A free community Repair Café and Eco Fair will take place in Richmond this month, offering practical advice on saving money while protecting the planet.
Local charity Richmondshire Climate Action Partnership is hosting the combined event on Sunday, January 18 at the Sixth Form Hall, Richmond School.
Doors will open at 9.45am, with the event running until 12.30pm.
A pop-up café will be serving tea, coffee and homemade cakes throughout the morning.
The theme for this year’s event is “saving money and saving the planet”, bringing together expert advice, hands-on activities and local environmental groups under one roof.
Residents concerned about rising energy costs will be able to speak to specialists about solar panels, heat pumps and home energy efficiency. Advice will also be available on reducing household waste, with North Yorkshire Council and North Yorkshire Rotters offering guidance on recycling responsibly and cutting down on waste following the Christmas period.
Visitors can also explore stalls from local organisations including Save Our Swale, Richmond Landscape Trust and CPRE, while learning more about reducing air pollution and the work of Richmond Methodist School’s Eco Club.
New for 2026 is a community seed share, encouraging residents to bring along unused flower, vegetable or salad seeds and swap them with others, or simply pick up free seeds to try something new.
A team of volunteer repairers will also be on hand to help fix broken or damaged items in a bid to keep them out of landfill.
Items suitable for repair include electrical and electronic goods, mechanical items, clothing and textiles, soft toys, garden tools, jewellery and general household items.
Organiser Valerie Adams said: “Sadly, some of our Christmas presents may already be damaged or not working properly. This event is perfectly timed to allow people to get their gifts and other items back into tip-top condition.”
The event is free to attend, and the latest updates can be found on the Richmondshire Climate Action Partnership website and social media channels.
