Event Management Volunteer

• Welcome visitors at the main door
• Help the visitors register items on forms, including a description of what is broken
• Weigh the item so we can calculate how much waste is saved at each event
• If the item is electrical, direct the visitor to the PAT (electrical safety) testing area 
• When a visitor leaves the Repair Cafe, ensure that PAT testing has been completed on exit and that the registration form has been completed and returned

• Host the visitors including queue management if busy, taking them to a suitable repairer when available and after the repair is finished, directing them back to PAT testing if needed and then to the 'exit' table to leave their completed form.

• Prepare tea and coffee etc and serve visitors from a hatch
• Take tea and coffee to volunteer repairers

About Newbury and Thatcham Repair Cafe

The purpose of the Newbury and Thatcham Repair Cafe is to hold free events where visitors can bring broken items for repair. Volunteer repairers help visitors to repair clothes, furniture, electrical and electronic goods, ceramics, toys etc. if those repairs are feasible. If the repair is not feasible (due to lack of time, tools or spare parts) the repairer will offer advice on how the item could be fixed (spare parts, come to next event for follow-up with spare part, local resources etc).

The aim of the Repair Café is to promote environmental sustainability, within the Newbury and Thatcham and surrounding areas, by repairing items, which reduces waste and maximises the life of each item. This also saves the visitor money as no replacement is needed. The aim is also to increase the repairing skills of visitors by involving and discussing the repair of the item with the visitor. The Repair Café also provides a venue where people can meet each other with a common interest.

Repair Café events run about once a month on a Sunday afternoon, 2p.m. to 4.30p.m., alternating between Newbury, Methodist Church Hall, RG14 1AN and Frank Hutchings Community Hall, Thatcham RG18 4QH.

Volunteers are asked to be at the event 30 minutes before the event starts to help set up, and stay for 30 minutes after the event ends to help clear up.

Cups of tea or coffee are available at the event for visitors and volunteers.

What skills do I need?

• Being a good communicator
• Enjoy meeting new people and willing to chat to visitors
• A calming influence is useful when the café gets busy!
• A sense of humour when things don't quite go as anticipated!
• An eye for detail if you are in the reception area or on the exit table (e.g. if the item is electrical, checking that PAT testing is done on entry and checking if it has been done again before exit)

When is this role available?

Details

Events run about once a month on a Sunday afternoon 2 p.m. to 4.30 p.m., alternating each month between Newbury and Thatcham. There are no events in August and December. Events run for 2.5 hours. Volunteers are asked to be at the venue 30 minutes before the start time to help set up tables, chairs, equipment, the café kitchen etc, and are also asked to help clear up at the end. The commitment for any particular event is about 3.5 hours. Volunteers are not required to be at every event, but we'd love it if you were available as much as possible!!

Where does this role take place?