Hi there, Thanks if you filled in the evaluation for the computer club sessions in December. Here is general feedback from the online form followed by some anonymised personal feedback that we collected in person.
Feedback from online form

Evaluation of the Computer Club at Todmorden Makery

Summary structured using green, yellow, and red categories

Green: working well / clear positives

• Good level of interest and sustained engagement.
• Strong value placed on meeting people and social contact for computer enthusiasts.
• Weekly sessions help maintain focus and allow questions to develop.
• Increased confidence in sharing ideas and getting feedback.
• Practical learning valued, including Linux use, command line tools, and system understanding.
• Curated choices and suggested directions reduce overwhelm.
• Interest in creative outputs and applied work.
• Community-facing projects seen as motivating, including a local website for the local area.
• Laptop reuse and resale viewed positively.

Yellow: emerging issues / areas needing development

• Mixed experience levels among participants.
• Need for differentiation between beginners and more experienced attendees.
• Desire to work more deeply on a single topic rather than covering many.
• Strong interest in privacy, security, and tracking, but recognition that research and myth-busting are needed.
• Need to frame security topics carefully to remain empowering.

Red: risks / constraints to manage

• Lack of clear pathways may reduce momentum if sessions feel too open-ended.
• Risk of privacy and security discussions becoming overwhelming or anxiety-inducing.
• Loss of tacit digital skills when changing tools or platforms.

Computer Club feedback (handwritten notes)

Participant A

• Meeting people.
• Good level of interest.
• Lots of ideas for community projects.
• Local website project.
• Liked selling laptops.

Participant B

• Interest in privacy and security.
• Linux as private by default.
• VPN use to discourage tracking.
• Concerns about AI, social media security, and fingerprinting.
• Avoiding tracking.
• Need for myth-busting and research.
• Social contact for computer enthusiasts.
• Interest in alternative online and in-person events.
• Federated platforms as examples rather than forums.

Participant C

• Building confidence in ideas.
• Getting feedback and reality checks.
• Updating coding practices, including AI tools.
• Desire to spend more time on one topic.
• Weekly sessions help focus and support questions.

Participant E

• Experience using Linux.
• Use of rsync and command line tools.
• Developing a feel for systems and demystifying processes.
• Valued suggested directions and curated choices.

Updates on people’s projects

Participant F

• Feels proud and confident using their current computer setup.
• Notes that many tacit skills are lost.
• Taking notes and happy to pick up tips.
• Determined to persist.
• Working on transferring photos.
• Suggested separate provision for confident users and beginners.

Participant G

• Interest in a local website as a unifying project.
• Possible links with schools.
• Concerns about home page structure.
• Email as a topic.
• Security can be difficult to keep empowering without becoming negative.

Participant H

• Interested in making graphics.
• In response, tools such as GIMP, Inkscape, Krita, and other libre graphics software may be useful.
• Potential applications include posters, t-shirts, and logos.

Our volunteers have fixed up a few laptops donated from a local school. We’ve also bought hard drives for them- on offer are 4g or 8g Ram.

They have a version of Linux on them called Mint- it’s very similar to Windows but has less problems with viruses and going out of date. If you need the Windows operating system the computer guy at Tod Market could put that on pretty cheaply. 

They also have Chrome for internet browsing, an office suite of programs, and a VLC player for playing audio and video files. 

We suggest a donation of £25-£50 to support Todmorden Makery. If you are in financial hardship and this is out of your budget please talk to Darren, Josh or Nicola at one of our drop-ins about paying less. 

You can email to find out more on todmordenmakery@gmail.com

Or come to one of our drop in sessions. https://todmordenmakery.org.uk/events-calendar/

The Makery and some of the workers and directors of the Makery are involved in this project. It’s a good one and we are helping to promote it.

Click the following link to book on – https://www.northern-broadsides.co.uk/iron-people/
A Summary of the workshops follows.

