Thank you to everyone who joined our Volunteers’ Evening on 28th January at The Folly in Petersfield, which was full of energy, ideas, and a real sense of shared purpose. The event brought together volunteers old and new to talk about two exciting projects: Petersfield Repair Café and the Eco Fair.
The evening was kicked off with a warm welcome from PeCAN trustee Paul Parkin, who shared some information about us – who we are, what we do, and why community-led environmental action is so important. It set the tone perfectly for an evening centred around collaboration and positive impact.
Next, Sarah Hall, PeCAN’s Volunteer Engagement Officer, gave an update on the last four months. One of the highlights was the wonderful news that 550 trees have recently been successfully distributed across Petersfield and the surrounding areas.
This is a real win for the local ecosystem. Trees play a vital role in absorbing carbon dioxide, improving air quality, supporting wildlife, and helping to manage water and soil health. On average, a single mature tree can absorb around 20–25kg of CO₂ per year, meaning these newly planted trees represent a meaningful long-term investment in a healthier, more resilient local environment.
PeCAN Team Leader Patricia Exley then shared more details about the Eco Fair, which will be taking place on Sunday 12th July. Her update sparked lots of enthusiasm, with volunteers keen to help make it another successful and inspiring event for the community.
There was a particularly strong turnout to hear PeCAN trustee Andrew Lee talk about the Repair Café, which is still in its infancy but already generating a lot of interest. Andrew explained why repair cafés matter so much, from reducing waste and keeping items out of landfill, to creating welcoming social spaces where people can come together, learn new skills, and help one another.
After the talks, the group split into two focused discussions, one for the Repair Café and one for the Eco Fair. Discussions were animated, particularly in the Repair Café group, with plenty of practical questions being asked - such as “What if we pull something apart and can’t put it back together again?”
The walk-through of what’s needed to run a Repair Café proved incredibly useful, and it was brilliant to have representatives present from other repair cafés, including Buriton RC, generously sharing their experience, knowledge, and reassurance. We were delighted that representatives from Petersfield Men's Shed also joined the event, to share their ideas and offer support.
With the soft launch of the Repair Café planned for the end of February, it’s now essential to make sure volunteers are in place. And it’s not just repairers that are needed. Fortunately, there were plenty of people happy to help as friendly faces, supporting with triage, welcoming visitors, and helping with catering.
Eco Fair discussions were driven by passion and ambition. Attendees discussed how tasks could be broken down into manageable pieces, covering areas such as energy, travel, music, and more, making it easier for volunteers to get involved without feeling overwhelmed.
Overall, it was a fantastic evening full of ideas, collaboration, and optimism. If last night was anything to go by, both the Repair Café and the Eco Fair are in very good hands!
The next Volunteers’ Evening will take place on Wednesday 25th March, from 7pm at the Folly Upstairs. Everyone is welcome, and we’d love to see yet more friendly faces there! If you can't join us then, please note that there is a Volunteers Evening every other month, on the last Wednesday, interspersed with a more relaxed PeCAN at the Pub social in the Folly Bar downstairs. You are also very welcome to find us at the weekly Eco Cafe every Tuesday 11am - midday in the Perry Room behind the main building at Winton House.