Merton will be hosting its first ‘Restart Party’ on Saturday 19 November (12-3pm, New Horizon Centre, South Lodge Avenue, Pollards Hill, Mitcham, CR4 1LT) where electronic products that were destined for the scrap heap will be given a second chance.
Come to our Restart Party and get your electrical items fixed
Residents across the borough are encouraged to bring along their slow laptops, faulty printers, misbehaving smartphones, dodgy hair dryers and delinquent toasters. Guided by trained and experienced volunteers who get a real buzz about of fixing stuff, they will see if their electronic item can be given a new lease of life. All items will be PAT-tested on their way in and out to ensure everything is done safely.
There are a few simple rules for those planning to attend:
- There is no need to book ahead, but please be prepared to wait for a short time if the volunteer fixer you need to see is busy with someone else – free teas, coffees and biscuits will be provided
- One electrical item per person please
- Please bring your device charged (if relevant) and with its power lead/adaptor
- Please arrive at the party within the first two hours
- The fixing process is participatory; you will be encouraged to get involved and learn new skills – the social aspect of the event is as important as the fix itself
- Please bear in mind that Restart Parties are pop-up community events led by volunteers. They are not free repair workshops. So please do not expect the volunteers to have large supplies of spare parts such as smartphone screens. They will do their best to fix your item, but it cannot be guaranteed
- For more details visit www.therestartproject.org
The Merton Restart Party is being delivered by London-based social enterprise ‘The Restart Project’ and funded by Recycle for London, as part of their ‘Repair and Reuse’ program of events taking place across London this autumn.
The South London Waste Partnership is coordinating Restart Parties across Merton, Croydon, Kingston and Sutton. The aim is to encourage residents across the region to produce less waste; the Restart Parties completing other events such as ‘Jumble Trails’ and ‘Love Your Clothes’ textile repair and alterations workshops. For details of all the waste reduction and awareness events taking place this autumn visit www.slwp.org.uk
So make a note in your diary – Saturday 19 November (12-3pm, New Horizon Centre, South Lodge Avenue, Pollards Hill, Mitcham, CR4 1LT). Pop-along, meet new people, learn new skills and send one less thing to the scrap heap or landfill. It’s a party, but not as you know it!
Getting to the New Horizon Centre is easy. Bus routes 60, 152, 463 and 255 stop right outside and there is ample free parking on site.
Merton Council cabinet member for street cleanliness and parking Councillor Ross Garrod said: “We all need to do more recycling to reduce the amount of waste we send to landfill every year. Even more than that, we’ve all got to take steps to reduce the amount of waste we generate in the first place. Mending our electrical goods so they are as good as new, rather than throwing them away and buying new items is a great place to start and our Restart Party is the perfect opportunity to breathe new life into those electrical items many of us have.”
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