Slowing the Flow Creative Writing Workshop
Saturday 18 Jan, 2pm – 5pm
Todmorden College

Creative Eco-Campaigning Workshop
Saturday 25 Jan, 2pm – 5pm
Todmorden College

Halifax Family Creativity Day
Saturday 25 Jan, 10.30am – 3.30pm
King Cross Library, Halifax

Future Flow – A Hands On Water Workshop
Saturday 8 & Sunday 9 Feb, 2pm – 5pm
Todmorden College

Song of the Valley – A Music Workshop
Saturday 15 Feb, 2pm – 5pm
Todmorden College

Mytholmroyd Family Creativity Day
Saturday 22 Feb, 2pm – 5pm
Mytholmroyd Community Centre

Capturing the Flow – A Sound Workshop
Saturday 22 Feb, 2pm – 5pm
Todmorden College

Mastering the Flow – Todmorden Showcase
Saturday 1 March, 2pm – 5pm
Gordon Rigg Garden Centre

Click the following link to book on – https://www.northern-broadsides.co.uk/iron-people/

After running the workshop for a few years, here are some useful bits of information.

It’s Mick here with a post about asking for potential volunteers for the digital devices work we do. At the Makery, we’ve done a fair bit on finding new homes for digital devices of laptops and phones. And also helping people to use phones and laptops them with a monthly Tech and Tea.

It’s been working really well. people are happy to donate us their old devices, we wipe them and test we can get them working well and people on limited funds really need these devices.

I am going to be really busy at work this year and need to step back from doing this, and so far no one has stepped up to take on coordinating it.

Although it’s important to say many great volunteers have been up for volunteering to tech and tea, and resetting the laptops and phones. Thank you for this!

I’m really reluctant to stop doing this work at the Makery, so before doing so I want to reach out and try to bring people who are interested together to see if we can keep doing it. That meeting may end up working out that there’s a gap that volunteers can’t meet, which is the coordination of other volunteers and working with partners. If so we may need to apply for funding to fund that part of the work.

So could you email on todmordenmakery@gmail.com if you are interested (no firm commitment) in any of the the following. Comments here are welcome but an email will help us to invite you to events.

a) volunteering to help people at Tech and Tea events – mostly simple phone app use and web browser use

b) resetting / wiping phones or putting new software on laptops

c) helping coordinate volunteers on the above – (emails reminding people it’s happening, hosting sessions, and helping spread the word)

d) potentially fund raising, if we need to, with the help of our council’s digital project officer

Once I have this I’ll pull together a meeting to work out a plan for the next year. So if you email, please tell me if you can’t meet in the day / evening.

I’ll also do some training on how to put different flavours of ubuntu (free software) onto old laptop computers as we have a whole bunch coming in.

Thanks for reading to the end,
Mick

These workshops are run by some of our members as unpaid volunteers as a way to highlight some of the ongoing skill sharing that happens at our drop in sessions. The resources for these workshops have been provided as part of our ongoing support from CFFC – Community Foundation for Calderdale.

A form to sign up for the workshops is included at the bottom of this page.

Sign up via this form or send us an email.

These induction and welcome and orientation events are supported by CFFC as part of a community grant to support our work with volunteers.

• When: Friday 11 October at 1.45pm – 3pm
• Where: The Makery, Todmorden Community College, Burnley Rd, Todmorden OL14 7BX
• Price: FREE No need to book – just drop in

Katrina Heath, a Todmorden resident and a freelance in theatre as a producer, director and facilitator, has invited the Makery to host and for the Makery members to take part in the Northern Broadsides project Iron People. 

What is Iron People?

A community project for CultureDale inspired by Ted Hughes’ The Iron Man and The Iron Woman. Northern Broadsides are inviting people from Calderdale to work with extraordinary local artists as part of the year of culture (CultureDale). Throughout the year, there will be workshops open to all ages in performance, making, creative writing and environmentalism.

What’s happening in Todmorden?

We will be using this event at the Makery to inform what comes next and find out what kind of work local people want to be involved in. Activity will happen early in 2025 leading to a community event in February. If you can’t attend this event in October but are interested in joining in after Christmas, then sign up to the Iron People mailing list and we will keep you posted.

