A poll by YouGov shows that more Britons would like to repair their smartphones instead of replacing them. For laptops, a stronger majority prefer repair. But there are major barriers.
Don’t despair, just repair.
The Restart Project helps people learn how to repair their broken electronics, and rethink how they consume them in the first place.
Find out more about usRepair events
You’re invited to a Restart Party!
Participate in a free community repair event, where volunteer fixers will help you learn how to repair your broken or slow devices - and tackle the growing mountain of e-waste.
*IMPORTANT CORONAVIRUS NOTICE*
All events across our network are cancelled through the end of April unless stated otherwise.
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Hertfordshire, United Kingdom
CANCELLED St Luke’s Church St Albans
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Brighton, United Kingdom
CANCELLED The Hanover Centre
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Hertfordshire, United Kingdom
CANCELLED Harpenden Quaker Meeting House
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London, United Kingdom
CANCELLED Hackney Fixers Party in the Park
Latest News
Read more newsKeep up to date with our latest news from community repair and the right to repair.
Earth Day activity “Mobiles Come from the Earth”
For Earth Day, we ran an online activity called “Mobiles Come from the Earth” aimed at kids, but really for anybody over 10 years old. This was the first of the kind that we’ve run, building on educational resources we created together with partners in five countries with European funding from EIT Raw Materials.
Restart Radio
Listen to all episodesAt least once a month, we produce a podcast about rescuing and repairing the electronics we use everyday.
Listen here, or tune in live the second Tuesday of the month at 5pm on London’s Resonance FM.
Apple’s T2 Chip and ownership rights after the first owner
Repair Data
Together with our growing network, we collect and share data on the things we repair, and use it to help us demand better, more sustainable products.
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devices fixed
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hours volunteered
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kg waste prevented
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kg CO2 prevented
Fixometer
Our web app allows members of the repair community to log their fixes and to learn about the social and environmental impact of their work.
Our insights
We collect data on repair from our community events and we use the data to provide insights into the devices we see.
Education
We're working with young people to spark awareness about the raw materials inside our electronics and their environmental impacts.
Materials matter
Through hands-on activity, we reveal hidden environmental impacts of smartphones.
Our hands-on enrichment programme helps secondary schools create a new generation of fixers.
Community
Restart is a people-powered project. Here's what we're up to:
Producing great online repair events – learning from around the world
The pandemic presents huge challenges to communities around the world, including community repair groups. Fortunately, we see the world through the lens of repair and are practised problem-solvers. We’ve been inspired to see how groups around the world have adapted online.
Repair data: why community groups collect and share
Many groups in our network are using our software to log community repair data after events. We asked some of them to tell us more about their experience with data. What motivated them to start recording data at repair events? What have they used repair data for?
Restarters
We call volunteers who share their repair skills Restarters.
Restarter Profile: Meet Alison
Alison is a life-long DIYer who has a real can-do spirit about maintenance and fixing, and a budding interest in brewing. She laments the fact that some women feel discouraged to repair, and loves being involved in our Rosie the Restarter skillshares.
Restarter profile: Meet Steve
Steve is a life-long tinkerer and fixer, who loves the “Marie Kondo” repairs the best — the ones that spark joy. He enjoys repurposing electronics with his kids, cycling and running. He still remembers his first repair – a Walkman – at age 10.