University of Leeds
Repair Café: Students and Staff Driving Circular Economy Action Together
Finalist, Student engagement
Finalist, Student Engagement
About
Co-developed and delivered through collaboration between students, staff volunteers, sustainability practitioners, repair specialists and community partners, the initiative creates accessible opportunities for people to repair clothing, electricals and household items while building sustainability knowledge, confidence and practical skills. Students participate in a variety of ways, including attending events, volunteering, learning repair skills, supporting communications, helping deliver activities and collaborating with community repair specialists. Students have also contributed through formal sustainability roles, including Student Sustainability Architects, who have developed educational resources, supported event delivery and created opportunities for collaboration with student societies. The initiative has strengthened community connections, prevented waste, reduced carbon emissions and supported behaviour change through hands-on learning, demonstrating how universities can support inclusive, low-cost sustainability action through meaningful student participation and partnership.
Top 3 Learnings
- Practical repair activities engaged students more effectively than awareness campaigns alone.
- Student leadership and co-creation significantly increased participation and ownership.
- Repair skills build sustainability literacy, wellbeing, employability and community connections simultaneously.
What would it mean to win?
Recognition and celebration of exceptional student volunteers and inspire inter-disciplinary, collaborative projects with measurable sustainability benefits and invaluable outcomes for student personal and professional development.
Sustaianble Development Goal (SDG)
| 2026 | |
| Student engagement | |
| Finalist, UK and Ireland |
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