by Siobhan Purnell, Sustainability Programme Officer – QUB
When I was recently asked at a conference to think about something I had repaired and how it made me feel, my mind went straight to my Dad – and to being a young child again.
Growing up on a farm in Co Armagh in the 1970s, my Dad was the fixer of all things. If a zip got stuck, if my beloved walkie-talkie doll stopped talking, if a pencil needed sharpening, he could sort it. I just had to ask. He was my go-to man, and he still is. Even now, he’s fixing things and looking after us all.
He used to say, “Don’t throw that out, I’ll find a use for it someday.” And sure enough, some of those things are still sitting there 50 years later!
That memory made me reflect on how much we’ve changed as a society. We’ve become programmed to buy new, to throw away, to replace rather than repair. It’s harder to fix things now; not just practically, but culturally. Convenience and consumption have become our default.
But we need to get back to that time – not just the era, but the mindset. A time when things were fixable, when we had someone to go to, when we valued what we had.
Because our world is hurting. And we are hurting as a society.
We need true leaders to step up and that doesn’t mean the most powerful people in the world. It means each and every one of us doing something. Repairing, reusing, caring. That gives us power. It gives us back a little bit of control.
Let’s start small, but start now.
- Fix something instead of replacing it.
- Share a story about something you’ve repaired.
- Teach someone how to mend, patch, or restore.
- Visit a repair café. Organise one.
- Love what you have, Care for it, Nurture it.
- Be the person someone can go to when something breaks.
Because every act of repair is an act of hope – and hope is something we can all create.
Because that’s what we need in this world today.
Join the Movement at Re (Act) Festival
If this message resonates with you, come be part of the RE[act] Festival this November. It’s a celebration of action, creativity, and community – a space where we can share skills, stories, and solutions. Whether you’re a seasoned fixer or just curious to learn, there’s a place for you. Let’s come together to repair not just things, but our relationship with the planet and each other. Because every small act matters – and together, we can make a big difference.
Siobhán Purnell is a communications professional with over 30 years’ experience spanning the energy sector, environmental charities, and higher education. For more than two decades, she has been a passionate advocate for sustainability, leading initiatives that champion energy efficiency, renewable energy, recycling, and the reduction of textile waste.
In October 2024, Siobhán joined Queen’s University Belfast as a Sustainability Programme Officer, where she plays a pivotal role in advancing the University’s circular economy strategy. Her recent work includes delivering high-impact campaigns for European Week for Waste Reduction and Repair Week, and contributing to the Reach ’25 Festival, helping to embed sustainability across the university community.