What is Borrow It!
Borrow it is a club that you can join as a member. Members can borrow tools and useful things from us. We are based in Islington but operate in Herts as well. You can reserve up to three things at a time via our website, and collect them using a PIN number from one of our smart-lockers. We are a community organisation registered as a charity, and our charitable purpose is to lend things to people on low income, train people and reduce our carbon footprint by sharing things we only need to use now and then.
How to Borrow Something
To borrow anything you will need to log in to your account and reserve an item by selecting it and then adding the dates you want it for. When you reserve the item you will receive a PIN number. At anytime during the period you have reserved the item for you can collect it by entering the PIN into the smart-lockers. This will open the appropriate door for you to collect your item. The PIN will only work once.
Ending your Membership
You can end your membership anytime without penalty. You need to fill in the form here.
How to Return Something
After you have collected your items, you will receive a different PIN number to use to return your things. This is a single use PIN number. After you have used the item return it, along with everything that the item came with.
Fair Wear and Tear
We provide safe and well maintained things. We don’t mind fair wear and tear but please look after everything that you borrow from us. Where you have been careless, or lose parts, use an item for the purpose it wasn’t intended, or for paid employment we may need to suspend your membership or fine you.
Cleaning
Everyone hates it, and our volunteers hate it too. Please take extra care cleaning the things that you use. Cleaning means wiping or brushing everything down, emptying dust traps or water tanks, it also means ensuring everything that you borrowed comes back. Please remember that volunteers look after most of the stock in each site. Our volunteers will undertake deep cleaning and maintenance, as well as safety checks – please help them by doing as much as you can.
How Long Can I Borrow Things For?
Loans last for a week. Please can you borrow things from 8pm on Wednesdays until 12:00 noon on the following Wednesday. If during that period, you can extend this by a further week if nobody has already booked it after you. You can borrow anything for a maximum of 3 renewals before we need it to be returned and we can check it over.
Complaints or Feedback
Please can you contact the office if you have any complaints or something has gone wrong with your loan. They are great ways of us improving our service. Please do remember that we are a team of volunteers, so consider making an offer of help if you can
Fees and charges
We rarely need to fine anyone, but please see our page on fees and charges to find out more.
Collection Points
For information about where to collect and return things please click here.
If you can’t find the information you are looking for please contact borrowit.office@gmail.com
Our History
We started lending tools during Covid with funding from Peabody Housing Association and Islington Council. In 2022 we incorporated as a Community Benefit Society Things in Common ltd (FCA registration number 8984) before getting charity status in 2026 when we transferred everything to Borrow It (charity number 1216199). We rely heavily on our volunteers – if you want to get involved please get in touch.