Ealing Repair Cafe

12/06/2026

Mary is running free t-shirt yarn workshops ReActon Hub.

Book your place on on Eventbrite. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/reacton-free-learn-to-make-t-shirt-yarn-tickets-1991321389882

09/06/2026

Our June newsletter is out. Sign up to get regular updates.
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08/06/2026

We are running some extra sessions at ReActon Hub. See our Eventbrite for dates and reserve a place. https://www.eventbrite.com/o/106616943691?aff=ebdsshandroid

Come along to ReActon for Ealing Repair cafe sessions on Monday 15, 22 and 29 and Friday 26. You can book to learn clothes repair and/or book to learn how to upcycle t-shirts into yarn.

ReActon is open in June on Mondays from 11 am-2 pm and Fridays from 12 noon-3 pm. Its focus on reuse, repair & recycling activities onsite.

This includes getting free books, school uniforms, and household paint. You can also drop off clothes, school uniform, books, tools and small electrical items during opening hours. Come along and get reusing and recycling.

05/06/2026

Ealing Repair Café was honoured to attend a special celebration at the Polska YMCA in Ealing, where we were presented with The King’s Award for Voluntary Service alongside the Polish YMCA.

The award was presented by Richard Kornicki CBE DL, Representative Deputy Lieutenant for the London Borough of Ealing. Richard mentioned that we were the smallest and they were the biggest group in this year's Kings Voluntary award. Plus all 4 of us volunteers were in attendance which doesnt happen often!

The evening was a wonderful celebration of volunteering, community spirit and cultural heritage. We enjoyed a beautiful performance by Fiotki, whose programme of traditional Polish songs and poetry delighted everyone in attendance.

A particular highlight was a fascinating tour of the YMCA’s costume department, where we learned about the care and dedication involved in preserving the extensive collection of traditional costumes worn by the Mazury Dance Company. Seeing the craftsmanship and history behind these costumes gave us a real appreciation for the volunteers who work so hard to keep these traditions alive.

We would like to thank the Polish YMCA for their warm hospitality and extend our congratulations on receiving The King’s Award for Voluntary Service. It was a privilege to share this special occasion and celebrate the incredible contribution that volunteers make to our communities.

This award belongs to all our volunteers, repairers, organisers and supporters who help Ealing Repair Café reduce waste, share skills and bring people together. Thank you for being part of our journey.

05/06/2026

Hole in your pocket? Tear in your favourite trousers? Bring your clothes mending pile to get inspiration and learn how to mend them. We are off to Ickenham library this Saturday. Sessions are 10.30am to 1pm and 2pm to 3pm, .

In celebration of Ickenham festival, we are back with our clothes repair cafe and upcycling activities for all the family.

Bring up to 3 items that need mending. Our volunteers might only be able to advise on 1 or 2 items (depending on how many people turn up), but can guide you through the creative and addictive world of mending your own clothes.

We also have our t-shirt yarn to make bracelets and key charm making for all the family to enjoy creating.

Reserve your spot here https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/stitchenham-clothes-repair-cafe-tickets-1991177699099?aff=oddtdtcreator&keep_tld=true

11/05/2026

What a day! Lovely afternoon for Mary and Lone at Buckingham palace for our group, Ealing Repair Cafe, getting the Kings volunteer award.

Luckily the sun shone on us at the palace and a special day for Lone Konradsen as it was also her birthday 🎂.

We were concerned about the weather as it tried to rain mid morning. There were clear instructions that the party would happen whatever the weather! However by afternoon the sun 🌞.

We had a lovely afternoon tea from the tea tent and got lots of lovely treats.

Then it was the waiting game of which royals we would see. Mary was hoping for Prince William rather than the king and she got her wish. The men in arms (or black top hats 🎩) arrange corridors the royals will walk through and people who are already selected will meet a royal. So we stood next to one of these corridors and gradually the beefeaters and men in black 🎩 made their way closer and closer to us. We chose well with Prince William's lane (although it was a rather long wait)!

Then we watched brass bands and took some more photos, wandering through the garden before exiting through the big gates and front of Buckingham palace. A magical and special day. Was quite a treat.

Find out more about our award here
https://ealingrepaircafe.org/2025/11/14/ealing-repair-cafe-receives-the-kings-award-for-voluntary-service/

11/05/2026

What a day! Lovely afternoon for Mary and Lone at Buckingham palace for this group, Ealing Repair Cafe, getting the Kings volunteer award.

Luckily the sun shone on us at the palace and a special day for Lone Konradsen as it was also her birthday 🎂.

We were concerned about the weather as it tried to rain mid morning. There were clear instructions that the party would happen whatever the weather! However by afternoon the sun 🌞.

We had a lovely afternoon tea from the tea tent and got lots of lovely treats.

Then it was the waiting game of which royals we would see. Mary was hoping for Prince William rather than the king and she got her wish. The men in arms (or black top hats 🎩) arrange corridors the royals will walk through and people who are already selected will meet a royal. So we stood next to one of these corridors and gradually the beefeaters and men in black 🎩 made their way closer and closer to us. We chose well with Prince William's lane (although it was a rather long wait)!

Then we watched brass bands and took some more photos, wandering through the garden before exiting through the big gates and front of Buckingham palace. A magical and special day. Was quite a treat.

Find out more about our award here
https://ealingrepaircafe.org/2025/11/14/ealing-repair-cafe-receives-the-kings-award-for-voluntary-service/

01/05/2026

Got old t-shirts you don't wear? Promotional t-shirts gathering dust. We are looking for colourful t-shirts to make in yarn from. Send us a message to arrange drop off or pick up.

We are looking for donations of used colourful t-shirts to make t-shirt yarn from. If you have any coloured t-shirts (something other than grey, white or black as we have plenty of these). It doesn't matter if there is writing or images on them as we will turn them into T-shirt yarn. Please drop them off at one of our meet ups or contact us for a location to drop off.
https://ealingrepaircafe.org/whats-on/

19/04/2026

Mary has been looking for a way to use old tights. Her mum used the waist band as an alternative elastic band or hair tie. For the tights she used to tie plants up in the garden.

Here are some of her suggestions. You can cut them into loops and use them as an alternative to elastic bands or hair ties. Or you could make them into stretchy yarn (similar to the way you make t-shirt yarn.) 🧶 See comments for video on how to make tights into yarn or our blog for t-shirts into yarn. This yarn can be used as string. Great around the house, garden and allotment.


Another way is to use them for stuffing in pillows and draught excluders.

Did you also know that tights stuffed with human hair help with clear up oil slicks? Google it it's true! There's a use for everything.

11/04/2026

Just an everyday Friday afternoon. At the Tower of London. Yvonne and Jenny collecting the Kings Award for Volunteering on behalf of Ealing Repair Cafe.

Only two tickets, but Mary and Lone will get to go to the garden party at the Palace next month.