We have amazing people in the Repair Cafe Wales Family
As part of a series on getting to know our volunteers, we’ve set a series of questions and our amazing volunteers have answered them ‘virtually’ for us.
Next up in the series is Marcia, a sewing and ‘meeter and greeter’ volunteer at RE:MAKE Newport:
What is your name, which repair café location do you volunteer at and what’s your role / skill?
Marcia Stephens, Re:Make Newport, meeter and greeter, and sewing volunteer. General help!
Why did you decide to volunteer with Repair Cafe Wales?
Because I believe totally in what they are doing, it’s stopping things going in landfill, they’re being used and it saves people money. With rising prices we’re going to be seeing a lot more people in.
What do you like best about the repair café?
It’s a very sociable environment but also I watch repairs being done and learn from that as well. IT’s quite fascinating the innards of some of these machines.
What is your favourite part of volunteering?
Meeting people. I like meeting different people and watching different peoples reactions.
What has been the most challenging item to repair?
A 100 year old sewing machine, we looked it up and it was Edwardian. My mother had one similar. We got it working in the end after puzzling over an odd lever for some time. Eventually flipped the lever and off it went!
What do you think the repair café does for the community?
It gives them an opportunity to obviously have things repaired, save themselves some money and have a cup of tea while they wait. It’s a community hub.
Have you gained any skills from the experience?
I’ve learned some sewing skills and next week I’m doing a Cricut course which is something I’ve wanted to learn about for a while. Hopefully I’ll then be able to support others to use our machine in store.
How does the repair café make you feel?
It’s a pleasure to come in. I know it’s going to be interesting and a good laugh.
Would you recommend volunteering for Repair Cafe Wales?
Yes, without question!
