2:05 p.m.
Hi! I am writing to you as the nearest (active?) Linux User Group to where I live -
Macclesfield - and on behalf of the Macclesfield Repair Cafe (MRC;
https://www.repaircafe.org/en/cafe/macclesfield-repair-cafe/) to let you all know that we
are actively considering offering a "service" - advice and consultation
initially - on how people in our area can get off Windows 10 and onto linux (distro TBD,
but probably Mint). This is a "global" (well certainly UK- and Europe-wide)
initiative by the Repair Cafe community (https://www.repaircafe.org/en/linux-repair-cafe/;
https://www.repaircafe.org/en/new-starter-kit-for-your-own-linux-repair-c...).
In Macclesfield, as I said, we want to start with an advice session to gauge interest and
enthusiasm locally for moving off W-10 onto linux, but ultimately we may want to actually
help people install linux instead of, or alongside Windows.
This where your group members could potentially really help, especially when it comes to
supporting new users in their early days so as to make it an enjoyable and fraught-free
experience.
To help us in our "end-of-10-move-to-linux" activities I have a few initial
questions for you all (there may well be more later!) ...
- Is this an initiative you were aware of?
- Would this be something the LUG members might be interested or keen to get involved
with?
- Do you know anyone closer to Macclesfield (i.e. East Cheshire not Staffordshire) who
could help us?
- Would any of your members be prepared to offer some kind of longer term help (not a
"support desk" exactly, but some hand-holding) IF we do decide to go further
than just offering advice?
In the short term our plan is to hold the first "MRC W-10 EOL Advice Session" on
December 13th at the Community Centre, Duke St. Macclesfield, SK11 6UR, starting about
10:00am, then, depending on interest and enthusiasm, offering the same advice session at
future Repair Cafe's until we decide whether we are going to do anything a bit more
hands-on.
Thanks in advance for your help on this, and any advice you may have.
Richard Shute
PS: I am a self-taught Linux Mint user (Cinnamon and Xfce) who got away from Windows about
10 years ago and have been enjoying life in linux-land ever since!
2:33 p.m.
Hello Richard,
I think one of the most valuable kinds of support is for people switching over is to just
sit with them for a while, encouraging them to explore and gain confidence.
This is also a thing I and my family can do.
So, potentially, maybe, some of us could visit a Repair Cafe sometimes to do this?
We don't have capacity this side of Christmas. And we live in Stoke, so Macc isn't
that close. But it's definitely something to look at.
Jen
On 22 November 2025 14:05:02 UTC, Richard Shute via StaffsLUG General
<general(a)lists.staffslug.org.uk> wrote:
>Hi! I am writing to you as the nearest (active?) Linux User Group to where I live -
Macclesfield - and on behalf of the Macclesfield Repair Cafe (MRC;
https://www.repaircafe.org/en/cafe/macclesfield-repair-cafe/) to let you all know that we
are actively considering offering a "service" - advice and consultation
initially - on how people in our area can get off Windows 10 and onto linux (distro TBD,
but probably Mint). This is a "global" (well certainly UK- and Europe-wide)
initiative by the Repair Cafe community (https://www.repaircafe.org/en/linux-repair-cafe/;
https://www.repaircafe.org/en/new-starter-kit-for-your-own-linux-repair-c...).
>
>In Macclesfield, as I said, we want to start with an advice session to gauge interest
and enthusiasm locally for moving off W-10 onto linux, but ultimately we may want to
actually help people install linux instead of, or alongside Windows.
>
>This where your group members could potentially really help, especially when it comes
to supporting new users in their early days so as to make it an enjoyable and fraught-free
experience.
>
>To help us in our "end-of-10-move-to-linux" activities I have a few initial
questions for you all (there may well be more later!) ...
>
>- Is this an initiative you were aware of?
>- Would this be something the LUG members might be interested or keen to get involved
with?
>- Do you know anyone closer to Macclesfield (i.e. East Cheshire not Staffordshire) who
could help us?
>- Would any of your members be prepared to offer some kind of longer term help (not a
"support desk" exactly, but some hand-holding) IF we do decide to go further
than just offering advice?
>
>In the short term our plan is to hold the first "MRC W-10 EOL Advice
Session" on December 13th at the Community Centre, Duke St. Macclesfield, SK11 6UR,
starting about 10:00am, then, depending on interest and enthusiasm, offering the same
advice session at future Repair Cafe's until we decide whether we are going to do
anything a bit more hands-on.
>
>Thanks in advance for your help on this, and any advice you may have.
