Category: Uncategorized

Recent space improvements

Also known as: the fun photo gallery

The kitchen’s hot water tap thing has been moved higher up, so now it’s easier to wash up your mugs. And there’s a space-efficient magnetic strip on the wall for cutlery, a new donation pot with a PayPal QR code on it, and bilingual signage.

Matt’s started organising the woodworking tools onto the tool wall:

We’ve rearranged some furniture so that the workshop feels more spacious, and there’s a proper first aid station. (Some supplies and equipment in baskets are now stored on the shelf under the sewing table: paper drawers, laminator, badge maker, comb binder.)

There’s a new box to make it easier to find a charger cable:

And we now have a lost and found box:

Good stuff!

Event: Open day, mending anti-procrastination

Saturday 3rd August 2024, 12-2pm

Image credit: Left, middle, right

Have you been putting off your mending? Come and do it in good company! Plus, if you’re not sure on the best technique, maybe someone else can help you out.

As it’s an open day, Machspace will be open to the public, and we invite you to read our open day rules before attending. It’s pay-as-you-feel, so anyone can attend regardless of income, and donations are very welcome. There will also be pay-as-you-feel refreshments.

See you there! 🙂

Facebook event: Click here

Machspace are seeking a: SuperTemp! (Admin, space management, fundraising)

[ Cymraeg ]

This is a temporary contract role to last up to 2 months initially with the possibility of extending the contract. Start date is ASAP.

We have 27 hours of work available initially, which will need to be done within 2 months though this can be done sooner if you have the availability. Some of the jobs are more urgent and will need to be tackled within the first 2 weeks of starting. Working hours are flexible.

We have a budget of £27 per hour with a little room for negotiation.

As a freelance contractor you would be responsible for invoicing us your hours and your own tax return.

We are looking for someone with experience in:

  • Admin on Google Drive
  • Fundraising for community organisations
  • Communicating via phone, email and direct message in work role
  • Good in-person communication skills in a work role
  • Proactively managing your own schedule

The role will involve (but is not limited to):

  • Writing a funding application (with help)
  • Organising files on Google Drive
  • Recruiting and managing tradespeople for small jobs at Machspace
  • Printing and installing labels and signage
  • Creating monitoring forms
  • Dealing with space rental contracts 

About Machspace: We are a makerspace in the centre of the town of Machynlleth in Powys, Wales.

A makerspace is a community resource, in the same category as a library or leisure centre. It’s a building containing a lot of equipment for members to come and use – 3D printers, sewing machines, drills and saws, soldering equipment, laser cutters, looms, etc.

Our director board and base of volunteers is gender- and disability-diverse and we do most of our staff communication on WhatsApp.

To find out more about makerspaces, visit the Hackspace Foundation.

To apply, please send 200-300 words, or a short video, letting us know about your experience and suitability for the role, to hello@machspace.org.

Closing date: 1st July 2024
Location: Hybrid – Machynlleth/Remote

Our first AGM

Yesterday we held our first ever AGM, and we think it went pretty well! We required 10% of our membership (a “quorum”, 8 people at the moment) to proceed, and there were four directors and six members present, so that was an excellent start.

We also saw some presentations:

Chris gave a summary of Machspace’s financial situation over the last year, including donations and grant funding.

Penny gave a timeline of our progress so far, including directors and volunteers coming onboard and equipment being acquired.

Cassian talked about our plans and hopes for the future, including paid staff, larger premises, more directors and volunteers, and future funding possibilities.

Artist’s impression of future potential layout by Tanya

A big thank you to everyone who came along! We really appreciate the support, and we love that people are as excited as we are about Machspace and its future.

If you’d like to read the minutes or view the accounts, please do feel free to get in touch: hello@machspace.org

AGM agenda

You can see it on Google Docs here.