Additional info on Katrina Heath who is running the session on the Northern Broadsides website :

In early August 2024 our colleague and friend John Sutcliffe was admitted to Calderdale Royal with acute liver and kidney failure and long standing heart failure. We are sorry to say that John passed away in the early hours of 21st of August. His passing was thankfully painless.

John was a well liked and irreplaceable member of our team at the Makery. He will be greatly missed. 

Picture: John on a typical day in the Makery workshop – fixing the motor of a vacuum cleaner with a cup of coffee at hand. 

The following tributes have been collected from Makery volunteers and wider members who knew him from his regular volunteering at the Workshop. 

There is also this tribute from Cath Holder, a friend of John for 50 years +

Thank you for all your wonderful comments about John,he was godfather to all my boys. He was a unique character and we used to say’ if John cannot mend it no one can’. However I would like to thank all of you for making John so welcome and giving him a purpose in his week as deep down he was lonely especially after his brother’s death. I had to move away to care for my mum and before that we went out weekly for a meal and he was good to me after my husband passed away. There will be an empty seat in our house this Christmas. So again thank you all, you gave him as much as he gave you.

John, nearest the camera, in the Makery workshop on a busy Saturday morning session. 

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Hi there,

Here are some notes from the Members meeting on the 7th of June. 

If things are not quite right there is an online version here that you can comment on and the record can be updated.

All the best from the meetings’ hosts.
Mick, Nicola and Caroline
Minutes / Notes from Makery Members Meeting – 7th June 2024 

Come visit the Makery community workshop and find out what we do.

Makery Tour Wednesday 29th May: 14.30 – 15.00 pm

Wednesday 5th of June – 19.00 – 19.30 pm
Makery Workshop – Todmorden College – Burnley Road

This is a chance to come visit the Makery to find out what is happening and what is available at Todmorden’s community workshop.  

These event make up a series of orientation events to help you find out if there is something for you  at the Makery or we can help you  make new things happen.

Please book on via email or via the form below
todmordenmakery@gmail.com

Send us an email or fill in this form

A discussion on the ethos of the Makery.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1kqimALUVvKDey7VO5yC1lcqTEe-PssHjDkfHI94gyFM/edit

Above is a link to a discussion piece on the ethos of the Makery. Some of it is pasted below. Please do comment on the above especially if you are a member and want to input to it.

Thoughts on the Ethos and the Uniqueness of the Makery

A discussion piece:  There are a few models of spaces that are similar to the Makery – e.g. repair cafe, hack space, maker space, community centres –  but it also seems to be a unique blend. This is a personal attempt to get down on paper some of the different threads of activity and the ethos behind them as a way of discussing them with members and steering group going forward. 

We make it happen together: The Makery is created together by its members whether they volunteer regularly or pop in occasionally. While some projects do need some coordination to happen which people are paid for, the whole project is made possible only by the good will of people giving their time and chipping in resources.

In Club Makery drinks are free – the kettle and the sofa are key tools: In other words having a brew, a chat and relaxing is an important part of the project.  

Peer Learning and Teaching: One great thing about the Makery is that it is a space which is designed to support and encourage peer learning. This learning is not only at specific workshops, nor only for people that bring in repairs that they would like to learn how to do themselves, it also happens through accidental learning and teaching. For example, someone that visits the Makery to get some trousers taken up may overhear someone else asking about how to do something else completely and be prompted to share their knowledge.  

A space built on membership rather than consuming a product:  While specific workshops are useful as an outreach tool, it is being a part of a community of members that underlies the ethos of the space. As such, everyone that enters the space is encouraged to join the project as a member. Other members are also curious about what they want to develop or create and what they could share with others if given the right support. Ideally people are helped to find a space for themselves in the Makery project.

Valuing diversity in background, values and approaches: When people have different approaches and backgrounds it is a rich ground for learning. It is worthwhile being proactive to try to attract a varied membership base using the space and to be honest about what could be better. Let’s also keep celebrating the contributions of regular volunteers who donate their time to help others. 