>
>Richard Shute
>
>PS: I am a self-taught Linux Mint user (Cinnamon and Xfce) who got away from Windows
about 10 years ago and have been enjoying life in linux-land ever since!
10:45 a.m.
Hi Jen,
I completely agree with you about sitting with people while they explore, and helping
hands-on when needed. That is something we would like to consider as part of the
"service" we are thinking we might offer. But we don't have too many people
here in Macc with sufficient knowledge of linux, or the OS we will end up going with ...
which is where you might be able to help. So thank you ever so much for your kind offer.
In the short term, we are still in the information-gathering stage, and we may choose just
to advise people on what they COULD do to get off Windows-10 (moving to linux is actually
only one of the options). If we decide to get more hands-on helping people to actually
migrate to linux, and then supporting them as they get used to the new system, then that
is where your help could be invaluable. If you are interested, the first thing we are
going to do at the next Macc. Repair Cafe meeting on Dec. 13th is to run any people who
show up wanting to know more through this questionnaire (or an updated variant):-
https://forms.gle/javeojoVtnysjVTo7
And don't worry about trying to get to one of our sessions in the short term (though
it would be great to meet you!). We will know a lot more about what we think we can
reasonably and successfully do in the new year. I will keep you and others informed about
where we are up to in our thoughts and plans via the general mailing list.
Thanks again for your response and support on this. I will be in touch!
Regards,
Richard
________________________________
From: Jen Phillips via StaffsLUG General <general(a)lists.staffslug.org.uk>
Sent: 22 November 2025 14:33
To: General talk about anything you like. <general(a)lists.staffslug.org.uk>
Cc: Jen Phillips <jen(a)phillipsuk.org>
Subject: [StaffsLUG General] Re: Windows-to-Linux at the Macclesfield Repair Cafe
Hello Richard,
I think one of the most valuable kinds of support is for people switching over is to just
sit with them for a while, encouraging them to explore and gain confidence.
This is also a thing I and my family can do.
So, potentially, maybe, some of us could visit a Repair Cafe sometimes to do this?
We don't have capacity this side of Christmas. And we live in Stoke, so Macc isn't
that close. But it's definitely something to look at.
Jen
On 22 November 2025 14:05:02 UTC, Richard Shute via StaffsLUG General
<general(a)lists.staffslug.org.uk> wrote:
Hi! I am writing to you as the nearest (active?) Linux User Group to
where I live - Macclesfield - and on behalf of the Macclesfield Repair Cafe (MRC;
https://www.repaircafe.org/en/cafe/macclesfield-repair-cafe/) to let you all know that we
are actively considering offering a "service" - advice and consultation
initially - on how people in our area can get off Windows 10 and onto linux (distro TBD,
but probably Mint). This is a "global" (well certainly UK- and Europe-wide)
initiative by the Repair Cafe community (https://www.repaircafe.org/en/linux-repair-cafe/;
https://www.repaircafe.org/en/new-starter-kit-for-your-own-linux-repair-c...).
In Macclesfield, as I said, we want to start with an advice session to gauge interest and
enthusiasm locally for moving off W-10 onto linux, but ultimately we may want to actually
help people install linux instead of, or alongside Windows.
This where your group members could potentially really help, especially when it comes to
supporting new users in their early days so as to make it an enjoyable and fraught-free
experience.
To help us in our "end-of-10-move-to-linux" activities I have a few initial
questions for you all (there may well be more later!) ...
- Is this an initiative you were aware of?
- Would this be something the LUG members might be interested or keen to get involved
with?
- Do you know anyone closer to Macclesfield (i.e. East Cheshire not Staffordshire) who
could help us?
- Would any of your members be prepared to offer some kind of longer term help (not a
"support desk" exactly, but some hand-holding) IF we do decide to go further
than just offering advice?
In the short term our plan is to hold the first "MRC W-10 EOL Advice Session" on
December 13th at the Community Centre, Duke St. Macclesfield, SK11 6UR, starting about
10:00am, then, depending on interest and enthusiasm, offering the same advice session at
future Repair Cafe's until we decide whether we are going to do anything a bit more
hands-on.
Thanks in advance for your help on this, and any advice you may have.
Richard Shute
PS: I am a self-taught Linux Mint user (Cinnamon and Xfce) who got away from Windows about
10 years ago and have been enjoying life in linux-land ever since!
_______________________________________________
StaffsLUG General mailing list -- general(a)lists.staffslug.org.uk
To unsubscribe send an email to general-leave(a)lists.staffslug.org.uk
10:39 a.m.
