Over the past year, the MAKERS Project, which was funded by the Royal Academy of Engineering’s Diversity Impact Programme, has partnered with the Eastville Old Library to deliver workshops focused on food growing, sewing, and textile repair.
About the Old Library
The Old Library, a volunteer-run community hub, is situated in the heart of the South Lockleaze & Purdown neighborhood. It offers a variety of activities, events, a café, a kids’ space, a lounge, a book swap, a community garden, and a repair café. Established by the South Lockleaze & Purdown Neighbourhood Group C.I.C. after the closure of their local library in 2016 due to budget cuts, the Old Library aims to foster a more social, safe, and strong community in North Bristol. As South Lockleaze is one of the most deprived areas in Bristol, community spaces like the Old Library are essential for residents.
University Collaboration
UWE Bristol and its School of Engineering have longstanding ties with the Old Library. They have previously supported the establishment of a weekly STEM Club and a monthly repair café, and there is also a monthly Climate Book Club, run by Sarah Robertson from the English Literature Department.
Food Growing Workshops
To make food growing accessible to people from all backgrounds, the Old Library, leveraging its proximity to local allotments, partnered with Sara Venn from Edible Bristol. This initiative aimed to address food insecurity and promote sustainable growing methods in the area. Two workshops were held for participants involved in local community growing projects, including Really Wild Lockleaze, Hillfields Community Garden, St Werburgh’s City Farm Allotments, Eastville Welcome Space, and Lockleaze Neighbourhood Trust. These sessions facilitated skill-sharing and connections with other Bristol groups.
The workshops covered soil and regenerative gardening, as well as seeds and seed saving. Participants learned about growing methods that work with nature, support biodiversity, and produce healthy food at minimal cost, making these practices accessible to people from lower-income backgrounds.
Sewing and Upcycling Workshops
Recognising the fashion industry’s impact on climate change, the Old Library organised five sewing, mending, and upcycling classes in collaboration with sustainable fashion workshop and service provider, Re_Thrindle. Nineteen locals, including three UWE Bristol students involved in the MAKERS Project, signed up to learn sewing machine use and garment repair, with priority given to those on low incomes.
Due to high demand, these sessions are set to continue after the summer, with more collaborations in the pipeline.