Swiss Fix & Mix Summer Programme 2025
Gain skills in repair, reduce waste, and meet your neighbours
As part of the Good Neighbourhood Project, the Winch’s latest effort to support community-led action in the neighbourhood, we’re excited to launch a programme of repair workshops this summer by and for Swiss Cottage residents: Swiss Fix & Mix.
Organised by residents in response to local demand, Swiss Fix & Mix will teach you the skills to make basic repairs to clothes and electrical items. Join your neighbours at our free workshops to learn new skills, and help reduce waste.
The sessions are designed for those with little or no prior experience, so don’t worry if you’ve never repaired anything before. You’ll get plenty of help from our experienced and friendly workshop leaders.
The workshops are suitable for adults and young people aged 12+. Young people aged 12-16 must be accompanied by an adult. Childcare for children 0-11 years will be provided if participants require it.
Tea, coffee and soft drinks provided, and we are very grateful to Spice Deli on Goldhurst Road for donating snacks for participants to enjoy.
Advanced booking is essential - so read on to find out more, then head over to Eventbrite to secure your place!
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Patch and Mend
Saturday 26 July 2025
10:00am - 1:00pmLocation: Glass Room 2 (in the ground floor lobby), Swiss Cottage Library, 88 Avenue Road, NW3 3HA
Access notes: Level access from street level, accessible toilets on the same floor
Facilitator: Sophie Gorton
Please bring: One or more items of clothing with holes
Got a favourite item of clothing in need of repair, and not sure what to do? This fun and creative workshop is for you! This session will enable you to learn and practice decorative techniques to mend holes in clothes. You can learn to make and apply a patch, and/or try out visible mending techniques such as the Japanese stitching process sashiko.
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Remake Fashion
Saturday 9 August
10.30am-1.00pmLocation: Glass Room 2 (in the ground floor lobby), Swiss Cottage Library, 88 Avenue Road, NW3 3HA
Access notes: Level access from street level, accessible toilets on the same floor
Facilitator: Sophie Gorton
Please bring: An item of clothing you want to alter or decorate.
A top that’s now a squeeze or that coffee stain on your shirt doesn’t need to mean the bin. This workshop will teach you what you need to start giving your old clothes a new lease of life. During the session, you will learn to alter and/or decorate clothes. This workshop includes a demonstration to teach (or remind) you the basics of using a sewing machine, and a chance to try out other textile decoration techniques.
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Change a Plug like a Pro
Saturday 30 August 2025
10.30am - 1.00pmLocation: Level 1 Community Space, The O2 Centre, 255 Finchley Road, NW3 6LU
Access notes: Available on Access-Able
Facilitator: Petra Backovska (the Fixing Factory)
Please bring: Just yourself - all equipment provided
Plug changes don’t need to be intimidating! This workshop covers the basics, so you’ll be prepared for quick, safe plug repairs. By the end of the session you will have learnt the basics of safety when working with electrical items, understood how plugs work, disassembled and reassembled a traditional plug, and learnt about common mistakes to avoid.
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Lamp Laboratory
Saturday 13th September 2025
10.30am - 1.00pmLocation: Level 1 Community Space, The O2 Centre, Finchley Road, NW3 6LU
Access notes: Available on Access-Able
Facilitator: Petra Backovska (the Fixing Factory)
Please bring: All the equipment you need is provided. However, we welcome advanced donations of lamps that aren't working to repair during the workshop. These should be dropped at the Winch by Friday 29th August 2025.
At this workshop you will learn the basic foundations of fixing electrical items, with a focus on electrical lamps. By the end of the session you will have learnt the basics of safety when working with electrical items, disassembled and reassembled a lamp, understood its basic operations, gained tips on maintaining electrical items and conducted a basic repair.
The Shared Plate Summer Programme 2025
The Shared Plate team will run free cooking workshops in our neighborhood, Swiss Cottage & South Hampstead. We're inviting neighbours to come together to cook and share food that’s healthy, affordable, and full of flavour. From seasonal suppers to budget-friendly meals, join us in celebrating the power of sharing recipes and stories across the table.
All cooking classes are free and open to all cooking levels.
Free booking is required as spaces are limited.
If you need help booking, please email bahar@thewinch.org.
Thanks to our project partner Likewise for supporting the project and kindly providing their incredible community kitchen for the cooking classes!
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A Summer Supper
Wednesday 9 July 2025
5:30 – 7:00 PMCome along and join Fran for a delicious, seasonal meal using fresh summer produce. We’ll cook courgettes with butter beans and finish with a warming apricot crumble.
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Dahl Duo
Wednesday 23 July 2025
5:30 – 7:00 PMJoin Fateha to explore the versatility of lentils with two comforting dishes: lentil fritters and a flavorful dahl, served with salad and a dip. Fateha will also walk you through her nutrition and smart storage tips!
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After School Picky Bits
Wednesday 6 August
5:30 – 7:00 PMLed by Lexi, one of our brilliant young local cooks, this workshop is great for young people who want to learn simple, healthy, and tasty recipes they can make at home. We'll cook cheesy pasta bake, tortilla chips, and blend up some fresh smoothies together.
This workshop is for people aged between 14-20
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Sweet Sweet Potato!
Wednesday 3 September
5:30 – 7:00 PMJoin Claudine to learn how to cook creatively with an all-time staple: sweet potato. We’ll cook three simple, nourishing recipes using this affordable, adaptable ingredient.
Past Events
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Good Neighbourhood Assembly
Saturday 8th February, 2025
The Good Neighbourhood Assembly was an inspiring afternoon as the Good Neighbourhood Collective presented the findings from months of hard work and engagement, sharing a shortlist of 18 practical actions focused on the themes of; Food and Nutrition, Mental Health and Community Spaces.
Attendees then had the opportunity to vote on the recommendations they wanted to see put into action in the neighbourhood. One community-led project and one recommendation for decision-makers for each theme will be taken forward.
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Good Neighbourhood Festival
Saturday 13th July, 2024
The Good Neighbourhood Festival was a celebration of community spirit in Swiss Cottage and South Hampstead. Welcoming around 300 residents, the festival offered an exciting mix of activities, workshops, and live performances, creating a space where people of all ages could connect, learn, and celebrate together.
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Hilgrove Together Event
Sunday 26th May, 2024
A large-scale engagement event on the Hilgrove Estate, where The Winch has long standing relationships. While primarily part of a Participatory Budgeting project, it provided a great opportunity to introduce the Good Neighbourhood Project to local residents and test engagement methods.