Celebrating 2 Years of EVI Pantry & Repair Cafe

Over the past two years, EVI Pantry and Repair Café have become vital community resources, helping people save money, reduce waste, and support each other. Recently, we came together to celebrate their impact with a birthday party.

ProMo Cymru are the guardians of Ebbw Vale Institute (EVI), a Grade II listed building that serves as a welcoming space for the community of Blaenau Gwent and beyond. EVI is home to a range of training, wellbeing, and community projects and events, constantly evolving to meet local needs. Innovation is at the heart of everything we do, ensuring that EVI remains a thriving centre for support, learning, and connection.

Recently, we celebrated two years of EVI Repair Café and EVI Pantry. A huge thank you to everyone who joined us for cake, repairs, and community support. It was wonderful to see so many familiar and new faces coming together to mark this milestone.

The birthday party atmosphere was fantastic! Staff, volunteers, and visitors gathered to share stories, enjoy some delicious cake, and see first-hand the impact of our community initiatives. 

Our Impact Over Two Years

Since launching in February 2023, both the Repair Café and Pantry have made a huge difference in the community.

EVI Repair Café

The Repair Café is a space where, once a month, volunteers use their skills to fix household electricals, bikes, clothing, jewellery, and more—helping people save money, reduce waste, and learn new skills. Over the last two years:

• 268 items have been repaired, saving 564kg of waste from landfill 
• 11,000kg of CO₂e prevented from entering the atmosphere
• Over £27,000 saved in replacement costs

EVI Pantry

The Community Food Pantry is open every week and offers affordable groceries to local households, ensuring access to fresh, quality food while reducing food waste and supporting the community. Over the last two years:

• 450+ households supported in Blaenau Gwent
• 5,200+ visits, saving the community £73,600 on grocery bills
• 190 Christmas & Easter hampers distributed to those in need

These amazing achievements show what we can accomplish when we come together—saving money, reducing waste, and supporting each other as a community.

Diolch!

We couldn’t have done this without our volunteers, funders, donors, and every single person who has supported EVI Repair Café and Pantry! Whether you’ve helped repair an item, stocked the pantry shelves, shared a friendly smile, or spread the word, you are part of this incredible community effort.

Visit www.evi.cymru to learn more.

ProMo Cymru operates and is the custodian of Ebbw Vale Institute. EVI is funded through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.