Snapshot
When 69% of Londoners told us that they’d fix more of their things if only they knew how – and almost half of them said they didn’t know where to get stuff repaired locally – we knew we had to do something about it.
Repairing stuff, so that we keep our things in use for longer, has a direct impact on the carbon emissions caused by making and transporting new products, as well as the amount of waste that ends up in landfill. By enabling more people to carry out simple repairs, we can make a big difference to both the planet and people’s pockets.
We launched Repair Week – bursting with activities, events and online content – to inspire Londoners to take positive action. We wanted to equip people with the practical skills and know-how to repair stuff themselves, as well as showcase local repair businesses across the capital, should they need help in getting things fixed.
We launched Repair Week to inspire Londoners to take positive action.
More than 50 businesses, boroughs and community groups supported Repair Week to spread the word, share tips, offer discounts on repair services, and organise a whole host of events, workshops and tutorials to enable Londoners to repair their stuff. From virtual darning and sewing classes, to clothes swaps on social, to local bike checks – there was something for everyone.
Watch this space for an even bigger and better Repair Week 2021!
——————————————————————–
What was the challenge?
When 69% of Londoners told us that they’d fix more of their things if only they knew how – and almost half of them said they didn’t know where to get stuff repaired locally – we knew we had to do something about it.
69% of Londoners told us that they’d fix more of their things if only they knew how.
Repairing and reusing stuff, rather than replacing it, plays a key role in London’s transition to a low carbon circular city. Keeping our things in use for longer has a direct impact on the carbon emissions caused by making and transporting new products, as well as the amount of waste ending up in landfill.
We wanted to help Londoners take positive action and inspire their natural creativity by providing them with the practical skills and confidence to make repairing part of their everyday lives.
What did we do?
In October 2020, we launched Repair Week to shine a spotlight on why repair is so important and to give Londoners the tools and knowledge to act. Our aims were:
- To equip Londoners with practical skills to repair stuff themselves, from clothing and furniture, to bikes and electricals
- To promote repair businesses across London, showing people where to go when they need to fix their stuff
“By enabling many more people to carry out simple repairs, we can make a big difference to both the planet and people’s pockets, reducing the amount of stuff we send to landfill. It doesn’t matter if we do the repair ourselves or pay someone to do it for us; equipping people with the tools to make positive changes is more important than ever”.
Wayne Hubbard, Chief Executive, ReLondon
equipping people with the tools to make positive changes is more important than ever.
Repair Week was bursting at the seams with different online and offline activities and events designed to get the whole city engaged and involved.
- We ran a powerful digital and social media campaign using hard-hitting facts and stats to raise awareness of the scale of the waste problem and Londoner’s attitudes to repair.
- We provided the first ‘Londoner’s guide to repair’ filled with practical advice and actionable do-it-yourself repair hacks and tips for people to do at home, using common every day items.
- We promoted a variety of London’s local repair businesses and services via #LocalRepairHeroes so that people could find services relevant and local to them.
- We partnered with businesses, boroughs and repair experts across the capital to run an exciting series of free, hands-on, practical classes, tutorials and workshops to teach Londoners how to repair simple items. From virtual darning and sewing classes, to clothes swaps and bike checks – there was something for everyone.
- We ran webinars with local authorities, bringing together leading practitioners at the forefront of the repair movement to discuss how to accelerate repair practices across the capital.
- Our Repair Week partners offered special repair discounts to encourage people to fix and repair.
What were the outcomes?
The climate crisis demands collective action, and this was a truly collaborative event. We were so proud of the response and engagement from across the capital:
- Over 50 businesses, councils and community groups got involved as a partner or supporter to: organise events and tutorials; share tips, tricks and hacks; and offer discounts on repair services, encouraging and enabling more Londoners to get their stuff repaired and fixed, ultimately wasting less.
- Our official partners included Currys PC World, Save your Wardrobe, Clothes Doctor, TRAID, The Restart Project and over 25 London councils.
- 19 events were held during the week, attended by more than 500 people.
- We reached 19 million people through fantastic media coverage, including London Evening Standard Online, ITV News London, and BBC News London.
- Over 3.4 million people were reached through our social media campaign.
- Our Repair Week website, with our #LocalRepairHeroes directory and practical do-it-youself repair hacks and tips, was viewed over 16,000 times.
50+ partners (including Currys PC World and 25 London Boroughs); 23.4 million people reached through media and social channels; 19 events attended by 500 people
What was learned?
We saw a big appetite from Londoners, businesses and boroughs alike to get involved. Despite COVID-19, so many people organised events or spread the word by sharing brilliant ideas and content, inspiring Londoners to get their things repaired.
High participation was driven through a mix of activities, events and formats delivered across the week, with online sessions complementing physical events hosted by local businesses, community groups or councils.
What’s next?
We’re planning on hosting another Repair Week in 2021 that’s even bigger and better. Watch this space!
Want to find more resources relating to repair?