Hey Richard,
Not sure if it helps but the non-profit that helps to run the LUG
(Function Office) is also partnered with VAST on this project...
https://totallystoked.vast.org.uk/donate-i-t-stoke-on-trent/
Basically if they get any old laptops that need wiping/refurb-ing we can
put something like Linux on it... so that they can then redistribute
them out to the vulnerable. But often they've spoke about only really
giving us the stuff which can't run the latest Windows still getting
security updates (which will now be a LOT more!.. since Windows 11
**officially** rules out so much hardware... albeit workaround are
available).
But that's the closest thing I can think of to a similar effort around
here. I think we spoke on the main info(a)staffslug.org.uk email the
other week... and I mentioned how we're hoping to get some premises at
some point and offer a 'repair cafe' service from that too... but it's
all stuck in questions of finances and locations at the moment.
I'll see if I'm free on the 13th to pop up... maybe I can twist
Richard's (he's another member of StaffsLUG) arm to come up with me too
(he used to live in Macc, so maybe he'll know some people too?)
Definitely though we're happy to help people on the mailing list at the
very least who are Linux (or other FOSS) users. Sometimes though the
problem needs someone to physically to look at things though (e.g. you
might have seen the messages from Geoff about his many Ubuntu
installs!)... so that can vary on peoples availability and distance.
Steven Maddox
Lantizia
On 24/11/2025 10:45, Richard Shute via StaffsLUG General wrote:
Hi Jen,
I completely agree with you about sitting with people while they
explore, and helping hands-on when needed. That is something we would
like to consider as part of the "service" we are thinking we might
offer. But we don't have too many people here in Macc with sufficient
knowledge of linux, or the OS we will end up going with ... which is
where you might be able to help. So thank you ever so much for your
kind offer.
In the short term, we are still in the information-gathering stage,
and we may choose just to advise people on what they COULD do to get
off Windows-10 (moving to linux is actually only one of the options).
If we decide to get more hands-on helping people to actually migrate
to linux, and then supporting them as they get used to the new system,
then that is where your help could be invaluable. If you are
interested, the first thing we are going to do at the next Macc.
Repair Cafe meeting on Dec. 13^th is to run any people who show up
wanting to know more through this questionnaire (or an updated variant):-
https://forms.gle/javeojoVtnysjVTo7
And don't worry about trying to get to one of our sessions in the
short term (though it would be great to meet you!). We will know a
lot more about what we think we can reasonably and successfully do in
the new year. I will keep you and others informed about where we are
up to in our thoughts and plans via the general mailing list.
Thanks again for your response and support on this. I will be in touch!
Regards,
Richard
------------------------------------------------------------------------
*From:* Jen Phillips via StaffsLUG General
<general(a)lists.staffslug.org.uk>
*Sent:* 22 November 2025 14:33
*To:* General talk about anything you like.
<general(a)lists.staffslug.org.uk>
*Cc:* Jen Phillips <jen(a)phillipsuk.org>
*Subject:* [StaffsLUG General] Re: Windows-to-Linux at the
Macclesfield Repair Cafe
Hello Richard,
I think one of the most valuable kinds of support is for people
switching over is to just sit with them for a while, encouraging them
to explore and gain confidence.
This is also a thing I and my family can do.
So, potentially, maybe, some of us could visit a Repair Cafe sometimes
to do this?
We don't have capacity this side of Christmas. And we live in Stoke,
so Macc isn't that close. But it's definitely something to look at.
Jen
On 22 November 2025 14:05:02 UTC, Richard Shute via StaffsLUG General
<general(a)lists.staffslug.org.uk> wrote:
>Hi! I am writing to you as the nearest (active?) Linux User Group to
where I live - Macclesfield - and on behalf of the Macclesfield Repair
Cafe (MRC;
https://www.repaircafe.org/en/cafe/macclesfield-repair-cafe/) to let
you all know that we are actively considering offering a "service" -
advice and consultation initially - on how people in our area can get
off Windows 10 and onto linux (distro TBD, but probably Mint). This
is a "global" (well certainly UK- and Europe-wide) initiative by the
Repair Cafe community
(https://www.repaircafe.org/en/linux-repair-cafe/;
https://www.repaircafe.org/en/new-starter-kit-for-your-own-linux-repair-c...).
>
>In Macclesfield, as I said, we want to start with an advice session
to gauge interest and enthusiasm locally for moving off W-10 onto
linux, but ultimately we may want to actually help people install
linux instead of, or alongside Windows.
>
>This where your group members could potentially really help,
especially when it comes to supporting new users in their early days
so as to make it an enjoyable and fraught-free experience.
>
>To help us in our "end-of-10-move-to-linux" activities I have a few
initial questions for you all (there may well be more later!) ...
