Repair & Share Foyle

Well that was fun! Yesterday we hosted NIRN - Northern Ireland Resources Network's Local Authority forum and set them to work on a toaster repair challenge - everyone was really enthusiastic as #RepairWeekNI25 got off to a brilliant start! Thanks to Eimear Montague and her team alongside DAERA colleagues for visiting our workshop!

We're on a mission to amplify our impact by capturing every story - even items beyond the repair café model count! In addition to this infographic - we've either refurbished, reused, or recycled over 140 laptops, and have a host of items that are patiently awaiting their next chapter, counted as “saved” until they find a new home. We also have to consider the many donated power tools that were donated to our tool library; even those that reached the end of life still need to be counted. A mighty task that we're taking time to deliver on. Some good funding news incoming that will increase our capacity VERY SOON! The Restart Project Material Focus NIRN - Northern Ireland Resources Network Stitch Saves Nine

Yesterday marked the end of our Tackling Textiles Skills and Innovation workshops, supported by Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful and Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs through the plastic bag levy. We know the confidence in our students will continue loooong into the future! Confidence to think outside the box when it comes to design, placing circular solutions and creativity side by side. With a mere 1% of clothing currently being recycled into new garments globally, Repair & Share Foyle recognises a significant opportunity for developing circular textile economies where efficient design, reuse, and recycling are prioritised. This partnership with local businesses Stitch Saves Nine Cooneen Group and Heron Bros enhances social value, green skills, and promotes a circular economy. Nuala Griffiths Hannah McIlroy Deirdre Williams

We've got plenty on offer during Repair Week NI 2025, including a special workshop focused entirely on loving your sewing machine. If your in our neck of the woods book your slot and help us keep those machines threading seamlessly! https://cutt.ly/Ne63h2OL Thanks to NIRN - Northern Ireland Resources Network and Department of Agriculture and Rural development, Northern Ireland Government for the support in promoting repair over disposal. #RepairWeekNI25

Hypno-cat has spoken and has one word for you: LAPTOPS! Stop clinging to those dusty relics like they’re museum pieces. Hypno-cat knows you’re better than that! Our feline friend is here to hypnotize you into doing the right thing—because YOU have the power to: 🌀 Zap e-waste into oblivion! 🌀 Smash digital exclusion! 🌀 Unleash your inner tech hero! Now, bring forth your laptops before they crumble into ancient tech fossils. Purrfect harmony awaits. Drop off points are all over the district! ✅ The Guildhall, Derry ✅Foyle Hospice Furniture Outlet, Pennyburn Industrial Estate ✅Council Offices, Derry ✅Waterside Shared Village ✅Eglinton Community Centre ✅The Alley Theatre, Strabane ✅Strahan’s Road Recycling Centre Office, Strabane Material Focus NIRN - Northern Ireland Resources Network

Thanks to the Housing Executive for this feature in their tenants mag! We were awarded 8k funding from the social enterprise programme back in 2023 which enabled us to: ⚡Employ a part time member of staff for 6mnths ⚡Purchase Insurance and PAT training ⚡Pilot Educational Outreach with Team Repair & Model Primary ⚡Place a down payment on premises ⚡Develop our brand ⚡Begin research for our Library Library of Things ⚡Form important relationships with community partners All these steps have led to greater outcomes and new partners - demonstrating the dedication of our small but might team! NIRN - Northern Ireland Resources Network Northern Ireland Housing Executive Housing Executive Magazine Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful The National Lottery Community Fund Elisia Gormley Stitch Saves Nine Catherine Taylor Jamie O'Hare Aisling McEvoy

Fantastic day in Repair & Share Foyle headquarters with Workshop 1 of Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful Tackling Textiles Skills & Innovation initiative - funded by Department of Agriculture and Rural development, Northern Ireland Government through the #carrierbaglevy...We have partnered with Cooneen Group & Heron Bros Building Merchants to figure out innovative solutions to textile waste in production and end of life of garments. We were joined by brilliant students from St Brigid's College / Coláiste Bhríde, Foyle College, St Cecilia's College, Derry & Lumen Christi College, Derry who learned about the fashion and textile industry's impact on the environment, innovative ways to upcycle and keep waste in circulation and the designers who are doing it well. The students started the design process for new and exciting product based on Cooneen's uniforms and protective clothing - and Heron Bros HV workwear... The Repair & Share Foyle unit was the perfect space to run the workshops - looking forward to the next one! Thanks to Yellow Button Coffee Shop for delicious sandwiches - we were ready for them after a hard morning's work! So - what's next? When the designs are complete and technically ready - the students will start the making process... looking forward to Workshop 2 in January... watch this space NIRN - Northern Ireland Resources Network Nuala Griffiths Stitch Saves Nine Jamie O'Hare Deirdre Williams Eimear Montague George Gillespie #CircularDesign #sustainabletextiles #reuse #upcycled #resale #SkillShare #FutureInnovators #DesignSkills #sewingskills

Thanks to the team at Seagate Technology for welcoming us and opening up discussions about partnerships to tackle e-waste. We were 'all lured' to meet the employees and encourage them to sign up to our Library of Things. As leaders of grassroots circular economy solutions here in 'lovely lovely Derry' - we are opening up opportunities for sponsorship in 2025 and want to hear from all businesses big and small. Please get in touch to learn more.

Discover Membership, Workshops, and E-Waste Solutions! We’re excited to bring our new space in Derry to life, and we’d love for you to be part of it. Explore our new website to see what’s on offer and how you can get involved! https://lnkd.in/dPuFQc2K Jamie O'Hare Aisling McEvoy Stitch Saves Nine Elisia Gormley Brad Dickinson NIRN - Northern Ireland Resources Network Material Focus

A couple of weeks ago something pretty amazing happened! We threw a launch party to celebrate our Library of Things and new headquarters based at the RathMor business park in Derry. We kind of crashed afterwards - because the volunteer model tends to do that to a core team BUT we remain hopeful and energetic about the future after that wee half term 'rest'. Our community Interest Company is buzzing to have built something so incredibly special, vibrant, dynamic and a little bit disruptive. If you want to support us in any way big or small, through sponsorship or partnership, our doors are wide open and we are ready to keep pushing for a localised circular economy accessible for all. LOT membership is available for subscription from from this weekend onwards and you can borrow anything from a carpet cleaner to a hand drill! Thanks to everyone that came and supported our journey and to The National Lottery Community Fund Northern Ireland Awards for All for funding our Tool Library and to those that supported our Crowdfunder to give the space a revamp. Even items from our Recycle Your Electricals Material Focus sponsored campaign ended up on the library shelves, demonstrating how one funded project can have a ripple effect on another. Cllr. Lilian Seenoi Barr Eimear Montague Nuala Griffiths Northern Ireland Housing Executive Colin Breen Elisia Gormley Brad Dickinson Catherine Taylor Aisling McEvoy Jamie O'Hare Deirdre Williams Stitch Saves Nine