Makespace is growing. We are fast closing on 350 active members. Since its founding 900 Members have come through the doors each adding to the space and community, a community that is still run by our members for our members!
Makespace is a very active STEM training environment. Over the past 5 years (and 3 months) there were 10,000 attendances at Makespace events and trainings. We are now offering 6 events a week on average to both experienced makers and those new to getting their hands dirty in a workshop. Over 2,000 of the attendees have been kids wanting to code and make in Makespace outreach programs.
All of this activity is attracting attention beyond the maker community and attracting new supporters and partners. Microsoft research has again donated £2,000 towards the Classroom. We have also established a partnership with the Bradfield Centre (www.bradfieldcentre.com) for discounted rates on their co-working facilities for Makespace members. If you need meeting or office space please get in touch via management@makespace.org.
The Bradfield has asked to display some things made at Makespace in their coworking area. If you want to display something you made at the Bradfeild or just at Makespace – great, we love having things to show off when people come around and its nice for other members to see what has been made, especially for newbie’s.
Credit and cards only from now on.
Cash has fled. The Makespace community account no longer accepts cash (googlegroup post may 5th). It’s been more than a year since we starting taking card/phone payments, this year cash dropped to 10-15% of our all takings. At the end of May all the honesty cash boxes were removed except the kitchen and at the end of June the kitchen one was removed.
Items sold at Makespace are listed on the izettle machines in cakespace and in the mainspace near the laser cutters. If you don’t want to use your card, for small purchases, you can record credit on the board in cakespace. There are no more I.O.U’s. All values on the board reflect payments already made on the izettle. Please either pay for everything as you use or keep yourself in credit. We can not purchase more materials nor food otherwise. Please be as accurate as possible when recording your purchases, it really helps when re-ordering stock.
New fridge/freezer (big one with the ice maker in the door) is for items sold by Makespace only. Microwave meals (as we no longer have an oven), ice cream and of course canned and caffeinated drinks are all being stocked.
We encourage all members to be proactive in ensuring equipment and materials are in stock and maintained in good order. If you need something to be purchased please make sure you read the updated purchasing policy. (http://wiki.makespace.org/Purchasing)
Outreach
The classroom, and indeed all of Makespace, is being used more and more to host guests, and introduce people to making cool things. Just a short list of some of the activities organised by our members in recent months:
Katy M and Alex J have been running CambGameDevs workshops.
Brain C has been hosting the Robot Club
MR. C has been running the family focused Sunday Sessions
CoderDojo is running coding classes
Michael D has introduced many of us to Fusion 360 Autodesk
Boyuan X Had us building clean stoves and taking advantage of the recent weather by cooking a BBQ on the newly made stoves
Jenny M Invited the founders of a makerspace in Tanzania to tell us about their experiences addressing the needs of their local community
Techfugees held a makeathon in which they addressed the needs of refugees at sites world wide.
Raphaël Jacquat and the students from the Sensor CDT launched the CamBike Sensor project.
Makespace is your space, but we do have rules
Unfortunately there have been several Memberships terminated recently due to some serious violations of the Makespace rules. At Makespace we assume that people are intelligent, well-meaning and proactive. We further believe that to meet our aims, Makespace must be a safe and productive environment for everyone. Please make sure that you supervise all guests while they are in the space. Visitors are very welcome at events and Makespace, but only fully inducted, trained and current members can use orange and red equipment. Your fob is yours and should not be used by others, nor should anyone you let into the space be left on their own. You are responsible for anyone you let in the space.
Parking in university lots (and any other University designated parking area) is for University parking permit holders only. Control and checking of parking permits appears to be less strict after 18h30pm. University staff use the parking bays from 6am onwards.
Makespace requires involvement to sustain, grow and improve. If you think something cool needs to happen, make it happen – others will get stuck in. After all, 5 years ago there was only a pillar drill and some desks, look at us now.
Thank you to the volunteers old and new who continue to help keep Makespace going.