>
>- Is this an initiative you were aware of?
>- Would this be something the LUG members might be interested or keen
to get involved with?
>- Do you know anyone closer to Macclesfield (i.e. East Cheshire not
Staffordshire) who could help us?
>- Would any of your members be prepared to offer some kind of longer
term help (not a "support desk" exactly, but some hand-holding) IF we
do decide to go further than just offering advice?
>
>In the short term our plan is to hold the first "MRC W-10 EOL Advice
Session" on December 13th at the Community Centre, Duke St.
Macclesfield, SK11 6UR, starting about 10:00am, then, depending on
interest and enthusiasm, offering the same advice session at future
Repair Cafe's until we decide whether we are going to do anything a
bit more hands-on.
>
>Thanks in advance for your help on this, and any advice you may have.
>
>Richard Shute
>
>PS: I am a self-taught Linux Mint user (Cinnamon and Xfce) who got
away from Windows about 10 years ago and have been enjoying life in
linux-land ever since!
_______________________________________________
StaffsLUG General mailing list -- general(a)lists.staffslug.org.uk
To unsubscribe send an email to general-leave(a)lists.staffslug.org.uk
_______________________________________________
StaffsLUG General mailing list --general(a)lists.staffslug.org.uk
To unsubscribe send an email togeneral-leave(a)lists.staffslug.org.uk
11:07 a.m.
Hi Steven,
Thanks for the follow-up information. I am aware of other "donate IT"
activities around the country and region (e.g. The Restart Project,
https://therestartproject.org/), and I guess if people who we talk to do decide that that
a new computer is what they want/need, then we can definitely recommend organisations like
Restart or VAST for their "old" PC. TBH, unless someone's PC is >10
years old and they really are a computer novice, then I would hope we can persuade them to
try installing linux as a first option. Even if the computer is >10 years old (and
even if it's 32-bit!) we can get a good linux distro onto it and get it working
satisfactorily for them. But I guess that might be getting outside the scope of what we
may choose to do! I don't know, we shall see.
In the meantime though, it would be great to meet you &/or Richard at a Macc. Repair
Cafe, either on Dec. 13th or in January, and we can chat about how you and your group
might be able to help, and about how our repair cafe can maybe help you set up something
similar in Stoke.
Looking forward to meeting you.
Regards,
Richard
________________________________
From: Steven Maddox via StaffsLUG General <general(a)lists.staffslug.org.uk>
Sent: 25 November 2025 10:39
To: general(a)lists.staffslug.org.uk <general(a)lists.staffslug.org.uk>
Cc: Steven Maddox <s.maddox(a)lantizia.me.uk>
Subject: [StaffsLUG General] Re: Windows-to-Linux at the Macclesfield Repair Cafe
Hey Richard,
Not sure if it helps but the non-profit that helps to run the LUG (Function Office) is
also partnered with VAST on this project...
https://totallystoked.vast.org.uk/donate-i-t-stoke-on-trent/
Basically if they get any old laptops that need wiping/refurb-ing we can put something
like Linux on it... so that they can then redistribute them out to the vulnerable. But
often they've spoke about only really giving us the stuff which can't run the
latest Windows still getting security updates (which will now be a LOT more!.. since
Windows 11 **officially** rules out so much hardware... albeit workaround are available).
But that's the closest thing I can think of to a similar effort around here. I think
we spoke on the main info@staffslug.org.uk<mailto:info@staffslug.org.uk> email the
other week... and I mentioned how we're hoping to get some premises at some point and
offer a 'repair cafe' service from that too... but it's all stuck in questions
of finances and locations at the moment.
I'll see if I'm free on the 13th to pop up... maybe I can twist Richard's
(he's another member of StaffsLUG) arm to come up with me too (he used to live in
Macc, so maybe he'll know some people too?)
Definitely though we're happy to help people on the mailing list at the very least who
are Linux (or other FOSS) users. Sometimes though the problem needs someone to physically
to look at things though (e.g. you might have seen the messages from Geoff about his many
Ubuntu installs!)... so that can vary on peoples availability and distance.
Steven Maddox
Lantizia
On 24/11/2025 10:45, Richard Shute via StaffsLUG General wrote:
Hi Jen,
I completely agree with you about sitting with people while they explore, and helping
hands-on when needed. That is something we would like to consider as part of the
"service" we are thinking we might offer. But we don't have too many people
here in Macc with sufficient knowledge of linux, or the OS we will end up going with ...
which is where you might be able to help. So thank you ever so much for your kind offer.
