The MAKERS project actively supported local community groups in helping them to develop new skills around making and repair, promoting self-sufficiency and empowerment of individuals and communities, and highlighting engineering as a career choice. As part of this, MAKERS collaborated with three remarkable community organisations in St Paul’s:
- Bridging Histories: A project co-led with Bristol University, focused on uniting divided communities.
- Each One Teach One: A violence prevention organisation dedicated to fostering peace.
- Fancy Finance: An organisation assisting local residents in managing the pressures of the cost-of-living crisis.
The Workshops
The community partners and the MAKERS team co-designed a series of seven workshops running from April to June 2024. These sessions aimed to introduce participants to new engineering skills and inspire future aspirations:
- Introduction to Basic Electronics (including soldering, see image above, taken by George Francis)
- Scooter and (Electric) Bike Mechanics and Maintenance
- An Introduction to Python Coding
- Computer Aided Design (Tinkercad)
- Routes into Higher Education and Engineering
- Tour of UWE Bristol’s Engineering Building (Featuring Virtual Reality Rooms, Simulators, and a wind turbine building activity.)
- Trip to Pytch Bristol (A sustainably run event production company.)
Impact and Participation
Each session was attended by up to 15 young people, supported by community experts and current/former UWE students and staff. Many participants faced significant barriers to higher education, so MAKERS focused on creating an inclusive and welcoming environment at the university, a place many had never visited before.
Learning and Future Collaborations
The project offered invaluable insights for both the university and community organisations. This experience has laid the groundwork for future collaborations, and the MAKERS team is excited about establishing a long-term partnership to continue supporting and empowering the community.
The MAKERS project was funded through the Diversity Impact Programme from the Royal Academy of Engineering, aiming to improve belonging for diverse engineers. The evaluation findings will be reported soon.
