
Local Stories of Sustainability Success is on Saturday October 20th and the start of a new series of Carbon Conversations on November 1st. 

Reduce Waste in Tooting at our fixing and mending workshop!

There's been lots of interest in reducing waste packaging in Tooting in recent months, whether its the new Plastic Free Tooting group on Facebook or BYO the new zero waste shop in Tooting Market. So we're delighted to be welcoming back our fixing and mending workshop which focuses on reducing electrical and electronic waste, and helping us mend and alter our clothes and household fabrics to extend their life.

So whether it’s electrical or electronic items that you don’t want to throw away or a sewing machine that is broken or you’re not sure how to us or maybe you have have a favourite piece of clothing that needs mending or altering and you’d like to learn how?

You might even fancy learning how to upholster a chair in an afternoon?  Or are you simply good at fixing and mending stuff (we're looking for people to join our growing team of volunteers!)

Maybe you fancy a cup of tea, a piece of cake and a chance to find out more about Transition Tooting and what we get up to?

If so come along on to Mushkil Aasaan, 220 - 222 Upper Tooting Road, SW17 7EW (next to Nando’s) on either ...

13th October 12.00 - 15.00 or 

8th December 13.30 - 16.30

 

Restart Parties are a community self-repair space where you take responsibility for your own gadgets and data, so please don’t forget to take any back-ups beforehand, if relevant – and if possible arrive during the first two hours to allow time for fixing!   More info about Restart including details of regular skillshares at www.therestartproject.org

Restart-Sewstart Party Returns on May 13th

Join our fixing and mending workshop with May's Restart and Sewstart! Whether it’s electrical or electronic items that you don’t want to throw away or a sewing machine that is broken or you’re not sure how to use, we can help!

Have a favourite piece of clothing that needs mending or altering and you’d like to learn how? Or simply good at fixing and mending stuff?

Or maybe you fancy a cup of tea, a piece of cake and a chance to find out more about Transition Tooting and what we get up to?

Come along on Sun 13th May - 2.00 - 5.00pm Mushkil Aasaan, 220 - 222 Upper Tooting Road, SW17 7EW (next to Nando’s)

(Restart Parties are a community self-repair space where you take responsibility for your own gadgets and data, so please don’t forget to take any back-ups beforehand, if relevant – and if possible arrive during the first two hours to allow time for fixing!

More info about Restart          More about Transition Town Tooting,
email TTT here     TTT on twitter

Restart this Saturday on International Repair Day

This Saturday 21st October sees the first International Repair Day and happily we are hosting another Restart Party with the Restart Project from 2pm at Mushkil Aasaan, 222 Upper Tooting Rd, by Nandos.  All are welcome to this free event.  International Repair Day will be a chance to shout about the importance of repair and the growing global community repair movement; so far, there are 36 events in seven countries.  TTT is proud to be part of this celebration of repair and the important effort to think differently about electronics and waste. 

A Tooting Restart Party in 2015

Restart is a community repair event where skilled volunteers will try to keep your broken electronics out of landfill by repairing them.  The aim is to extend the life of electronic items from kettles to gadgets to laptops - we'll have a look at fixing anything!  At the last event the chef from Mirch Masala dropped in with an impressive looking metre long power tool, sadly not functioning. We found out what was wrong with it and hopefully many more masalas have since been mixed! 

We combine this in Tooting with Sewstart our community mending and sewing project, where Jeni will be on hand with her sewing machine and box of tricks to help you fix, improve or remodel your perhaps tired but much loved wardrobe favourites.  Come along and ask for advice, you might be surprised what you leave with!

Do remember to take back-ups of any electornic data on devices before handing them over to fixers as we cannot be responsible for loss of vital photos, files etc. 
And in the words of Restart Founders Janet & Ugo:
"Obey your conscience, disobey the throw-away economy. Repair!"

Restart Party comes to Tooting!

Do you have broken electrical or electronic items that you don’t want to throw away?

Good at fixing or mending stuff or would like to learn how?   

Come to a Restart Party!

Tuesday 9th August from 7 - 9pm

Restart Parties are the antidote to the thow-away society, why chuck out your electrical and electronic stuff when they could easily last longer?  Laptops, cameras, kitchen appliances, gadgets etc. - we will try to mend anything or at least tell you what's wrong and what to do next and it's all completely free!

