High Wycombe Repair Café joined repair groups from across the UK at an event in Parliament calling for policies to make it easier to repair everyday items.

The event, on March 25, was organised by The Restart Project and Back Market, with support from organisations including SUEZ and Green Alliance.

This year’s gathering was the largest yet, with 91 MPs in attendance and 100 repair groups represented from all four UK nations.

Organisers and campaigners used the opportunity to push for stronger repair and reuse policies at a national level.

They also celebrated the 143 MPs who have signed the Repair and Reuse Declaration, including 31 who pledged their support during the event itself.

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The day featured speeches from politicians and campaigners, including DEFRA Minister Mary Creagh, alongside representatives from The Restart Project and Back Market.

Helen Hayes MP also attended and signed the declaration as its honorary 100th supporter.

Team Repair delivered a live demonstration to a class of schoolchildren, giving them the chance to fix their first gadgets.

In a lighter moment, Fixing Factory volunteer Mikayla returned a repaired toaster to BBC presenter Sean Fletcher after taking it away during an appearance on BBC Breakfast the previous month.

With the Circular Economy Growth Plan expected this spring, the repair community is aiming to influence policymakers while momentum is building.

Campaigners say public support is already strong, with four in five people in the UK wanting the government to do more to support repair.

They argue that repair reduces environmental impact, saves money, and provides a rewarding alternative to replacing broken items.

However, they stress that meaningful policy changes are needed for repair and reuse to become more accessible across the country.

Maddy Howe from High Wycombe Repair Café attended the event and met with local MP Emma Reynolds.

Following the visit to Parliament, the group is continuing its work locally with its next community repair session.

High Wycombe Repair Café will host its monthly event on April 11, at All Saints Church in the town centre from 10am to 12.30pm.

Volunteers at the session will attempt to fix a wide range of items, from soft toys to vacuum cleaners.

The café runs on the second Saturday of each month and encourages residents to bring along broken items for repair.

Fiona Dear, Co-Director, The Restart Project, says: “It was brilliant to be in Parliament with representatives of 100 of the UK’s repair cafes.

"Repair is something we can all do to save money and reduce waste, but it’s often too hard to fix our stuff. We want to show that repair is popular, and that government support to help us to give things a second life will also be popular. “

Katy Medlock, Back Market, says: “We were thrilled to return to Parliament for our third consecutive year alongside our partner, The Restart Project, championing repair and reuse.

"At Back Market, we’re on a mission to shift behaviour around new tech, encouraging more people to make the most from what they already own.

"Extending a device’s lifespan from 2.5 to 10 years can reduce carbon emissions by up to 68 per cent, which is why we’re calling for greater support of the Repair and Reuse Declaration to help accelerate progress toward a stronger, more sustainable future for repair.”