Join Reading’s thriving circular and sharing economy!
Bookmark this page for all your local sharing economy resources! A massive thank you to GREN for compiling this list.
The Reading Library of Things
Planning a new project at home, or a large summer party? Don’t buy new equipment before checking out whether you could borrow it instead. For a small annual fee you can borrow anything from the Lower Caversham store, open every Friday afternoon.
There are more than 600 items available, from power tools for a DIY project to a gazebo and wine glasses for a garden BBQ. You can see the items available to borrow, sign up to join the library, or offer equipment to the library at:
https://rlotreading.myturn.com/library/
The Repair Cafés
Anyone can drop into a Repair Café to get help in repairing items from computer problems, through jewellery repairs, replacing a zip, adjusting the sewing machine or sharpening edged tools. The experts will be happy to either make the repairs themselves or show you how to make the changes.
The organisation and the repairs are done by volunteers and there is no set charge for the work, but donations are very welcomed in order to cover the cost of running the service.
If you would like to volunteer to help with the organisation, or with the repairs, then please contact one of the websites.
Reading Repair Café is held every month at from 12.30 – 4.30pm at either RISC or at Hackspace, Rlab, Weldale Street. Check the website for this month’s location: https://readingrepaircafe.org.uk
The Woodley Repair Cafe is held on the first Sunday of the month, 2pm – 4pm, at Christ Church, Crockhamwell Rd, Woodley, Reading RG5 3LA. https://woodleyrepaircafe.co.uk/
Spencers Wood Repair Café is on the third Sunday of the month, 10am-1pm, at Lambs Lane Primary School, Spencers Wood. https://spencerswoodrepaircafe.co.uk/
Other options near Reading are at:
Maidenhead: https://rbwmtogether.rbwm.gov.uk/the-repair-cafe
Marlow: https://transitionmarlow.org/home/repaircafe/
Purley on Thames: https://restarters.net/group/view/497
The Bicycle Kitchen
2024 is the tenth anniversary of Reading’s Bicycle Kitchen which is now at Unit C10, Small Business Centre, Weldale Street.
Contact: info@readingbicyclekitchen.org
Cycling is a cheap and healthy form of transport for almost any age, but bikes need oiling, get punctures, require new brake pads and alignment to keep them operational and safe. Too many sit in a shed awaiting repairs.
Expert Volunteers at the Bike Kitchen:
• Repair your bicycle at modest cost; just bring it to the workshop on Saturday mornings from 10am-2pm
• Provide bike maintenance courses
• Happily accept donations of bicycles that are no longer needed, whether outgrown or outloved, and
• Recondition bicycles and sell them at the Kitchen (Weds 10-2 and Thurs 5-8), and on Gumtree, to raise the funds to maintain this resources, and donate reconditioned cycles to those in need of support.
Donate for ReUse or specialist recycling
Umpteen charity shops in Reading will take clothing, toys, books etc. in good condition, but don’t handle specialist stuff. Computers and similar electronics are collected free of charge by www.berkshire-computer-recycling.co.uk
Furniture in good condition can be donated to CCA or British Heart Foundation for donating to those in need and for fundraising. Email warehouse@ccam.org.uk or fill in the form on https://www.bhf.org.uk/with a list of the items, photos where possible and the address for collection. BHF will collect small electrical items as well, or take them to their shop on Oxford Road.
Be part of Reading’s Repair and Borrowing Communities!
Reading is a great place to get help with the “make do and mend” philosophy, with scores of experts happy to help you extend the life of your belongings and avoid buying new.
Try out the Repair Cafés or the Bicycle Kitchen to bring new life to your belongings and learn how to maintain them, or borrow something from the Library of Things.
