The Repair Shed, a key initiative of Community Action Dacorum, is launching a surge of activity this winter, connecting older residents and promoting sustainable living across the borough through three exciting ventures. The project’s central mission is to help people, particularly older men, stay “healthier and happier for longer” by providing welcoming spaces for making, mending, and learning. 

Gallery Showcase: Trash to Treasure

Currently running is an exhibition displaying the artistic output of “The Shedders”. The exhibition, which runs until 5th January 2026 at The Old Town Hall Gallery Bar, Hemel, highlights work “lovingly created” from reclaimed materials. This showcase demonstrates the Shedders’ skill in turning “someone’s trash into someone else’s treasure”, creating functional items such as Bird Boxes, Garden Shelves, Planters, and Turned Pens.

Kings Langley Shed Opens

The Repair Sheds Project is expanding its network with a brand-new Shed opening in Kings Langley. Located at the Rudolf Steiner School site, the new workshop will offer a vital community hub where members can meet, socialise, and share skills while working “shoulder to shoulder” on practical projects.

The project is currently inviting new members who are retired or semi-retired to join, as well as seeking a confident Workshop Team Leader to safely run the wood workshop.

Grovehill Repair Café Launches

Residents looking to fix everyday items can now visit the new Grovehill Repair Café. This volunteer-led event operates under the motto “DONT FLING IT, FIX IT!”, championing repair, reuse, and keeping items for longer.

The Café is held on the 1st Saturday Monthly, from 10am to 1pm, at the Grovehill Community Centre. Volunteer repairers help fix a diverse range of goods, including electronic devices (laptops, phones), clothing, household items, and bicycles. There is no charge for fixing, but donations are welcome.

Together, these three initiatives reinforce The Repair Shed’s commitment to combating isolation and reducing the materials that end up in landfill.

Contact: To join the new Kings Langley Shed or find out more about the Grovehill Repair Café, contact Tony Mackinder, Repair Sheds Officer, at tony@communityactiondacorum.org.uk or 01442 617 665