A local community repair group is heading to Parliament this month, pushing for national policies that make it easier to fix everyday items rather than throw them away.

Chester Repair Cafe will attend a repair cafe in Parliament on March 25.

Organised by The Restart Project and Back Market, the event will bring together around 100 repair groups from across the UK, each calling for ambitious repair and reuse policies and celebrating MPs who have signed the Repair and Reuse Declaration.

With the Circular Economy Growth Plan due to publish its recommendations this spring, the repair community is taking a timely opportunity to influence local politicians.

Four in five people in the UK want the government to do more to support repair. Alongside reducing our impact on the planet, it also saves money and can be incredibly rewarding.

But for repair and reuse to thrive in the UK, real policy change is needed.

Chester Repair Cafe, set up by Friends of the Earth Chester & District, has been running since October 2024 and is held monthly. Since its launch, the group has helped avoid more than six tonnes of CO₂ emissions.

"Young people today often aren't being taught how to repair things, or even that it's possible," said organisers Kerry and Hannah.

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"We're over the moon with how popular Chester Repair Cafe has been. It has become a warm, friendly space where people feel welcomed and part of the community, whether they're visitors or volunteers.

"We're proud to be part of a movement that is keeping repair skills alive. It's become all too easy to throw things away and we want to change that.

"Our mission now is to help people learn to repair and support others to set up new repair cafes."

The community group is also hoping to meet local MP Samantha Dixon at the event, seeking to encourage her to sign the UK Repair and Reuse Declaration.

Following its visit to Parliament, Chester Repair Cafe will also hold its monthly repair event as part of the Hoole Green Fair on Saturday, March 28 at Hoole Community Centre.

Running from 10.30am to 12.30pm, the public is encouraged to bring any broken household electricals, bikes, computers and clothes. Volunteer fixers will be on hand to help repair them.