From the Chair of Haringey Fixers
This is our first Annual Review and covers the period from our first Repair Cafés in April 2022 until the end of our first financial year, 31st August 2023
It is up to the Trustees to derive strategies that will meet our aims as a charity, which are:
The protection and preservation of the environment for the public benefit by:
a) The promotion of repair and re-use to the people of the London Borough of Haringey
b) Advancing the education of the public about all aspects of repair and re-use.
Members decide on Trustees that enable Haringey Fixers to meet these aims, aims that you as members have joined to support. In other words, we are community-led. You have the final say.
Over this first year we have grown in experience and effectiveness – something we can all be proud of. The most success is down to the credit of the people who have stepped forward to help each other fix broken stuff.
So much so that, in this first year, we’ve increasingly found it unnecessary to advertise for “bringers” (people who bring stuff in for help fixing). Bringers know by now who we are – every month we’re almost oversubscribed. We limit advertising to the continuous search for ‘fixers’ – repairers without whom we can’t fix any more stuff. People who see our calls for volunteers and repairers realise that they can bring stuff to us.
To secure our future, in October I started to fund-raise. It takes at least three months with each fund.
We have been awarded funding (by the North London Waste Authority who operate the recycling centres) to employ our first paid member of staff (part time 15 hours per week for a year). We expect to use the money to recruit a “Community Manager” by the beginning of January 2024 if things go well. The person we hire will manage our activities, freeing up the Trustees to better meet the need.
I anticipate that will mean we are able to open two more Haringey venues in 2024 without the direct involvement of the Trustees, who will be able to concentrate on more fundraising and so help bring about a range of related projects, notably a Library of Things. If funding can be obtained, we can realise a range of “community repair” projects I have been considering that are pipe dreams without money. We will only roll out those things we have funding for. Although I will implement a donation scheme, I hope that most of our funds will come from the large organisations set up to distribute grants to charities like ours.
We’ve been waiting for a very long time, but it looks as if we’ll finally get the keys for some much-needed storage space on the BWF Estate before the end of the year, thanks to Haringey Council. We have our eye on some office space.
Please let me pay tribute to the Treasurer and Secretary, without whom the Charity would not succeed. I rely on their wise perspectives in setting our direction. I hope you will grant all of us the privilege of appointing us as Trustees for this wonderful Charity for the next three years by your AGM vote.
Chris Setz 5 Nov 2023