Community Repair Café Program in Sligo

Sligo County Council is looking for a qualified contractor to create and run a 24-month program that helps local groups set up 'repair cafés.' These cafés will encourage community interaction and promote the circular economy by repairing small items instead of throwing them away. The program aims to support social inclusion and build skills among participants, following the Sligo PEACEPLUS Community Peace Action Plan 2021-2027. The initiative will involve 6 to 7 communities in Sligo, where participants will receive training to manage repair cafés. Individuals can bring small items for repair, engage with others, and learn about the repair process. Repairs will be limited to those that can be completed in 10-20 minutes, with referrals to professionals for more complex issues. A database of local tradespeople will be created to support the community and economy. Additionally, repaired items like laptops may be donated to community groups in need. The project will also include two visits to successful repair cafés to gather best practices and improve local efforts. Volunteers will receive extra training in areas such as sewing machine maintenance and safety.