The busiest Repair Cafe ever!
Saturday morning people were waiting with their repairs and as soon as I sat at the desk to do the booking in they approached, asked if they were too early, and emptied their repair onto the desk. Filling in forms is essential and they should be kept in order, but we were so busy they piled up and had to be sorted when booking-in stopped. The Repair Cafe ran from 9.30 till 11.30 but at 11am one of the volunteer sewers saw the queue behind me and the piles of items in front of her and shouted, “Don’t book any more in!” Booking-in ceased. To my relief another volunteer arrived and sorted out the paperwork and by 11.30am the paperwork, the sewers and the bike health checkers were finished. EXCEPT one bike had not been collected. The owner was soon found and we were all on our way. The most successful Repair Cafe so far closed.
What can be improved?
A few days later, in the Eco Group meeting, instead of congratulating themselves volunteers discussed what can be done to get more repairs done in the next Repair Cafe.
The Meet and Greet is perfect, however our meet and greeter will not be at the next Repair Cafe so we need someone else.
The Booking -in had to stop early because the sewers could not do all the repairs brought in. Due to a communication problem there was only one person booking-in. Next time there should be two.
The sewers worked flat-out and only finished on time because booking-in stopped early. It was noted that they did not all realise that each item is booked-in and numbered. Theoretically items should be repaired in numerical order, however, it was pointed out that some sewers are better at some things than others so prefer to do them regardless of numbering. It was agreed that more sewers are needed.
The Bike health checkers completed their work and that part of the operation is working well within its capabilities.
Conclusions
More volunteers are needed so it is rewarding that we have a volunteer woodworker who should take up residence in the next Repair Cafe. More volunteers with stitching skills and other skills are needed.
We must get the message out to everyone with any skills and a couple of hours to spare. For example we have been asked if we can repair clocks? Right now the answer is no! We need a clock repairer.
Photos
We were all so busy only one photo was taken and that was of the blind monkey who was given new eyes. Otherwise no one had time to take them.
Do we need a photographer?
Copyright © 2024 by Fred Page
On behalf of the Eco Group
(recently renamed GUISBOROUGH and District ECO GROUP)
Best wishes from Jemma and Fred
PS if you like what we are doing please let your friends know they can join and be on the mailing list by dropping me an email or messaging via Facebook.
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