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| Cost of Living: Upcycling comeback amid money-saving drive | Cost of Living: Upcycling comeback amid money-saving drive |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Customers at the Repair Cafe are encouraged to learn from the volunteer fixers | Customers at the Repair Cafe are encouraged to learn from the volunteer fixers |
| More people are adopting a "make-do-and-mend" mindset, upcycling experts have said. | More people are adopting a "make-do-and-mend" mindset, upcycling experts have said. |
| Upcycling is transforming unwanted products you cannot use anymore into new things you can use. | Upcycling is transforming unwanted products you cannot use anymore into new things you can use. |
| Repair Café Wales believes the cost of living crisis has made people make the most of what they already have, or upcycle and recycle pre-owned items. | Repair Café Wales believes the cost of living crisis has made people make the most of what they already have, or upcycle and recycle pre-owned items. |
| Throwaway culture has been the norm since World War Two - but that tide seems to be turning, at least in the short term, as people avoid unnecessary purchases. | Throwaway culture has been the norm since World War Two - but that tide seems to be turning, at least in the short term, as people avoid unnecessary purchases. |
| One upcycler said they refitted a friend's kitchen using materials costing about £300. | One upcycler said they refitted a friend's kitchen using materials costing about £300. |
| Recycling: How do you transform old PPE into something new? | Recycling: How do you transform old PPE into something new? |
| Repair it, reuse it: The people saving stuff from landfill | Repair it, reuse it: The people saving stuff from landfill |
| An attitude shift | An attitude shift |
| Repair Café Wales is a not-for-profit organisation that supports communities to run events fixing household items for free. | Repair Café Wales is a not-for-profit organisation that supports communities to run events fixing household items for free. |
| Director Phoebe Brown said: "People can learn to fix them for themselves, and also be taught how to look after their items better. | Director Phoebe Brown said: "People can learn to fix them for themselves, and also be taught how to look after their items better. |
| "We have all lost touch with how to care for our items." | "We have all lost touch with how to care for our items." |
| More than 80 groups have been set up across Wales. | More than 80 groups have been set up across Wales. |
| Thanks to a spike in interest during and since the Covid pandemic, organisers hope to hit the 100 mark by the end of 2023. | Thanks to a spike in interest during and since the Covid pandemic, organisers hope to hit the 100 mark by the end of 2023. |
| Volunteers fix items for free to save them from being thrown away | Volunteers fix items for free to save them from being thrown away |
| "There are lots of different reasons why somebody might come to a session," said Phoebe. | "There are lots of different reasons why somebody might come to a session," said Phoebe. |
| "We are seeing more people asking if they can come and get something fixed because they can't afford to buy something new. | "We are seeing more people asking if they can come and get something fixed because they can't afford to buy something new. |
| "We know that this is a really big motivator for people." | "We know that this is a really big motivator for people." |
| She added: "It's not a drop-off-and-collect model. | She added: "It's not a drop-off-and-collect model. |
| "You're encouraged to sit down with your fixer, and it really helps people to see that process and feel more confident with having a go themselves next time." | "You're encouraged to sit down with your fixer, and it really helps people to see that process and feel more confident with having a go themselves next time." |
| The cafes have a 60% to 70% success rate in fixing items brought to them. | The cafes have a 60% to 70% success rate in fixing items brought to them. |
| Phoebe said: "It's about people thinking of repair as an initial response. | Phoebe said: "It's about people thinking of repair as an initial response. |
| "It's a shame that the reason for that will be people financially struggling. | "It's a shame that the reason for that will be people financially struggling. |
| "But the silver lining is that we are reassessing our relationships with our stuff, because we have to. | "But the silver lining is that we are reassessing our relationships with our stuff, because we have to. |
| "Hopefully that is a behaviour change that will continue on the other side of this crisis." | "Hopefully that is a behaviour change that will continue on the other side of this crisis." |
| 'Anyone can do it' | 'Anyone can do it' |
| One primary school teacher from west Wales turned her passion for giving old items new life into a side hustle. | One primary school teacher from west Wales turned her passion for giving old items new life into a side hustle. |
| Eleri Jones, from Ffostrasol, Ceredigion, now shares content with over 8,000 Instagram followers. | Eleri Jones, from Ffostrasol, Ceredigion, now shares content with over 8,000 Instagram followers. |
| "If I can do it, anyone can," says Eleri Jones | "If I can do it, anyone can," says Eleri Jones |
| It all started in early 2018 when she bought her first house. | It all started in early 2018 when she bought her first house. |
| The 30-year-old said: "Instead of buying all matching furniture I just bought higgledy-piggledy bits and painted them to match." | The 30-year-old said: "Instead of buying all matching furniture I just bought higgledy-piggledy bits and painted them to match." |