When: Monday 3rd June 2024, 6pm – 8pm

Where: Machspace, 1 Old Town Hall, Penrallt Street, Machynlleth, SY20 8AJ

If you want to raise any topics/proposals/votes, you will need to get them to us by Saturday 1st June 2024 at 12pm noon. The fastest and easiest way is by email: hello AT machspace DOT org.

We are meeting in accordance with the Articles of Association (AoA): Articles of association.pdf

RSVP not required. Attendees must be members or proxies of members.

The meeting will happen in the main open space in Machspace, with the sofa area available (and if the weather is good, the courtyard through the back door) as quiet space. Attendees are welcome to duck in and out of the meeting as and when they need to, as long as they are quiet so as not to disturb the meeting.

AGENDA

Introduction

Tanya will introduce herself as the chair and set the tone of the meeting, giving guidance on how we will proceed.

We need 10% of our membership to be there within half an hour of the start of the meeting to continue as a “quorum”, which is 8 people at the moment. (Our membership is currently 82 members.) If we don’t have 8 people within 30 minutes of the start time, we have to adjourn to the same day and time in one week, i.e. Monday 10th June 2024 at 6pm, or the chair can choose a better day and time with member approval. (See page 14 of the AoA PDF.)

1. Financial report

This will be presented by Chris Richards (director, she/her). It will be an overview of our financial situation so far, including donations and grants.

2. Progress report

This will be presented by Penny Tristram (director, she/her). It will be an overview of what we have achieved so far.

3. Plans for the future

This will be presented by Cassian Lodge (director, they/them). It will be a summary of our focus and intentions for the next 6-12 months.

4. Member contributions

Any agenda items (proposals, votes) that members sent to hello@machspace.org before Saturday 1st June 2024 at 12pm noon will happen now.

If members would like to express any opinions/feelings about anything that has been discussed so far, that will happen now.

5. Closing

As it’s our first AGM, this will be a “meta” section to discuss how we feel the meeting has gone, what we liked, and what we would like to do differently next time.

Our first AGM is coming up soon!

Monday 3rd June 2024, 6-8pm

Machspace members are cordially invited to come along to our first Annual General Meeting for such fun times as:

  • A financial report
  • An overview of what we’ve been up to so far
  • An overview of what we’re planning
  • Members can vote in any votes
  • Members can bring things to vote on

If you’ve got anything to submit for the AGM agenda, please email hello@machspace.org. We’ll let you know when the agenda is published.

Space improvements

We’ve got a new sign over the door, courtesy of Avery, Corinne, Cassian and Jim:

L to R: Avery, Corinne and Jim

We cut the shapes on the laser cutter, which makes us even more legit as a makerspace.

Also we have new lino in the bathroom/backdoor/kitchen zone:

Press release: Machspace awarded National Lottery grant for laser cutter

A few weeks ago we were very fortunate to receive a grant from the National Lottery Awards for All (Wales) Community Fund, which we have so far used to buy a laser cutter, an A3 printer-copier, and some new storage furniture.

National Lottery Awards for All (Wales) Logo: Cronfa Gymunedol / Community Fund

Today we’ve produced a press release to announce it, which you can download as a zip file here (3 MB), or see here on Google Drive.

Left to right: Nikki, Fee and Avery appreciating the new laser cutter

If you are a Machspace member and you too would like to cut/engrave things very quickly and precisely, please feel free to email us (hello@machspace.org) to ask for a laser cutter induction. And if you’re not a member, you can apply for membership here – it’s pay-what-you-feel until March 2025.

Event: Open day, theme lino-printing

Saturday 16th March 2024, 12-2pm

Image credit: Wikimedia Commons

This open day will be led by Pat, who has experience with a similar community workshop focused on printing. She’ll teach us how to cut a design into a small square of lino, and then print it onto paper. You’ll also have the option of turning your print into a badge with our badge maker.

As it’s an open day, Machspace will be open to the public, and we invite you to read our open day rules before attending.

We look forward to seeing you there! 🙂

Facebook event: Click here