Southampton Makerspace
A brief introduction by Benjie Gillam
What is a Makerspace?
- Community Workshop
- Friendly
- Work together or apart
- Learning
- Sharing
Sharing?
- Tools
- Equipment
- Knowledge
- Experience
What's the status?
- Small industrial unit in Freemantle
- 18 months old
- Cashflow positive (just)
- 71 members and growing
Who's it for?
- Creative hobbyists
- Anyone who wants to make
- Any background
- Over 18s only, unless accompanied by a responsible adult
Is it a business?
- Company limited by guarantee (no shareholders)
- Non-profit, volunteer-ran
- No-one gets paid
How does it work?
- Supported primarily by member subscriptions (from £5/mo)
- Other income from running workshops and sponsorship
- Members help run the space
- Trustees are there to sign the paperwork
- Guests welcome
Relevant to Men's Sheds?
- Community workshop
- Generally empty during the working day
- Woodworking, metal-working, manual and power tools
- Ground floor, easy access
- Keen not to waste the space!
Kick-start Men's Shed!
- Already insured
- Already have legal structure
- Successful (18 months old)
- Share leadership by becoming a Trustee
- Already have initial venue (plans to move somewhere bigger)