With rising cost of living, fracturing communities and what is being referred to as a ‘loneliness epidemic’ many London locals feel lost and without hope.
Research states that the average monthly private rents in the capital have soared to £2,163 per month, about 63% higher than the UK average.
A report found 700,000 Londoners had feelings of severe loneliness “always or most of the time”.
What can and is being done to challenge these issues?
People-powered projects
There has been a surge in local grassroots initiatives to help struggling communities, one notable example being ‘repair cafes’.
These hubs, run by the community, invite locals to bring in broken household items and get them repaired, often for free, by volunteers.
Credit: Laura Ward
Sally Kent a volunteer at the ‘Repair Cafe Nunhead’ said “Traditional repair shops no longer exist… not only leading to landfill but separating communities, isolating vulnerable people, and leading to the loss of key simple skills.”
Communities say the repair cafes are crucial lifeline offering the option to save money and a communal space for people to gather, connect and learn in a welcoming environment.
Sophie, the founder of ‘Repair Cafe Nunhead’ said: “It doesn’t just mean saving money… [we] look to engage local residents in a supportive and warm environment, where everyone is made to feel welcome.”
Credit: ‘Restart Project’
This ethos is echoed by James Pickstone, from the ‘Restart Project’, a Brixton based non-profit behind initiatives such as ‘International Repair Day’ (18th October):
“Community repair events are phenomenal ways of bringing together every part of the local community around a shared goal – fixing things… they offer a way to form and strengthen community cohesion and build resilience over time.”
Johnathan, a volunteer repairer at ‘Repair Cafe Nunhead’, also reflects on the positive impact these initiatives can have on the volunteers:
“It’s such a rewarding experience for someone to bring something in that’s broken and you get to fix it for them. The excitement they pass on to you is insane, It’s like Christmas once a month!”
London’s DIY heroes are running on empty.
Credit: Laura Ward
The very crisis that makes repair cafés so essential is also threatening their survival.
“Financially and administratively it’s a big task for a team of volunteers who have busy lives” Sally says.
“Whilst there are opportunities [for support], the number of applicants can mean competing against equally as important schemes.”
Donations that once kept these projects afloat have started to dry up.
According to the UK Giving Report 2025, only 50% of people in the UK donated to charity last year, with London becoming the first region where fewer than half of people say they donated or sponsored a charitable cause.
These community-focused movements are both grassroots and deeply practical. Instead of policy papers or flashy green tech, it’s powered by local volunteers with sewing machines, soldering irons, and tea.
As London wrestles with both economic hardship and social disconnection, these small, community-led acts of repair become increasingly important — they’re quietly piecing the city back together, one kettle, one coat, and one conversation at a time.
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HeadlineTHE REPAIR REVOLUTION – Fixing more than just your toaster
Short HeadlineLondon's repair revolution - fixing more than just your toaster
StandfirstWith life in London getting tougher, local initiatives are helping people patch up both their possessions and their sense of community.
With rising cost of living, fracturing communities and what is being referred to as a ‘loneliness epidemic’ many London locals feel lost and without hope.
Research states that the average monthly private rents in the capital have soared to £2,163 per month, about 63% higher than the UK average.
A report found 700,000 Londoners had feelings of severe loneliness “always or most of the time”.
What can and is being done to challenge these issues?
People-powered projects
There has been a surge in local grassroots initiatives to help struggling communities, one notable example being ‘repair cafes’.
These hubs, run by the community, invite locals to bring in broken household items and get them repaired, often for free, by volunteers.
Credit: Laura Ward
Sally Kent a volunteer at the ‘Repair Cafe Nunhead’ said “Traditional repair shops no longer exist… not only leading to landfill but separating communities, isolating vulnerable people, and leading to the loss of key simple skills.”
Communities say the repair cafes are crucial lifeline offering the option to save money and a communal space for people to gather, connect and learn in a welcoming environment.
Sophie, the founder of ‘Repair Cafe Nunhead’ said: “It doesn’t just mean saving money… [we] look to engage local residents in a supportive and warm environment, where everyone is made to feel welcome.”
Credit: ‘Restart Project’
This ethos is echoed by James Pickstone, from the ‘Restart Project’, a Brixton based non-profit behind initiatives such as ‘International Repair Day’ (18th October):
“Community repair events are phenomenal ways of bringing together every part of the local community around a shared goal – fixing things… they offer a way to form and strengthen community cohesion and build resilience over time.”
Johnathan, a volunteer repairer at ‘Repair Cafe Nunhead’, also reflects on the positive impact these initiatives can have on the volunteers:
“It’s such a rewarding experience for someone to bring something in that’s broken and you get to fix it for them. The excitement they pass on to you is insane, It’s like Christmas once a month!”
London’s DIY heroes are running on empty.
Credit: Laura Ward
The very crisis that makes repair cafés so essential is also threatening their survival.
“Financially and administratively it’s a big task for a team of volunteers who have busy lives” Sally says.
“Whilst there are opportunities [for support], the number of applicants can mean competing against equally as important schemes.”
Donations that once kept these projects afloat have started to dry up.
According to the UK Giving Report 2025, only 50% of people in the UK donated to charity last year, with London becoming the first region where fewer than half of people say they donated or sponsored a charitable cause.
These community-focused movements are both grassroots and deeply practical. Instead of policy papers or flashy green tech, it’s powered by local volunteers with sewing machines, soldering irons, and tea.
As London wrestles with both economic hardship and social disconnection, these small, community-led acts of repair become increasingly important — they’re quietly piecing the city back together, one kettle, one coat, and one conversation at a time.
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