Welcome to the Makerspace

WHAT THIS PLACE IS FOR

Tonbridge Makerspace is somewhere to design, build, and share. It’s a workshop full of tools, materials, and, most importantly, people who like making things and helping each other do the same.

Come to start a project, finish one, learn a skill, teach a skill, or just be around other curious people. Whatever you’re working on, you’ll usually find someone who’s tried something similar and is happy to talk you through it.

The space is run by its members, for its members. It only works because people pitch in.

BECOMING A MEMBER

Joining is simple:

• — Membership is £25 a month. That gets you access to the space and all our tools.
• — No long-term commitment — cancel any time.
• — Come and visit first if you’d like to. Drop in to an event or email us at hello@tonbridgemaker.space and we’ll show you around.
• — Before you start using the space on your own, you’ll have a short induction so you know where everything is, how to get in, and how to stay safe.

Membership is open to anyone who shares the idea of the place and agrees to this guide and our Constitution.

USING THE SPACE

A few simple habits keep the Makerspace working for everyone:

• — Leave it as you’d want to find it. Clean up after yourself, put tools back where they live, and take your finished projects (and rubbish) home.
• — Sign in when you arrive so we know who’s in the building.
• — Don’t leave projects lying around indefinitely. If you need to store something, ask — space is shared and limited.
• — The space is here for making, meeting, and learning. Please don’t use it for anything illegal, and don’t sleep here.

TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT

Our tools are shared, and with some of them you’ll need training. So:

• — Get inducted before using any tool that needs it. If you’re not sure how to use something safely, ask — never guess.
• — Use tools for what they’re meant for, and follow safe operating procedures.
• — Wear and tear is normal. Damage happens. If you break something or notice a fault, just tell us — you won’t be blamed. We’d far rather know, so we can fix it before it causes an accident or ruins someone’s day.
• — Tag and set aside anything broken or unsafe, and let a founder member know.
• — Tools stay in the space. We don’t lend them out — otherwise they’re not here when others need them.

SAFETY IS EVERYONE’S JOB

• — If you’re ever worried about someone’s safety, speak up. Safety comes before everything else.
• — Try to sort immediate risks with the people there at the time. If you can’t, bring it to a founder member.
• — If anyone is hurt — or nearly hurt — report it, so we can record it and stop it happening again.

LOOKING AFTER THE PLACE TOGETHER

The Makerspace isn’t a service you buy — it’s a community and workshop we keep alive between us. Members make it better by:

• — Volunteering a little time — tidying, fixing, improving, running a workshop, welcoming newcomers.
• — Helping maintain and upgrade the space and its tools.
• — Sharing knowledge — showing someone how something works is the most valuable thing you can donate.

You don’t have to do all of it. But if everyone does a bit, nobody has to do a lot. Your membership fees cover the rent and utilities; your time and goodwill cover the rest.

RESPECT AND GOOD CONDUCT

We want this to be a place where everyone feels welcome and safe. That mostly comes down to one thing: treat people the way you’d want to be treated.

• — Be respectful, even when you disagree. Being right about something never excuses being unpleasant about it.
• — Discrimination, harassment, and bullying of any kind are not tolerated — full stop. That includes anything based on race, gender, sexuality, religion, age, disability, or background.
• — Make new members feel welcome. Nobody should feel like they’re on the outside of a clique.

Our full Code of Conduct is in the Constitution.

GUESTS

You’re welcome to bring guests, with a few sensible conditions:

• — You’re responsible for your guests while they’re here, including their behaviour and any damage or costs.
• — Guests don’t use the tools or equipment without prior approval from the founders.
• — Make sure they follow the same rules you do.

PHOTOS AND PRIVACY

The Makerspace is private, and people’s privacy comes first.

• — Ask before photographing or filming anyone — including people in the background.
• — Planning a lot of photography or filming? Give us a heads-up first so it doesn’t disrupt others.
• — We keep members’ personal information secure and won’t share it. Please extend other members the same courtesy.

IF SOMETHING GOES WRONG

Most issues are small and sort themselves out with a quiet word. If something bigger comes up — a complaint, a grievance, or a serious breach of the rules — bring it to the founders, and we’ll deal with it fairly and promptly.

The founders can suspend or end a membership where the rules or Code of Conduct are seriously or repeatedly broken. We’d always much rather have a conversation than get to that point.

IN SHORT

Bring your curiosity, your creativity, and your materials. Make things, learn things, share things. Look after the space and each other. Ask when you’re unsure.

That’s really all there is to it.