| When Covid lockdowns hit, Eleri - who says she has always been creative - found herself with time to expand her projects and it "just blew up". | When Covid lockdowns hit, Eleri - who says she has always been creative - found herself with time to expand her projects and it "just blew up". |
| She said: "One of my best friends has just bought a house at one of the worst times. | She said: "One of my best friends has just bought a house at one of the worst times. |
| "Instead of spending £10,000 on a brand new kitchen she has spent £300 on materials and I have done it." | "Instead of spending £10,000 on a brand new kitchen she has spent £300 on materials and I have done it." |
| Eleri has grown an online community of keen upcyclers, ready to learn from her expertise. | Eleri has grown an online community of keen upcyclers, ready to learn from her expertise. |
| "I have definitely noticed, in the past few months, more messages coming through of people wanting to do things themselves," she said. | "I have definitely noticed, in the past few months, more messages coming through of people wanting to do things themselves," she said. |
| "The way things are going now, people are trying to be a little bit greener and not waste things." | "The way things are going now, people are trying to be a little bit greener and not waste things." |
| Eleri's passion started with trying to save money on furniture for her new house, and has grown bigger and bigger | Eleri's passion started with trying to save money on furniture for her new house, and has grown bigger and bigger |
| Her advice to anyone looking to upcycle is: "You have got nothing to lose. | Her advice to anyone looking to upcycle is: "You have got nothing to lose. |
| "Start small. Don't start by painting your wardrobe - maybe do your bedside table first. | "Start small. Don't start by painting your wardrobe - maybe do your bedside table first. |
| "Confidence will grow and with that will come better technique. If I can do it, anyone can." | "Confidence will grow and with that will come better technique. If I can do it, anyone can." |
| 'More resourceful' | 'More resourceful' |
| NuLife Furniture, a community upcycling project in Cardiff, has been "inundated" with requests for cost-cutting items. | NuLife Furniture, a community upcycling project in Cardiff, has been "inundated" with requests for cost-cutting items. |
| The project started in 2014 as part of Cadwyn Housing Association, and aims to source affordable furniture for residents. | The project started in 2014 as part of Cadwyn Housing Association, and aims to source affordable furniture for residents. |
| It also has a shop of upcycled goods in Cardiff Bay, which is open to the public. | It also has a shop of upcycled goods in Cardiff Bay, which is open to the public. |
| Project manager Alessa Hill said: "If we had 100 air fryers and slow cookers, they would go. We can't replenish quickly enough, so there is a real change in the types of items [requested]. | Project manager Alessa Hill said: "If we had 100 air fryers and slow cookers, they would go. We can't replenish quickly enough, so there is a real change in the types of items [requested]. |
| "People have got less money so they are not going to buy something on a three-year credit, and will instead come and see what we already have. | "People have got less money so they are not going to buy something on a three-year credit, and will instead come and see what we already have. |
| "We are always busy. No-one seems to go out of here empty handed." | "We are always busy. No-one seems to go out of here empty handed." |
| Alessa Hill from NuLife says the organisation has been "inundated" with requests for cost-cutting appliances | Alessa Hill from NuLife says the organisation has been "inundated" with requests for cost-cutting appliances |
| With costs soaring, the team is keen to increase its workshop sessions so people can learn new skills. | With costs soaring, the team is keen to increase its workshop sessions so people can learn new skills. |
| Workshops so far have included upcycling chairs and lampshades. | Workshops so far have included upcycling chairs and lampshades. |
| Alessa said: "If we run a workshop and someone has got an interest and they go away with an end product, that is massive for their confidence." | Alessa said: "If we run a workshop and someone has got an interest and they go away with an end product, that is massive for their confidence." |
| Wales is currently ranked third in the world for recycling, and the Welsh government plans to reach zero-waste by 2050. | Wales is currently ranked third in the world for recycling, and the Welsh government plans to reach zero-waste by 2050. |
| More people are trying to learn upcycling skills as cost of living soars | More people are trying to learn upcycling skills as cost of living soars |
| Alessa added: "It's like at the end of the month when you are waiting to get paid and so you're looking at the back of your kitchen cupboards and getting more creative. | Alessa added: "It's like at the end of the month when you are waiting to get paid and so you're looking at the back of your kitchen cupboards and getting more creative. |
| "People are becoming more resourceful. | "People are becoming more resourceful. |
| "We are seeing a lot more of the traditional skills coming back and so there are real positives to be had." | "We are seeing a lot more of the traditional skills coming back and so there are real positives to be had." |
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