I would enjoy this so much. Always keeping electronic parts around home, "just in case". It feels so profoundly satisfying when you finally get to put some switch or random piece to use for a repair, after having kept it stored for 13 years in a drawer (and through moving houses 3 times!)
Given expected further economic struggle ahead of most everyone living in the UK, such gatherings perhaps come being more appropriate than ever. If not late already. The only contradiction is with the otherwise super consumerism-oriented societal tune across most Europe, UK including.
We did a "restart party" at our hackerspace a few years ago. Definitely could have used a good stock of capacitors. Probably power cords. Not sure what to do with all the very specific USB-C etc. ports that break.
I once knew someone who bought a set of various different types of usbc connector, I think from a chinese site. It had enough variety that one worked for his repair (a handheld gaming device).
Everything about fixing something broken is so appealing. Better for the environment, often better for your wallet, and better for the soul.
I think this applies to software too! Writing good software allows it to be maintained well and it being open source helps promote that. Publishing good documentation is another huge win for maintainability.
If you have a habit like me of only partly fixing things, because a unforseen problem came up and deciding to get back later on it, you will just pile up electronic garbage and run out of space. (It was really good for my soul getting rid of most of it recently)
Something that repair enables is wealth in the sense that David Deutsch uses in "Beginning of Infinity:" the repertoire of physical transformations that they would be capable of causing
I think this applies to software too! Writing good software allows it to be maintained well and it being open source helps promote that. Publishing good documentation is another huge win for maintainability.
Well, if it works again ..
https://xkcd.com/1994/
If you have a habit like me of only partly fixing things, because a unforseen problem came up and deciding to get back later on it, you will just pile up electronic garbage and run out of space. (It was really good for my soul getting rid of most of it recently)
https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html#generated