Repair cafe to expand after BBC award win

A team of DIY enthusiasts who set up a group to fix household items and save them from going to landfill is preparing to expand after winning a BBC award.

Winchester Repair Cafe was the winner of the green category at the BBC Radio Solent Make A Difference Awards, held in September.

Stuart King, one of the trustees, said winning had made an "amazing" difference to the charity.

Meanwhile, Pauline Steel has urged people to make a nomination for the 2025 awards after it had made her feel "so proud" to have won the fundraiser award last year. Nominations close on 31 March.

The cafe, which started just over a year ago, runs once a month on a Saturday at Badger Farm Community Centre.

It is now preparing to expand with the team planning to start a number of pop-up cafes in surrounding villages.

Mr King said: "It started off quite small but we're quite busy now and [are] almost having to push things away because we're getting so busy, but that's good news really."

The team still do not know who nominated them for the award and said it was "quite overwhelming" to actually win.

"The recognition to the volunteers, in terms of the work that they've done here, it's really kind of fluffed their feathers with pride to think that they've been recognised," Mr King said.

"It's helped us in terms of our applications for grant funding, so the fact that we've got that award has strengthened our position so we can get more grants."

Mrs Steel won the fundraiser award in recognition of her commitment in running weekly tea dances, which have raised more than £90,000 to keep local community centres running.

She has been hosting the dances in Titchfield and Gosport for the last forty years and said she "loves putting a smile on people's faces".

"The idea of it is to keep these people fit as well - they love it," she explained.

She was nominated for the award by staff at Titchfield Community Centre but said she never expected to win.

"I went like jelly - I couldn't believe it," she said.

"I thought I've got to get up and I couldn't stand up... I've never won anything so it was absolutely wonderful.

"My husband cried when I rung him - he couldn't believe it, he cried with excitement."

She said people should consider putting others forward for this year's award, whether they end up winning or not.

"It's a lovely feeling to think you've been recognised for the work you've done," she said.

"I just feel so proud, to think that I've done something."

The Make a Difference Awards recognise and celebrate people, across eight different categories, who are going above and beyond to make a difference where they live.

Every BBC Local Radio station will host an awards ceremony in 2025.

The awards are a chance to say "thank you" and show recognition and appreciation for people who love to make life better for others.

Nominations can be made via the BBC Make a Difference website where you can also see full terms and the privacy notice.

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