Thousands of local people will benefit from vital repair and mending skills, thanks to a grant from the West Kent Freemasons
The £46,000 grant will significantly boost Greener and Cleaner’s ‘Repair and Resilience Bromley’ project, building on the charity’s successful pilot work to offer free repair skills workshops and mending clinics in the borough.
The ‘Repair and Resilience Bromley’ project will focus on hosting events to support the sharing of practical life skills for repairing everyday items, such as clothes, electronics, and furniture. Repair experts and volunteers will be on hand during the free drop-in sessions to help mend items and share tips.
The sharing of valuable repair and mending skills helps to reduce waste and save money. It also fosters close community links, reduces social isolation and improves mental wellbeing for both volunteers and service users.
Pivotal expansion
The funding from the West Kent Freemasons will allow for a crucial expansion of Greener and Cleaner’s community sustainability work. The charity currently offers two repair cafes each month, alongside a weekly mending clinic and free use of a sewing machine at their Community Hub.
The number of mending and repair skills workshops will be increased and a special Repair Coordinator hired. A contribution will also be made towards marketing the Community Hub’s Library of Things, which enables the cheap borrowing of items for repair and home maintenance.
The ‘Repair and Resilience Bromley’ project will target all residents of the Bromley borough and is uniquely designed to support those most in need. The new sessions will particularly target foodbanks, cafes and other accessible venues. All repair cafes, mending clinics and workshops will be offered free of charge.
Thousands to benefit
There is already significant demand in Bromley for Greener and Cleaner’s repair and skills-sharing events. One thousand people access the charity’s Community Hub every month and 775 items are borrowed from its Library of Things each year.
The ‘Repair and Resilience Bromley’ project is anticipated to directly benefit more than 7,000 people this year, with increased awareness forecast to reach 30,000.
The grant from West Kent Freemasons comes through the Masonic Charitable Foundation, which is funded by Freemasons, their families and friends, from across England and Wales.
Greener and Cleaner CEO, Clare Searle, said:
“We’re very grateful to West Kent Freemasons for their generous grant. We know that many people in our communities are currently struggling – whether that’s with the rising cost of living, their mental health, or a sense of connection and purpose. The Repair and Resilience Bromley project builds on our work to bring people together, share practical skills, and support one another – helping people fix and reuse items rather than replace them, saving money while creating meaningful connections.”
Andrew Waddington from West Kent Freemasons, said:
“I’m very pleased we’ve been able to help Greener and Cleaner with their innovative repair project for Bromley. In these difficult times it’s a great idea to be able to learn practical repair skills and the chance to reduce the crippling isolation felt by so many people is another great benefit.”
