Mending more than just objects: The Blairgowrie and Rattray Repair Café

In the heart of Blairgowrie, a quiet revolution is taking place - one stitch, solder and screw at a time. 

The Blairgowrie and Rattray Repair Café, hosted monthly at Nest Creative Spaces on the Wellmeadow, is not just a place to fix broken toasters or torn trousers, it’s also a vibrant community initiative supporting sustainability, skill-sharing, and social connection.

Repair Cafes are a global initiative that is committed to reducing waste and the number of goods that end up in landfill – and Blairgowrie and Rattray is proud to play a part in that. 

Since its inception in 2022, volunteers at the Blairgowrie and Rattray Repair Café have held more than 30 events, engaged nearly 200 participants, and prevented approximately 1,307 kg of waste from ending up in landfill. Their efforts have also prevented around 10,393 kg of CO₂ emissions - equivalent to driving 86,609 km (53,816 miles) or manufacturing two whole cars.

Held on the last Saturday of each month from 10.30am to 12.30pm, the Blairgowrie and Rattray Repair Café provides a space for local residents to bring in personal and household items such as small electrical appliances, toys, jewellery, clothes and more that are in need of repair. 

When you bring an item to the Repair Café, a member of the team will discuss what needs to be repaired with you. Registration forms are completed for each item and arrangements are then made for items to be passed to one of the registered volunteers to assess and repair them. Once the repairs have been completed, you will be contacted to arrange collection of your item. 

The Blairgowrie and Rattray Repair Café team continues to grow, and is a wonderful example of how grassroots initiatives can drive meaningful change. If you are interested in becoming a Repair Cafe volunteer please come along for a chat!

For more information, visit the Blairgowrie and Rattray Repair Café Facebook page.