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 our Board Director, Phoebe
Q. What is your name, when did you start volunteering with Repair Cafe Wales and in what capacity (role / skill)?
A. Phoebe Brown, I joined RCW as a student volunteer in September 2018. I am now a Board Director and the Operations Manager.
Q. Why did you decide to volunteer with Repair Cafe Wales?
A. I joined Repair Cafe Wales as I was becoming more and more interested in leading a sustainable lifestyle and really agreed with the ethos of repair and reuse that RCW promotes.
Q. What do you like best about Repair Cafe Wales?
A. I love that we help people in so many different ways. Whilst sustainability and saving the planet is at our core, we do so much more than that. We teach skills, bring communities together, and provide support to those feeling isolated or struggling with mental health issues.
Q. What is your favourite part of volunteering with us?
A. In my role I get to work with lots of different communities across Wales which I love, and it is really interesting to see how repair cafe events are adapted to suit the communities they serve- no two repair cafes are the same! I’m also lucky enough to get to work with a hugely enthusiastic and motivated team.
Q. What do you think the repair café events do for the community?
A. I think repair cafe events provide a safe and welcoming space for people, who would never normally be in a room together, to sit down and have a chat and a cup of tea, all whilst having something fixed for free. They allow friendships to be built and ensure community spaces continue to thrive.
Q. Have you gained any skills from the experience?
A. Volunteering with Repair Cafe Wales has allowed me to gain such a diverse set of skills from event planning and risk assessment to strategy and funding. And I can have a good go at changing a fuse!
Q. How does volunteering with Repair Cafe Wales make you feel?
A. Volunteering for Repair Cafe Wales makes me feel a lot more connected to my community. It also helps me feel that, in a small way, I am doing my bit to help with the huge environmental challenges facing us as a society.
Q. Would you recommend volunteering for Repair Cafe Wales? Why?
A. Yes of course! We have so many different roles (not just fixing!) so there is something for everyone.
