Circular Resources Library

Building Reuse and Repair Through Member Collaboration

The Circular Resources Library is a member-to-member offering within the NIRN network, where members share knowledge, practical skills, and resources in reuse and repair. The library brings together workshops, site visits, and shared learning opportunities hosted across member locations throughout Northern Ireland.

By connecting through hands-on sessions and real-world examples, members exchange expertise, strengthen their own organisations, and support growth. This collaborative approach helps expand reuse and repair practices, ensuring that the benefits of experience and innovation are shared across the entire NIRN network

How the Circular Resources Library Works

To learn more about how the Circular Resources Library works, please read the document that explains how it operates and how members can get involved

Download Guidelines

Must Read Case Studies – collaboration drives results!

The Liberty Consortium “Crumbs Golden Ale” – This case study looks at the “Crumbs Golden Ale” Initiative, which used excess bread from the community fridge to produce a brand new product. This fantastic project is about so much more than beer. It is community spirit and the circular economy in action: Tackling Food Waste: Turning surplus bread into a premium local product. Giving Back: For every pint of Crumbs sold, £1 is donated to Foyle Network Foundation – Foyle Foodbank. Collaboration: Highlighting the incredible work of The Playtrail, The Liberty Consortium and Walled City Brewery. Creating Impact: Supporting and empowering local young adults through a practical, creative and meaningful project.
Tools for Solidarity and Repair Café NI – This case study explores collaboration between two leading organisations in NI’s repair and reuse movement. Repair Café NI and Tools for Solidarity. Centred on a dedicated sewing machine repair training initiative, the partnership aimed to equip volunteer fixers from Repair Café NI with the specialist skills required to diagnose and repair domestic sewing machines. The collaboration not only addressed a growing need for sewing machine repairs in the community but also facilitated a knowledge exchange, built capacity, and strengthened the fabric of the local repair network.
CAN and Via Wings – This case study examines the collaboration between Compass Advocacy Network (Ballymoney) and Via Wings (Dromore). Through a structured site visit, Via Wings staff studied Compass’s models for effective charity shop management and integrated service delivery for children and adults.

Tools for Solidarity and Repair & Share Foyle – This case study focused on skill-sharing, with TFS providing sewing machine repair training to R&SF. Participants reported significant benefits and expressed a strong interest in future collaboration with each other and the wider NIRN network.

Repair & Share Foyle and Neighbourhood Management Team – This case study examines how R&SF hosted NMT for further experience in PAT testing. This was focused on the practicalities of the PAT testing machine to enable NMT to carry out its own internal PAT testing.

Tools for Solidarity and Life Changes Lives – This case study focused on the repair and reuse of industrial sewing machines, with TfS not only restoring donated equipment for LCCL but also providing hands-on training to LCCL members. This initiative sought to enhance skills, promote self-sufficiency, and sustainable resource use within the community.
Tully Meadow Men’s Shed & Garrison Men’s Shed – This case study gives insight into Men’s Sheds – looking at Tully Meadow and The Garrison, discover how the men’s sheds provide comfort and companionship in their local community.
The Remakery and Life Changes Change Lives (LCCL) – This case study details an exploratory visit by the Remakery Studio to the creative community organisation, LCCL, to gain first-hand insight into the operational structure and practices of LCCL, with a view to exchanging ideas and identifying opportunities for improvement.
Tools for Solidarity and Repair Cafe NI – This case study involved collaboration that not only addressed a growing need for sewing machine repairs in the community but also developed knowledge exchange, built capacity, and strengthened the fabric of the local repair network.
Belfast Tool Library and Sustainability Stories – This case study involved a visit that provided an invaluable opportunity to gain first-hand insight into setting up and managing a community tool library, as well as to exchange ideas and network with fellow members dedicated to sustainable practices.
All Island Case Study – This case study details a collaborative project between Tools for Solidarity Belfast and Change Clothes Dublin, marking the first all-island Circular Resources Library Shared Learning initiative. The partnership focused on sewing machine refurbishment & repair, and training aimed to enhance skills and promote circular resource management by extending the use of equipmentToo