Volunteering

There are loads of ways to volunteer at Nottingham Hackspace, from small events and tasks, to entire teams and large scale projects. See below for the various ways you can help. Nottingham Hackspace only exists because of volunteers: There are no staff, and no one is paid for the things they do, including the trustees. Members (and sometimes non-members) put in a huge amount of time every month to ensure the smooth running the Hackspace. The things listed below represent a number of different approaches to volunteering, some of which will probably suit you better than others. They fall into roughly four areas:

• Teams: Self-organising groups of hackspace members who look after specific areas, and have monthly budgets to spend on them.

• Events: Drop-in events organised around specific collective tasks.

• Tasks: Small, non-disruptive things that repeat and you can do by yourself.

• Projects: Specific bits of infrastructure done by ad hoc teams. Scale varies greatly.

Teams

The hackspace has a number of small, self-governing teams that maintain particular areas. So far, they are:

3D Printing

The 3D Printing team keeps the 3D Printers running and functional, as well as offering inductions. They can be contacted on 3dprinting@nottinghack.org.uk.

Communications

The communications team look after our outward facing presence, such as our website, newsletter, twitter and facebook. More details can be found at Team:Communications, or email newsletter@nottinghack.org.uk

Craft & Textiles

The Craft & Textiles Team are a new team, formed in April 2014, to regenerate the Craft Room at Nottinghack. They aim to develop the area into an exciting, appealing area for all those interested in crafts - be it textiles, painting, sewing, pastels, wax, candles, dressmaking or design. Currently, please contact Sophie for more information.

Electronics

The Electronics Team keeps the Electronics area of the space stocked with consumables, the tools functional and maintained. They can be contacted on electronics@nottinghack.org.uk.

Events

The Events Team will be handling all internal and external workshops and events. They can be contacted on events@nottinghack.org.uk.

Infrastructure

The Infrastructure Team looks after the Hackspace's infrastructure, and they can be contacted on infrastructure@nottinghack.org.uk.

Laser

The Laser team look after the Laser Cutter in the space, including offering inductions. They can be contacted on laser@nottinghack.org.uk.

Maintainers

The Maintenance Team look after the large tools in the Hackspace, currently the 3D Printer and the Laser Cutter. Any issues with large tools should be directed to maintainers@nottinghack.org.uk.

Membership

The membership team look after member admin duties, from running HMS and answering questions of new and prospective members, to conducting tours during Open Nights. Email: membership@nottinghack.org.uk

Metal Working

The Metal Working Team looks after the Hackspace's metal working area, and they can be contacted on metalworking@nottinghack.org.uk.

Network

The Network Team looks after the Hackspace's networking, and they can be contacted on network@nottinghack.org.uk.

Resources

The Resources Team look after all those consumable things in the space that we need again and again, from toilet roll to Stanley knife blades. Requests from members are accepted and encouraged. For now look at our wiki page and email: resources@nottinghack.org.uk

Safety

The safety team page is at Safety_Team. They can be contacted on safety@nottinghack.org.uk.

Snackspace

The Snackspace Team looks after the Hackspace's vending machine, drinks and snacks, and they can be contacted on snackspace@nottinghack.org.uk.

Software

A small group of programmers develops bespoke software for running the hackspace. From Gatekeeper to Snackspace and HMS, the hackspace wouldn't run without this level of automation. There's plenty more to do. Nottinghack Github account here. Email: software@nottinghack.org.uk

Tools

The tools team is starting to look at all our tools to see what further tools we need, and what may need replacing. If you would like to help, contact Joe or email: tools@nottinghack.org.uk There is a wiki page here.

Woodworking

The Woodworking Team looks after the Hackspace's dusty area and tools, and they can be contacted on woodworking@nottinghack.org.uk.

Open Night

Happens every Wednesday from 18:30, and we always need members to welcome visitors, talk to them and give hackspace tours. Giving a tour is easy.

Hack the Space

A day of tidying, tweaking and revising the space to be more organised and work in better ways for everyone. It takes place on the first Sunday of every month, from 11:00 on.

Members Meetings

On the first Wednesday of every month, members meet to discuss and vote on any issues arising for the space. Each meeting also needs someone to chair and someone to take minutes.

Public Events

From hackspace open days to mini maker faires, we sometimes have a hackspace presence at various events. Members are generally welcome (and needed!) to demonstrate projects and answer questions form the public.

Tasks

There are many small tasks you can do at the hackspace to help.

• Tidy a workbench
• Put some tools away
• Charge some drill batteries
• