St James’ Church Repair Café wins Unsung Heroes Award

Michael Smedley and the volunteers at St James’ Church Repair Café have been selected as winners of the Unsung Heroes Award, presented by the Cotswold District Council.

The award celebrates individuals and groups who provide helpful and generous services for their communities.

St James’ Church Repair Café, founded and coordinated by Michael, is a volunteer-led project that helps people repair and maintain household items at no cost. Operating on the second Saturday morning of each month, it offers not only practical repair assistance but also a welcoming space where visitors can enjoy refreshments and conversation. Guests can also enjoy complimentary hot drinks and refreshments while they wait for their repairs.

Michael represented the café at the award ceremony which took place last week at the Cotswold District Council chamber, just before a full council meeting.

He said: “I was very honoured on behalf of the team. It’s wonderful to have the volunteers recognised for their skills, and it’s great to see the Repair Café appreciated by the community.”

Alongside Michael and his team, two other recipients were honoured – Gerry Watkins, who delivers essential items to homeless people through his ‘Food for Thought Van,’ and Joanne Maw, who provides free meals to those in need through her ‘Feed the Community’ initiative.

“I received the award alongside Gerry and Joanne who are both doing tremendous work for the community. It was really amazing to be included with them.

“I am going to put the certificate on the wall in the Repair Café. It’s a real encouragement for the team, recognising that we are doing something which is appreciated by the community.”

The café has gained recognition beyond the award, having been nominated in November for The North Cotswold Award in the Sustainability category for its commitment to environmental responsibility. Additionally, the café was mentioned in The Sunday Times on Sunday 23 March, as part of an article highlighting Chipping Campden as one of the best places to live in the county.

“This award is really relevant to us as a voluntary café. It’s not just recognised by local people, but local councillors have seen us and are talking about us to the Cotswold District as a whole.

“St James Church Repair Café is right in the heart of the church community, it’s located in the Church Rooms. The Café is a social occasion for people too, we have a few guests who just come for the café. It’s strengthening the church and the church family.”

The Revd Canon ​Craig Bishop, Team Rector of Chipping Campden, said: “It’s wonderful that Michael and the team have been celebrated in this way. It’s a real privilege to be part of a group of churches where people are finding fresh and innovative ways to express and share their faith and serve their community.”

The Café was nominated for the award by Councillor Clare Turner, with the following submission:

“I am nominating Michael for his sterling work at St James’ Church Repair Café in Chipping Campden. Michael leads a very successful repair Café which is a welcoming place to call in for a cuppa and connect with the community, saves countless items from heading to landfill by repairing or renewing them, saves the community of users money and extends the life of much loved items that residents do not wish to part with.

“The social and environmental benefits of the Café are significant and the services offered are highly valued by many local residents. Because the volunteers involved donate their time and skills, they offer residents an avenue for repair/renewing items that would often be financially prohibitive otherwise. This enables people to preserve and restore items of personal significance/emotional value and has a positive impact on the environment by reducing the need to buy new items (with an associated carbon footprint).

“The repair process is often collaborative, so that users of the Repair Café can learn how to repair and maintain items themselves or understand how and where to obtain replacement parts.

“All the volunteers involved in the Café deserve to be recognised. There is a team (including children) who welcome attendees and serve them with tea and homemade cakes, repairers who diligently and patiently try all possible avenues to extend the life of items as well as those undertaking work behind the scenes to keep the Café running. Michael publishes regular updates on the work of the café in local media and promotes the Repair Café through a number of different channels. Every town and village should have access to a repair café.”