Makerspace and Community Workshop, STEM outreach and creative skills: LAMM is a membership organisation dedicated to maintaining a local makerspace and to broadening the adoption of skills and crafts in the local community.
LAMM is a membership organisation dedicated to maintaining a local makerspace and to broadening the adoption of skills and crafts in the local community. As such we maintain a local workshop with a variety of tools and machines (3D-printers - FDM and resin, Laser Cutter, Pillar Drill, Band-saw, Mitre Saw, Sewing machines etc.) that we allow full use of for our members. We also run community based workshops and open days.
Some of the events that LAMM and its members have been a part of are: Light Up Lancaster (we will once again be joining in the activities this year); Lancaster Fun Palace; a weekly class of Woodworking Skills for Children; a class of Introductory Woodworking for Adults; Maker Faires in Newcastle, Manchester, Birmingham; Code-Up Lancaster; Repair Cafe.
Community Support
During lockdown we ran a hugely successful campaign to collect unwanted laptops from residents of Lancaster and Morecambe and to fix, clean and install recent software. These machines were then distributed to local schools for families who had children with little or no access to computers while isolated. Some machines were also distributed to refugees and women’s shelters for families using their facilities. We delivered over 250 machines into the local community.
We have plans in the future to run more events focused on STEM and upskilling local communities. We run with the repair manifesto. That is, we hope to teach people how to repair, recycle, reuse or repurpose the things in their life as well as acquire the skills for their own projects. This will lead to greater confidence of what can be done and most importantly reduce our overall waste, essential in the future environmental response for our district.
Funding Crisis
However, LAMM faces a current funding crisis. Due to the pressures of lockdown, the rising cost of living, and a loss of membership we are desperately low on funds. We are facing a monthly shortfall and are now seeking more members or sponsorship from local companies or groups.
So we are asking for your help. Would you, or someone you know like to join as a member of LAMM? We do accept companies as members as well as individuals. We are also offering sponsorship opportunities to companies or individuals who do not want, or need, a monthly membership.
Please note that these costs only reflect the cost of rental, bills and accounting. The more members we have the better facilities and the possibility of reducing membership charges in the future.
A teenager at one of our hand-tool woodwork classes (below):
