Eco Matters – the “First 50” book

We’ve been running since 2022 to help raise local people’s awareness and improve their wellbeing on climate change. As you may know, we’ve published the Eco Matters column every fortnight in the Maidenhead Advertiser. At the end of last year we ran our fiftieth column.

So we have compiled the first fifty into a small book. 

Each Eco Matters column is written by a different person. We’ve covered a wide range of eco topics from heat pumps and electric cars through to bees and Christmas gifts, offering practical advice, information and tips.

Our aim in publishing the book is to make sure that all this great insight and advice reaches as wide an audience as possible beyond the circulation of the newspaper itself. We decided to physically print it (on recyclable paper of course) to ensure it has a more lasting life and makes more impact than a digital-only document.

If you would like one of the remaining FREE copies of the book (otherwise with a cover price of £8.99). If so, just fill in your details on this link and we will send you one of the free copies – assuming they haven’t run out yet.
And if you’d like to help us cover our ECO Matters and ECO Action costs please check out this link too! All contributions very much appreciated.

Lastly, thank you to our co-sponsors; Maidenhead Advertiser, SaveEnergy, and The Louis Baylis Trust. Keep looking in the Maidenhead Advertiser for even more ECO Matters articles: we publish one every 2 weeks, so here’s to the next 50! 
 
Andrew Ingram

Repair Cafe Saturday 14th February

Bring your treasured broken possessions to our Repair Cafe and give them new life! See our team rebuilding, repairing and recycling things that might otherwise be thrown away.

Register here to bring something for repair and reserve your time-slot.
Or email the Repair Café team on repair.maidenhead@gmail.com.

Open from 10:00 to 13:00. Repair skills available include:
– small electrical items (excludes microwaves and large items)
– laptops/computers, phone repairs (except screen repairs)
– IT assistance(e.g. anti-virus, software updates)
– glass repairs, book binding, fixing picture frames
– basic woodwork, small furniture items
– sewing and mending, textiles repairs

We aim to fix anything, our volunteers love to solve problems!

Smart Energy Show Cookham

Saturday 7th February 2026 – 1.00pm – 4.30pm

Looking for an open friendly opportunity to meet and talk to some certified local and national companies and installers. Wanting to cut bills, improve comfort and help tackle climate change?

There will be independent experts who can advise on how to deliver smart energy solutions to your home. And Cookhams Footprint team of volunteers will be there to help with any questions you may have.

It’s at the Chartered Institute of Marketing in Moor Hall, SL6 9QH. Walk there if you can or there’s plenty of parking and refreshments available.

More information on exhibitors and the full schedule of talks here: The Smart Energy Show – Cookham, Saturday 7th February 2026.

Repair Cafe Saturday 10th January

Bring your treasured broken possessions to our Repair Cafe and give them new life! See our team rebuilding, repairing and recycling things that might otherwise be thrown away.

Register here to bring something for repair and reserve your time-slot.
Or email the Repair Café team on repair.maidenhead@gmail.com.

Open from 10:00 to 13:00. Repair skills available include:
– small electrical items (excludes microwaves and large items)
– laptops/computers, phone repairs (except screen repairs)
– IT assistance(e.g. anti-virus, software updates)
– glass repairs, book binding, fixing picture frames
– basic woodwork, small furniture items
– sewing and mending, textiles repairs

We aim to fix anything, our volunteers love to solve problems!

ECO Action Event Coordinator 

Join Our Mission: Reduce Carbon, Increase Nature, Improve Wellbeing!

ECO Action are a grassroots movement to inspire and empower our community to create a greener, healthier future within our borough.

We’re looking for someone who can help bring that energy into local events across the community.

We’re seeking an Event Coordinator – a volunteer who can coordinate others running events, organise and support our presence at community events, helping us reach more people and share our mission.

What You’ll Do – As our Event Coordinator, you’ll help us coordinate engaging, high-impact experiences that showcase ECO Action. You’ll play a key role by:

  • Working with volunteers (via our WhatsApp group) to help them run events
  • Coordinating our participation in local events, fairs, markets, and festivals
  • Working with our existing Engagement Coordinator who will choose the most suitable local events
  • Aligning logistics: stall or room bookings, materials, timings, volunteer rotas
  • Creating simple, engaging event ideas — from mini-workshops to talks
  • Ensuring our message shines through: Reduce Carbon, Increase Nature, Improve Wellbeing

Who You Are:

  • Organised, practical, and comfortable juggling details
  • Friendly, confident, and able to support volunteers on the day
  • Passionate about climate action, sustainability, or community events
  • Comfortable with WhatsApp and basic planning tools
  • Ideally with some event experience — or simply keen to learn and get stuck in

What You’ll Gain:

  • Hands-on experience in event planning and community engagement
  • A chance to bring people together around a shared mission
  • Skills in coordination, communication, and volunteer management
  • Connection with a supportive, positive, values-driven team

Interested? To find out more or express interest, email us here 

Together, let’s spark change — one event, one conversation, one moment of inspiration at a time.

Repair Cafe Saturday 13th December

Bring your treasured broken possessions to our Repair Cafe and give them new life! See our team rebuilding, repairing and recycling things that might otherwise be thrown away.

Register here to bring something for repair and reserve your time-slot.
Or email the Repair Café team on repair.maidenhead@gmail.com.

Open from 10:00 to 15:00. Repair skills available include:
– small electrical items (excludes microwaves and large items)
– laptops/computers, phone repairs (except screen repairs)
– IT assistance(e.g. anti-virus, software updates)
– glass repairs, book binding, fixing picture frames
– basic woodwork, small furniture items
– sewing and mending, textiles repairs

We aim to fix anything, our volunteers love to solve problems!

Festive Clothes Swap

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas. Got a wardrobe full of clothes and nothing to wear? Join us to refresh your wardrobe at a fraction of the price!

We’re hosting another of Saf’s Clothes Swap in the Hub on 29th November. It’s a special “Festive Clothes Swap” … Christmas Jumpers, Party Wear, or just new jeans … all details and booking information here:

Festive Clothes Swap! Tickets, Sat, Nov 29, 2025 at 1:00 PM | Eventbrite

Update on Nicholson Centre Development & Carbon Release

An update for our ECO Action supporters

ECO Action has been assessing the carbon impact of the proposed Nicholson Centre redevelopment. After detailed analysis and constructive discussions with the developers, Areli, we have agreed to withdraw our objection to the plans.

While the demolition of the old shopping centre is regrettable, it is an essential step toward regenerating Maidenhead’s town centre into a more vibrant, sustainable, and economically resilient place.

Our updated assessment shows the redevelopment will create environmental advantages that more than outweigh the embodied carbon deficit from the demolition and reconstruction.

ECO Action will continue to work with Areli and RBWM to promote greener outcomes as the project progresses and to ensure that sustainability remains at the heart of Maidenhead’s transformation.

You can read our full assessment and conclusions in the document linked here.