CHAGFORD’S Proper Job Resource Centre was a hive of activity on Saturday, March 10 on their free family re-use and repair day, with children and adults alike learning new skills such as tool sharpening, bike repair, composting and sewing.

Despite the rainy start to the day people were undeterred with visitors from as far afield as Plymouth and Newton Abbot.

Children were kept busy ‘sewing with Sue’ to create their own cushions, peg bags and aprons from cast aside fabrics that had been donated to the recycling centre.

Eric Hodges shared his vast experience of tool sharpening as people queued to have their blunt kitchen knives and garden shears brought back to life. Chagford’s very own ‘bike fixer’ Frank Williams gave free bike services, teaching bike care and maintenance tips and compost expert Nicky Scott shared his knowledge teaching about the benefits and techniques of composting.

The event was celebrating Devon Reuse Week and was a launch event for further free workshops.

Those planned throughout the spring and summer include bird box making with Nick Baker on Saturday April 7, planting hanging baskets and containers on Saturday, May 5 and sewing and bag making on Saturday, June 9.

The unique Proper Job Resource Centre just outside of Chagford has been operating for 18 years, recycling, fixing and selling unwanted items that would otherwise have ended up in landfill.

To find out more about Proper Job or to book your free place on a workshop head to the Proper Job website www.proper-job.org or subscribe to the newsletter.