In the short term, we are still in the information-gathering stage, and we may choose just
to advise people on what they COULD do to get off Windows-10 (moving to linux is actually
only one of the options). If we decide to get more hands-on helping people to actually
migrate to linux, and then supporting them as they get used to the new system, then that
is where your help could be invaluable. If you are interested, the first thing we are
going to do at the next Macc. Repair Cafe meeting on Dec. 13th is to run any people who
show up wanting to know more through this questionnaire (or an updated variant):-
https://forms.gle/javeojoVtnysjVTo7
And don't worry about trying to get to one of our sessions in the short term (though
it would be great to meet you!). We will know a lot more about what we think we can
reasonably and successfully do in the new year. I will keep you and others informed about
where we are up to in our thoughts and plans via the general mailing list.
Thanks again for your response and support on this. I will be in touch!
Regards,
Richard
________________________________
From: Jen Phillips via StaffsLUG General
<general@lists.staffslug.org.uk><mailto:general@lists.staffslug.org.uk>
Sent: 22 November 2025 14:33
To: General talk about anything you like.
<general@lists.staffslug.org.uk><mailto:general@lists.staffslug.org.uk>
Cc: Jen Phillips <jen@phillipsuk.org><mailto:jen@phillipsuk.org>
Subject: [StaffsLUG General] Re: Windows-to-Linux at the Macclesfield Repair Cafe
Hello Richard,
I think one of the most valuable kinds of support is for people switching over is to just
sit with them for a while, encouraging them to explore and gain confidence.
This is also a thing I and my family can do.
So, potentially, maybe, some of us could visit a Repair Cafe sometimes to do this?
We don't have capacity this side of Christmas. And we live in Stoke, so Macc isn't
that close. But it's definitely something to look at.
Jen
On 22 November 2025 14:05:02 UTC, Richard Shute via StaffsLUG General
<general@lists.staffslug.org.uk><mailto:general@lists.staffslug.org.uk>
wrote:
Hi! I am writing to you as the nearest (active?) Linux User Group to
where I live - Macclesfield - and on behalf of the Macclesfield Repair Cafe (MRC;
https://www.repaircafe.org/en/cafe/macclesfield-repair-cafe/) to let you all know that we
are actively considering offering a "service" - advice and consultation
initially - on how people in our area can get off Windows 10 and onto linux (distro TBD,
but probably Mint). This is a "global" (well certainly UK- and Europe-wide)
initiative by the Repair Cafe community (https://www.repaircafe.org/en/linux-repair-cafe/;
https://www.repaircafe.org/en/new-starter-kit-for-your-own-linux-repair-c...).
In Macclesfield, as I said, we want to start with an advice session to gauge interest and
enthusiasm locally for moving off W-10 onto linux, but ultimately we may want to actually
help people install linux instead of, or alongside Windows.
This where your group members could potentially really help, especially when it comes to
supporting new users in their early days so as to make it an enjoyable and fraught-free
experience.
To help us in our "end-of-10-move-to-linux" activities I have a few initial
questions for you all (there may well be more later!) ...
- Is this an initiative you were aware of?
- Would this be something the LUG members might be interested or keen to get involved
with?
- Do you know anyone closer to Macclesfield (i.e. East Cheshire not Staffordshire) who
could help us?
- Would any of your members be prepared to offer some kind of longer term help (not a
"support desk" exactly, but some hand-holding) IF we do decide to go further
than just offering advice?
In the short term our plan is to hold the first "MRC W-10 EOL Advice Session" on
December 13th at the Community Centre, Duke St. Macclesfield, SK11 6UR, starting about
10:00am, then, depending on interest and enthusiasm, offering the same advice session at
future Repair Cafe's until we decide whether we are going to do anything a bit more
hands-on.
Thanks in advance for your help on this, and any advice you may have.
Richard Shute
PS: I am a self-taught Linux Mint user (Cinnamon and Xfce) who got away from Windows about
10 years ago and have been enjoying life in linux-land ever since!
_______________________________________________
StaffsLUG General mailing list --
general@lists.staffslug.org.uk<mailto:general@lists.staffslug.org.uk>
To unsubscribe send an email to
general-leave@lists.staffslug.org.uk<mailto:general-leave@lists.staffslug.org.uk>
_______________________________________________
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general@lists.staffslug.org.uk<mailto:general@lists.staffslug.org.uk>
To unsubscribe send an email to
general-leave@lists.staffslug.org.uk<mailto:general-leave@lists.staffslug.org.uk>
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days old
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4 comments
3 participants
participants (3)
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Jen Phillips -
Richard Shute -
Steven Maddox