Re-use and repair
REPAIR MORE. REUSE MORE. WASTE LESS.
Give it another life.
Before throwing something away, could you repair it, borrow it or pass it on?
Discover local community repair projects, borrowing schemes and reuse organisations helping residents across the Stroud district save money and keep useful belongings in use for longer.
What would you like to do?
Choose an option to jump straight to the information you need.
Get something repaired
A broken household appliance, damaged bicycle or torn piece of clothing doesn't always need replacing.
Local charities, community organisations and volunteers are helping people keep belongings in use for longer.
LOCAL COMMUNITY REPAIR WORKSHOP
Share and Repair Stonehouse
24 High Street, Stonehouse, GL10 2NA
Share and Repair helps residents extend the life of everyday household items through affordable repair services.
Its services include repairs to suitable electrical appliances, clothing repairs and alterations, tool sharpening and other household repairs.
Contact the workshop before visiting to check whether it can help with your item and confirm any costs.
VOLUNTEER-LED REPAIRS
Find a repair café near you
Repair cafés are community events where skilled volunteers help residents repair broken items instead of throwing them away.
Depending on the volunteers available, repair cafés may be able to help with small electrical items, clothing, bicycles, tools and other household belongings.
Find your nearest repair café: Gloucestershire Recycles maintains a directory covering Stroud, Nailsworth, Stonehouse and other communities across the district.
Visit the directory to find a group and check its latest session information.
Repair cafés may request a donation or payment for replacement parts. Repairs cannot always be guaranteed.
Other community repair and reuse projects
Some local charities and community interest companies also specialise in repairing, refurbishing and reusing particular items.
COMMUNITY BICYCLE PROJECT
Access Bike – Creative Sustainability CIC
Fromehall Mill, Stroud
Access Bike is a community bicycle workshop where young people can learn practical bike repair and maintenance skills, refurbish old bicycles and develop confidence.
The project primarily supports young people aged 13 to 25, with some opportunities for adults to volunteer.
It also helps give donated bicycles a new life.
Check the website for current sessions and participation arrangements.
APPLIANCE REPAIR AND REFURBISHMENT
Stroud Re:work
54 London Road, Stroud, GL5 2AD
Stroud Re:work is a community-focused appliance repair and refurbishment organisation that describes its work as supporting people experiencing financial difficulties.
Its website advertises repairs and reconditioned appliances, including washing machines, cookers and other household equipment.
Contact the organisation before visiting to check its current services and whether it can help with your item.
COMMUNITY TEXTILE REUSE
Emergence Commons CIC
Stroud
Emergence Commons promotes clothing reuse, textile repair, visible mending and creative skills through community projects and workshops.
Its activities aim to help people make better use of existing clothing and materials, rather than throwing them away.
Check the website for current events, workshops and ways to get involved.
Repair safely
Electrical, gas and other specialist repairs should only be carried out by someone with the appropriate knowledge and skills. Never attempt a repair if you're unsure whether it is safe.
Borrow instead of buying
Need a drill for one job, garden equipment for a weekend or something for a special occasion?
Borrowing something you only need occasionally can save money, reduce waste and avoid unnecessary purchases.
LOCAL COMMUNITY BORROWING SCHEME
Stroud Library of Things (SLOTH)
Stroud Library of Things allows residents to borrow useful equipment rather than buying items they may only need occasionally.
Its catalogue includes DIY tools, gardening equipment and other useful household items.
DIY tools
Garden equipment
Household items
Other equipment
SLOTH is currently hosted at Stroud Town Council's offices at Locking Hill. Check the website for current opening times, collection arrangements, availability and borrowing charges before travelling.
Donate furniture and give it a new home
If your unwanted furniture is still in good reusable condition, a local charity or reuse organisation may be able to accept it.
Some organisations also offer free furniture collections, helping residents donate larger items such as sofas, tables and wardrobes.
Before donating furniture
- Make sure furniture is clean, safe and in reusable condition.
- Check that upholstered furniture has the required fire safety labels.
- Contact the organisation to confirm what it accepts.
- Ask whether a collection is available if you cannot transport the item.
Local furniture reuse organisations
STROUD CHARITY REUSE
Emmaus Gloucestershire
56 London Road, Stroud, GL5 2AD
Emmaus is a homelessness charity that sells donated, pre-loved furniture and household goods to support its work.
It accepts suitable furniture, clothing, books and other reusable items.
Furniture collection: Free collections for suitable furniture and white goods can be requested through Emmaus Gloucestershire, subject to acceptance.
Emmaus also has shops in Nailsworth.
Stroud shop: 01453 766563
LOCAL FURNITURE REUSE
The Home Remedy Stroud
Brimscombe Mill, Brimscombe, Stroud
The Home Remedy is a community-focused furniture reuse project helping suitable unwanted furniture find new homes.
