The Makery: A place to fix, make and belong

Founded in 2021, Todmorden Makery is a member and volunteer-run workshop built on a simple idea: repairing and making things is good for the planet and good for people. In just a few years, it has grown into a thriving community space with over 700 registered users, many of whom started as visitors and stayed on as active members or volunteers.

The Makery is shaped by the ideas and feedback of the people who use it. Its focus is on practical skills, shared learning and community connection, whether that’s fixing a broken kettle, learning to sew, or getting a bike safely back on the road.

What happens at the Makery?

Each week, the Makery hosts 10 regular drop-in repair and making sessions, supported by a coordinator and a dedicated team of volunteers. Together, they help repair:

• Bikes

• Clothing and textiles

• Electronics

• Household items

Volunteers repair up to 25 items a week, helping people save money and reduce waste. Many repairs are free or offered for a voluntary donation, making the service especially valuable for lower-income households. The Makery also runs a Pay As You Feel shop, further removing cost as a barrier.

Alongside weekly sessions, the Makery delivers one-off workshops covering everything from woodwork and textile printing to 3D printing and digital inclusion.

Reaching people who are often left out

The Makery places strong emphasis on outreach, ensuring its activities are welcoming and accessible to groups who can sometimes feel excluded from traditional workshops or services. This includes:

• People aged 70+

• People of South Asian heritage

• LGBTQ+ communities

• Families and lower-income households

Free, targeted events have helped introduce new people to making, fixing and cycling in a relaxed, supportive environment.

Bike Repair Drop-In Sessions: a community lifeline

The weekly Monday evening bike repair drop-ins (6–8 pm) are one of the Makery’s longest-running and most popular activities. Originally, the idea sparked during the COVID-19 lockdown, growing from a conversation between volunteers who saw both a need and an opportunity to support the community through cycling.

Today, these sessions repair an average of 10 bikes every week and have become a vital local resource.

People arrive with bikes in all conditions: punctures, worn brakes, rusty chains, long-abandoned bikes pulled from sheds, and sometimes more complex mechanical issues. Volunteer mechanics work alongside participants, not just fixing bikes but teaching people how to do repairs themselves.

The result? Everyone leaves with a safe, usable bike and often new skills and confidence too.

Why it matters

• The sessions are free and open to all, regardless of financial circumstances

• They remove barriers to cycling for people who cannot afford bike shop repairs

• They support sustainable travel, health and wellbeing

• They create a friendly, social space where people connect and learn together

As demand has grown, so has interest in developing more structured learning and greater mechanical skills, something participants and volunteers regularly ask for.

Real voices, real impact

Feedback from users highlights just how much the bike repair sessions mean to the community:

“People take time to teach you how to do it yourself. It’s free, local, and the people are amazing.”

— Female, 46

“My problem-solving skills have improved. I hope to get a job as a bike mechanic.”

— Male, 19

“It makes me feel really cared for. Having my bike back will drastically improve my mental and physical health.”

— Female, 58

“It’s saved me money and means more cycling and quality time with my son. It’s also very social.”

— Male, 44

From the volunteers

Lead volunteer Simon Blower has been involved in the bike repairs for around four years:

“With the cost of living crisis, free bike repairs are essential. Bike shop repairs are simply out of reach for many people.

It’s incredibly rewarding to see the impact these sessions have, from people who rely on their bikes to get to work, to children who just want to get out riding more.

We welcome people of all ages and backgrounds: new cyclists bringing in a first bike for a safety check, and others returning to cycling with bikes that have been sitting in sheds for years.

Monday evenings usually focus on essential repairs, punctures, brake pads, and chain maintenance. We also tackle more complex jobs, from suspension fork swaps and brake bleeds to handlebar adjustments and the occasional e-bike repair.”

More than bike repairs

What makes Todmorden Makery different is not just what it offers, but how it does it. It is community-led, welcoming, practical and generous with time and knowledge. Whether someone comes to fix a bike, learn a new skill or simply be around like-minded people, the Makery offers a space where people feel supported, empowered and connected.