Here is a great description of a previous event in Tooting to get an idea about what goes on...

Do remember that Restart Parties are a community self-repair space where you take responsibility for your own electronic items and data, so please don’t forget to take any back-ups beforehand, if relevant.  Also, if possible, do please arrive during the first two hours to allow time for fixing!

The next Restart parties in Tooting, all at Mushkil Aasaan, 220 - 222 Upper Tooting Road, SW17 7EW are scheduled for :

> Tuesday 9th August, 7 – 9.30 pm

> Saturday 12th November, 2 - 5pm

More info about Restart including details of regular skillshares at www.therestartproject.org

Restart Returns To Tooting

TTT is happy to announce the first Restart Party of 2016 on Saturday 20 February from 2 to 5pm at Mushkil Aasaan, 220 - 222 Upper Tooting Road, SW17 7EW (next to Nando’s).  Download the POSTER.

You may recall that Restart is the project that aims to keep electronic items out of landfill by trying to fix things as opposed to throwing them away. 

Could you get involved?

Maybe you have something that needs fixing?  Laptop? Toaster? Phone? Kettle? Toy? Hairdryer? 

Or maybe you are good at mending stuff and fancy working out how to fix something?

Either way come down to Tooting on Saturday 20th Feb and join in! You might be amazed at what is possible.

Alongside this Restart Party, TTT will be running an Open Day. If you've ever wondered what Transition Town Tooting does and if you might like to be involved, then do come along and find out about all the great projects in Tooting, from the Foodival to the Community Garden, Oak Carving to Neighbourhood Planning. Join us for a cuppa and a chat!

Electrical or electronic items that need fixing?

Broken something & reluctant to throw it away?
The Restart Project, encourage and empower people to use their electrical and electronics longer!  They are back in Tooting on Saturday 26th September - 2.30 - 5.30pm at Mushkil Aasaan, 220 - 222 Upper Tooting Road, SW17 7EW (next to Nandos), so do come along! 
Do note that Restart Parties are a community self-repair space where you take responsibility for your own gadgets and data, so please do not forget to take any back-ups beforehand, if relevant – and if possible arrive during the first two hours to allow time for fixing!

Restart Parties have become a regular feature in Tooting and we are on the lookout for skilled local fixers. If you are interested come along and say hello - or email Hilary Jennings for details.

More info re the Restart Project HERE including details of regular skillshares all over the UK and further afield.

Any Electrical or Electronic Items that need fixing....

Electrical or electronic items that need fixing?

Broken something and don’t want to throw it away?
.

The Restart Project, encourage and empower people to use their electrical and electronics longer!  They are back in Tooting this weekend so do come along!

Saturday 26th September - 2.30 - 5.30pm
Mushkil Aasaan, 220 - 222 Upper Tooting Road, SW17 7EW (next to Nandos) 

Do note that Restart Parties are a community self-repair space where you take responsibility for your own gadgets and data, so please do not forget to take any back-ups beforehand, if relevant – and if possible arrive during the first two hours to allow time for fixing!

Read more about one of our previous parties here.

We hope to make Restart Parties a regular feature in Tooting and are on the lookout for skilled local fixers. If you are interested come along and say hello - or email Hilary Jennings on transitiontowntooting@gmail.com

More info at Restart Project (http://therestartproject.org/) including details of regular skillshares.

Restart Party Report

Last Saturday, TTT hosted another Restart Party with the Restart Project at Mushkil Aasaan in Tooting.  As usual the brilliant volunteer repairers did their utmost to help prevent an assortment of electrical goods from laptops to kettles to cameras from going to landfill.

It can be scary to see your beloved item taken apart (see the DAB radio and laptop above!).  However these things go wrong so readily these days due to built in obsolescence, that learning how to provide a simple fix can make you feel good and save you money, while doing your bit to lessen human impact on the planet.

The Fixing List

The Restart Project is a London-based social enterprise that encourages and empowers people to use their electronics longer, by sharing repair and maintenance skills. Thanks again to Ugo, Janet and all the fixers. 

It would be great to set up a local group so if you are interested in becoming a local repairer in Tooting, contact us via transitiontowntooting@gmail.com.  The next Restart Parties in Tooting are on Saturday July 11th and Saturday September 26th.  Put the dates in your diary and keep any broken electronics out of the bin till then!