Residents can donate reusable furniture, buy second-hand furniture and find out about support for households in need.
Furniture collection: Free collections are available across the Stroud district and surrounding areas, subject to the condition of the items and collection arrangements.
STROUD FURNITURE DONATION HUB
Longfield Community Hospice
Unit D1, Kingfisher Business Park, London Road, Stroud, GL5 2BY
Longfield operates a furniture shop and donation hub in Stroud, raising funds to support hospice care.
It accepts suitable furniture and working electrical appliances.
Furniture collection: Free collections can be requested for suitable large items within approximately 15 miles of its furniture shop, subject to availability and acceptance.
Furniture shop: 01453 243322
STROUD CHARITY SHOP
Sue Ryder – Union Street
8 Union Street, Stroud, GL5 2HE
Sue Ryder's Union Street charity shop accepts donated goods and sells a selection of pre-loved items, including household goods and electricals.
Furniture collection: Sue Ryder also operates a free furniture collection service, with availability depending on the resident's postcode and the suitability of the item.
Contact the shop before bringing in large items.
Stroud shop: 01453 757084
FURTHER FURNITURE DONATION OPTION
Furniture Recycling Project Gloucestershire
The Furniture Recycling Project is a Gloucestershire charity that collects, restores and redistributes reusable furniture, household items and working electrical appliances.
Furniture collection: It operates a free collection service throughout Gloucestershire, including the Stroud district, subject to acceptance.
The project also offers volunteering and training opportunities linked to repair and reuse.
Collection enquiries: 01452 302303
Please check before donating
Each organisation has its own acceptance criteria, collection areas and availability. Always contact the organisation before arranging a donation. Do not leave unwanted furniture outside closed shops or collection points.
Donate, swap or share other unwanted items
Furniture isn't the only thing that can be reused. Clothes, books, toys, tools and household belongings may still be useful to somebody else.
Donate
Give suitable clothes, books, toys and household items to a charity or community reuse organisation.
Give away
Find someone nearby who could make use of belongings you no longer need.
Swap
Exchange clothes, books and other suitable items with friends, family or community groups.
Give things away locally
Freegle and Freecycle help connect people who have unwanted items with others who could use them.
These services can be useful for passing on furniture, equipment and other household belongings free of charge.
Clothing and textiles
Clothing can often be repaired, altered, swapped or donated rather than thrown away.
- Repair small tears and replace buttons.
- Donate clean, wearable clothing to a charity.
- Look for local clothing swaps and textile reuse projects.
- Try visible mending or upcycling to give clothes another life.
Electrical items
Working electrical items may be suitable for donation, depending on the organisation's acceptance and safety requirements.
Broken electricals may be repairable. If they cannot be repaired or reused, they should be recycled through an appropriate service or collection point.
Remember to remove personal information from phones, tablets and computers before passing them on.
Important: batteries and vapes
Batteries and vapes must not go in household rubbish or mixed recycling because they can cause fires.
Stroud District Council offers separate weekly collections for eligible small batteries and vapes alongside food waste collections.
Place batteries and vapes in separate clear bags on top of your food waste bin lid on collection day. Never put them inside the food waste bin.
Get involved in your community
Many repair and reuse projects rely on volunteers who enjoy sharing practical skills and helping others.
Could you share your skills?
Whether you enjoy sewing, fixing household items, bicycle maintenance, furniture restoration or organising community events, consider volunteering with a local repair or reuse organisation.
Not sure what to do with something?
If an item cannot be repaired or reused, there may still be a way to recycle it.
YOUR LOCAL REUSE AND RECYCLING GUIDE
Ask the Waste Wizard
Find out how to repair, reuse, recycle or dispose of household items.
Enter your postcode and search for the item you want to get rid of.
For large household items that cannot be reused, the council also provides a chargeable bulky waste collection service. Find details by searching for bulky waste on the council website.
CALLING LOCAL ORGANISATIONS
Would you like your organisation listed?
Are you a charity, community interest company (CIC), not-for-profit organisation or volunteer-led community group offering repair, reuse, borrowing or donation services to residents of the Stroud district?
We'd love to hear from you!
We're keen to help residents discover more local reuse and repair opportunities.
If your organisation isn't currently featured on this page, please get in touch and we'll be happy to consider adding your details.
What information should you send?
- Your organisation's name and location
- A brief description of the services you provide
- What items you accept, repair or reuse
- Whether you offer a collection service
- Your website and contact details
Simply email Samuel Webb at Stroud District Council with your details.
Request an organisation listing
Email: Samuel.webb@stroud.gov.uk
Listings are reviewed before being added. Please also contact us if your organisation is already featured and its details need updating.
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