The Gorebridge Lend & Mend Hub has been expanded to include a wider range of equipment intended to help Midlothian households repair, extend and personalise items rather than discard them. The move, announced this week, adds power tools, sewing machines and even cake tins to the collection available free to library members.
Local access to repair equipment
Launched in 2022, the Hub operates as part of a Scotland‑wide initiative run by the Scottish Library and Information Council (SLIC). It was co‑designed with Midlothian Libraries and local residents to reflect the needs of the community, organisers say. The expansion aims to remove cost and storage barriers that often stop people from attempting repairs or small projects at home.
- New items added: power tools, sewing machines, cake tins (and other small domestic items)
- Who can use it: all Midlothian Library members
- Main aims: reduce household waste, build skills, and promote circular economy habits
Why this matters locally
For households in Midlothian the Hub represents a practical route to save money and acquire hands‑on skills without having to invest in costly equipment or find storage for occasional items. The service may be particularly valuable for those living in smaller homes, renters and people starting community projects.
Officials emphasise the Hub is not solely about lending tools but about learning: encouraging repair, reuse and the confidence to take on small home and craft projects. The library setting also opens opportunities for workshops and peer support, although details of any training sessions were not provided in the announcement.
“By offering free access to equipment that many households may not be able to afford, the Hub aims to reduce inequalities, build confidence and empower people to make sustainable choices in their everyday lives.”
The comment above was made by Alison Nolan, chief executive of SLIC, in relation to the broader Lend & Mend network. It underlines the programme’s dual objectives of environmental benefit and social inclusion.
Practical information
The Hub is available to all members of Midlothian Libraries at Gorebridge. The following table summarises key access points and what residents should expect when they visit or enquire.
| Item | Access |
|---|---|
| Power tools | Borrow from Gorebridge Hub via library membership |
| Sewing machines | Available for community projects and skill learning |
| Kitchen items (cake tins) | Short‑term lending to reduce cost and storage needs |
Library members wishing to use the Hub should check Midlothian Libraries' channels for opening times and any booking requirements. The expansion is presented as a step in a longer‑term movement to embed circular economy practices across Scotland’s public libraries, with Gorebridge among the local sites leading by example.
For Midlothian residents the upgraded Hub offers immediate, practical benefits: cheaper access to equipment, greater opportunity to learn repair skills and a local resource that can help divert items from waste streams. How widely and rapidly those benefits reach different neighbourhoods will depend on uptake, publicity and any future support for workshops or outreach from the library service.