A practical approach to reusing and repurposing: Permaculture approaches apply to growing but they also apply to other uses of resources. Where possible we act as a hub for donations of tools and materials to grow our skills and help people (for example the free shop). Reducing waste is useful and empowering. 

Shared access to technology and skills: The tool library and 3D printer are examples how it can be more efficient and fair to have shared, community access to tools. It is also worth celebrating that people will volunteer to help.

Playful approaches and creations building useful skills: The process of making something that’s fun and frivolous can also build skills and inspire curiosity of others in the process of making it. For example creating a donations box that was a pinball machine, with LED lights.

A space for Family Learning and more isolated adults: There are some particular groups for which the Makery seems to provide space and experiences which are hard to get anywhere else. For families it’s a great space to make things together while being in a space that values repair skills and reducing waste. For adults that may be relatively isolated for whatever reason it is a great way of being in a social space with low pressure and the sense of being part of something that is created together with others and valued by the community. 

A rough audio recording of Mick doing a tour

Happy Leap Day! Here is a very quick newsletter for the Makery.

First of all many, many thanks to Todmorden town council for funding us towards our core costs of rent, insurance and materials etc. The town council were are first funders back in 2021, and while are have been very lucky to get generous donations from our members, we still rely on this support. Many Thanks Again!

New Timetable

Here’s our new timetable. Men in Sheds is now weekly.

Other Projects

Tech and Tea is happening March 1st – so tell your friends if you think they would benefit. We are also still collecting old phones and tech. That’s going really well!

Members meeting soon!

We usually have a members meeting a few times a year to get your ideas and help people get involve in the project. We’ll be having one soon in March. But if you have ideas please just reply to this email with your ideas.

All the best from the Makery.

For quite a while we have been finding new homes for older laptops that people have donated. We wipe the hard drive put on low power operating system and make sure it works well enough to browse the web.

We are now widening this out to phones and tablets. They are tricker to fix so we are also doing a partnership with St Augustine’s refugee project who can fix the devices that we can’t.

To back up this offer we are also going to do monthy Tech and Tea events to support people getting online. If you could help us by donating devices or volunteering at Tech and Tea please do get in touch on todmordenmakery @ gmail.com.

Have a look at our upcoming workshops here.

The Makery has been a fantastic project to get involved with. As we come up to our second birthday we now have 6 weekly drop-ins and other regular Men in Sheds and Women in Workshops sessions. These are great spaces for doing repairs, getting on with your making projects or getting help to do particular project. These sessions are now usually thriving and lively. It can be a bit hectic for some. We now have a dedicated quiet session on Wednesdays at 1.30.

We also have one off workshops which are a great way of getting involved in the project. Have a look at the flyers below for more information.

Recover and Remake is a series of creative, sustainable textile workshops in a relaxing and friendly environment designed to support the mental wellbeing of Todmorden residents. Feel free to ask us any questions.

Do you think this would be a good thing for you or someone you know. If so please do get in touch.

To get more info and say your are interested email Nicola on todmordenmakery@gmail.com or come in to the Makery or Tod College reception. You can also phone 01706 318 132 .
Or more directly there is also an online form you can fill out here

We’ll get in touch on the week of the workshop to confirm. If we can’t offer you a space you should still be able to complete the project as we’ll provide materials and some guidance at our drop in sessions. Come in and ask about out project boxes.

The Makery as a welcoming and supportive space.

We want to try to make our workshop as welcoming as we can for many sorts. The sessions above are especially aimed to help people’s wellbeing. We have found that one off guided workshops are really good at getting new people involved in the Makery. Especially for people that may find the drop in sessions a bit hectic or are not sure how to get involved.

Also each of these workshops aims to create a project box which will contain materials and pictures and where appropriate instructions. These boxes will be stored under the main tables of the workshop making it easy to get them out and have a guided project to get started on.

Could you make or test out a Project Box?

Please do get in touch if you are interested in creating a Project Box for others could create a project box. We are starting to create a page on our website about these boxes here.

One job that needs doing is to test out a Project Box and check that it is easy to to use. You could then give feedback or if you want to go further improve it with photos or simple instructions. Just get in touch on todmordenmakery @gmail.com