MAKE Gosport was founded, as an idea, back in 2018 by Paul Cobb. It was late 2019 when we launched our first Crowdfunder to raise enough for a deposit and start-up costs - this was successful! Unfortunately after several smaller building did not come to fruition, Paul took on the initiative and financial risk of a much larger building in the hope it would eventually grow - and it has!
We moved in May 2020, at the start of the Covid pandemic and Paul and eventually a few others began the renovations, fit out and gathering machines and equipment.
We opened our doors on Sep 1st 2020 during the 1st & 2nd lockdowns. Despite the odds being against us due to the pandemic - not only did we survive but we have proven invaluable as people come out of isolation and want to start socialising again coupled with starting new creative businesses and reskilling for employment.
Our membership has tripled in 2022 with over 100 people signing-uo as members. The space has grown too with new tools, machines and work areas - many of which built and maintained by members. We are now a thriving creative community hub.
We now need to invest more into the space, we have a wheelchair lift but it needs professionally installing and it also needs a floor to go upto! we added some mezzanine when we moved in but we now need to add more to create additional workspace. People with mobility issues are currently missing out on a lot of what the Makerspace has to offer as its located upstairs.
A space has been set aside since the beginning to add an accessible W/C however we have not had sufficient funds to complete this and it is now highly needed as our membership and visitors are increasing.
We have some outside spaces that could be utilised for other things but these too need some investment, we need to demolish a brick shed to the rear and add a lean-to roof at the front so we can commission our blacksmithing, forge/foundry and pottery kiln.
We have the advantage of having a lot of skilled trades and labour in house but materials and equipment obviously costs money and although the space has income from memberships there is not any profit yet to invest in these new areas, equally we cant attract a lot of new people without them - do you see our problem :)