WAYS of working together to attract more people to West Somerset’s repair cafés were discussed at a meeting in Williton of volunteers from the Minehead, Porlock, and West Quantocks cafés, supported by Somerset Community Action Group (CAG).

A CAG spokesperson said: “Repair cafés from Carhampton, Burnham and Highbridge, and Bridgwater were not able to attend, but their work forms an important part of this area’s growing repair café presence.

“Repairers are already sharing skills across groups, volunteers are highly motivated, and there is a strong desire to welcome more diverse audiences, particularly younger people.

“Together, these cafés are keeping items in use for longer, reducing waste, saving residents’ money, and creating welcoming community spaces where skills and stories are enjoyed and shared.

“It is inspiring to see how much impact these groups are having locally and how keen they are to support one another to do even more for the community.”

Porlock Repair Cafe has recently celebrated its fourth anniversary and continues to go from strength to strength, while Minehead has recently secured funding through the Tesco blue token scheme to invest in new equipment.

West Quantocks Cafe is newly launched and has already held its first successful sessions in Watchet and meets every two months.

The CAG spokesperson said: “Repair cafés along Somerset’s coast are already making a real difference, repairing hundreds of items, supporting local skills, and bringing people together.

“By strengthening collaboration, sharing resources, and encouraging the next generation of volunteers, these cafés are well placed to grow their impact even further.

“CAG Somerset looks forward to supporting the groups as they continue to repair and connect communities along the coast.”

More information about local repair cafés and the services they offer can be found by emailing to [email protected].