Bringing People Together to Take Action
Repair Communities
About
Repair and reuse offers environmental benefits by keeping valuable materials in circulation for longer, reducing the volume of waste sent to landfill and cutting the demand for new resource‑intensive products. By extending the life of everyday items—whether through community repair projects, repair cafes and reuse shops we can make a significant difference to carbon emissions and promote a more sustainable, circular local economy. These activities not only help protect the environment but also make goods more affordable and accessible for local residents, strengthening both community resilience and environmental stewardship.
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Repair Communities describes projects that bring people together to help to reduce waste. Projects are community led. We want to hear from different communities around North Tyneside and find out what repair projects are important to them. It might be repairing electricals to distribute to families in need, repairing school uniform to help children get the best education, or repairing upholstery or woodwork to offer good quality items to people setting up homes.
Repair and reuse activities are delivered from Renew North Tyneside and on an outreach basis around North Tyneside.
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Renew North Tyneside
Unwanted items are set to be transformed into affordable goods for local people at a new reuse venue featuring retail space as well as a community focused repair area.
North Tyneside Council is teaming up with SUEZ recycling and recovery UK (SUEZ) and local charity North Tyneside Big Local to launch Renew North Tyneside.
The venue will specialise in repairing and restoring items and making them available at low prices for the community.
Renew North Tyneside will be supplied with donated items diverted from the nearby Household Waste Recycling Centre (HWRC) which is operated by SUEZ on behalf of North Tyneside Council.
North Tyneside Big Local will support the enterprise by running repair workshops, and supporting volunteering at Renew North Tyneside.
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Find out more on the Renew North Tyneside website, socials
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Visit the site at Unit 30 Royal Quays, Coble Dene, North Shields, NE29 6DW. Opening date is 6 March 2026.
Recharge
Recharge aims to reduce the amount of electrical waste reaching landfill. At the same time it's about bringing people together to learn fixing skills, pass on knowledge/experience and to support each other.
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​It doesn't matter if you don't know your way round a circuit board or even a plug. You will be supported by experienced fixers who can show you how to do anything from replacing bulbs to re-wiring lamps
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Alternatively, you may be a highly experienced fixer and want to pass on skills or save items from landfill. You're more than welcome at Recharge!
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The project is currently supported by North Tyneside Council with a grant from Material Focus. The club operates at Whitley Bay Hub from 1-4 on Friday afternoon. To get more information, or to join a club,
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or phone:
0191 2523570​​
Repair Cafe
A monthly event
Join us at new Whitley Bay for our monthly repair cafe at Whitley Bay Hub. Connect with the community, learn new skills, and enjoy a sustainable lifestyle. Our events feature expert repairers and safety tips. Bring along your treasured items for our dedicated volunteers to repair and return to you. Consultations are free, however, parts will be charged at cost. We are, of course, very happy to receive a donation for jobs well done! Repair cafe takes place on the second Saturday of every month.
Electrical Recycling
at Whitley Bay Hub
At Whitley Bay Hub you will find convenient and easy to access electrical recycling points. All items are collected by North Tyneside Council and processed correctly to reduce the safety risks and carbon impact of improper handling of electrical items. At the hub, you can recycle:
Batteries
Vapes
Small electrical items
All recycling containers can be found in the porch at Whitley Bay Hub, 158 Whitley Road, NE26 2LY
