For the dedicated volunteers of the Farnham Repair Cafe, Friday evening was a moment to set aside their screwdrivers and soldering irons for a while as they were honoured for their commitment.

In a ceremony at Farnham Town Hall, they joined distinguished members of Surrey society to receive the King’s Award for Voluntary Service, a prestigious recognition of their invaluable contributions to both the local community and the environment.

Since its inception in 2015, the Farnham Repair Cafe (FRC) has become a vital community hub. Held monthly at The Spire Church, the cafe’s volunteers have repaired thousands of items brought in by the public, giving new life to everything from electronics to textiles.

The ceremony was launched by Cllr Brodie Mauluka, Mayor of Farnham, who said the award was testament to the repair cafe’s “remarkable dedication, passion and unwavering commitment to making our community a better place.”

In presenting the award to the FRC volunteers and trustees, Michael More-Molyneux, Lord Lieutenant of Surrey, said: “I’ve been astonished to talk to a lot of you and to find out how many different skills there are in this room tonight – from people who mend shoes to flight simulators and everything in between, and you do it all with such modesty.”

Iain Lynch, Farnham Town Clerk, added: “We are especially proud of the work you all do in sharing your skills to help others and promoting the culture of repair over disposal, while contributing to Farnham’s sustainability objectives and a more sustainable world.”

Martin Charter, chair and founder of the FRC, said: “Absolutely, repair cafes are about repair, but absolutely, they’re about community, and the social dimension is absolutely key to this.”

When the FRC was founded in 2015, there were only about 20 similar repair cafes across the UK. Today, the movement has grown to about 600 nationwide, as well as more than 4,000 repair cafes operating globally.