Welcome to the Spring 2024 blog, where we’ll be sharing some important updates to Maidstone Hackspace as well as highlight some of the projects that have been done in the start of the year.
If you missed the recent update on Facebook, the Committee are happy to announce that, with the help of our newly appointed Social Media Manager, Sarah, we have reclaimed all our social media pages and email accounts, which were previously inaccessible due to login credentials only known to past committees. This is a significant step forward, and Sarah’s appointment will help us disseminate committee responsibilities and be more consistent in audience engagement and promotion. Be sure to follow our Facebook Group, Facebook Community Page, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, LinkedIn and Discord, links are all available on our linktree: https://linktr.ee/maidstonehackspace
Our biggest update is that as of 13th May 2024 we have obtained Community Interest Company (CIC) status and are listed on Companies House. What this means for Maidstone Hackspace is better access to seeking grant funding to improve, expand and run the club. Achieving CIC status has unlocked new opportunities for us that were previously unobtainable, including business/organisation mentorship from organisations such as Charity Mentors Kent in areas like New Setup, Strategic Planning, Impact Measurement, Income Generation, Marketing, Networking, and Collaboration. We have submitted an application for mentorship and are pleased to report that as of 13th May 2024 we’ve been accepted. We are now awaiting the appointment of a mentor to assist the committee and directorship in continuing Maidstone Hackspace’s journey.
Now that we possess CIC status, we have also been in contact with Funding For All, an organisation within the Maidstone Community Support Centre that works closely with Charity Mentors Kent. They provide free, expert fundraising support and advice to small charities, voluntary organisations, community groups, and social enterprises across Kent and Medway. Simon, Chairman, had a meeting with Funding For All on 20th May 2024, where he discussed our broader funding requirements; very positive experience, they felt that in all their years of doing this they’ve never come across another group like us, so feels we’re in a good position in that sense. They were impressed about what our unique selling point (USP) is, though suggested ‘for now,’ we should keep our USP focused rather than maintaining the current ‘jack of all trades’ vibe that naturally STEM-based activity can beneficially contribute towards. Therefore, our focus will now be on delivering an educational centre for STEM learning, whose imparted knowledge will aid and support the local community in the endeavours they wish to pursue.
Subsequent funding proposals will follow the well-documented requirements set out by the Fab Foundation (https://fabfoundation.org/), which provides recommendations for fab labs/makerspaces/hackspaces floor plans, floor space, hardware and software, broken down by cost, staffing considerations, and more. It is a well-documented resource pack that Fab Foundation provides, and we encourage you to read their website if you’re interested in the administrative and development side of our future.
Simon, has also been working on drafting our “strategic plan,” which will guide us in meeting our objectives, goals, and bid writing most importantly; this currently focuses on target audiences and community outreach endeavours, including extending support to Maidstone Men’s Circle, a weekly meeting led by a professional facilitator, where a group of men practice self-reflection, self-acceptance, and active responsibility. This provides an opportunity for attendees to share what is happening in their lives without interruption and without judgment. Maidstone Hackspace aims to support groups such as this through the adoption of the principles of Creative Practice as Mutual Recovery (CPMR), harnessing the power of creative practice in fostering mutual recovery for mental health and well-being within its community.
Simon also had the opportunity to meet with Digital Kent, a KCC-funded project aimed at improving digital inclusion and capabilities in Kent. Simon approached them about Maidstone Hackspace becoming one of their “Digital Champions” and learned that the project has several community support strands (https://www.digitalkent.uk/information/projects). The meeting went well, and Digital Kent expressed keen interest in our activities and saw numerous networking opportunities across their projects. Digital Kent is quite keen to get more involved with us and would like to visit our space to understand more about our work. Therefore, the Committee is now organising projects to be demonstrated during the meet with Kent Digital, which will take place possibly in late June or early July, date will be announced in Discord once set.
Our Open Days will have a more structured approach based on feedback from our last session, and we’ll use this new format for the meet with Digital Kent. The Open Day Schedule, aims to give our activities more focus during Open Days and Networking sessions, but will also allow other committee members and volunteers to take the reins in Simon’s absence.
We’ve seen some great projects in progress recently, including Luka’s light bin project, Gavin’s filament maker and spooler, Mark’s battle bot, and our micro mouse competition. Simon also has a DIY solar array that he can potentially scale down for demonstrations. Additionally, we have a number of craft projects such as rubber stamps and engraving. All of these would make great talking points and demonstrate our diverse skill sets. If you’re a member and willing and able to present any of your projects do please let the Committee know.
Our first proof of concept (POC), Micro Mouse and Maze, is nearly done. Mark, very kindly produced the mouse robot some months ago, with functioning code that can serve as the foundation for competitors if they wish. With help from Owen, Simon finished the algorithm for generating the maze layout and the necessary scales for a 280 x 280cm maze. Gavin, another of our club members, has been 3D printing the line break sensor stop clock gantries, and Simon completed the code for these a few weeks ago. MCSC (Maidstone Community Support Centre) have also provided their permission for us to temporarily lay tape on their hall floors to make the mazes. We are only a few months away from trialling our POC internally. During this trial, we will need to update the competition rules and identify any teething issues in hosting the event. Simon has already left instructions for club members for this project while he’s away, and they have started discussing them. This project is particularly important because, with the right marketing, it could become our first alternative revenue stream aside from Membership Fees. Early calculations indicate that after covering the MCSC facility hire costs, we can still achieve a reasonable profit to reinvest back into the club. Therefore, it is of utmost importance and priority to get this initiative up and running. This includes testing, finalising event plans, identifying a date, and then marketing it with the goal of launching it this year.
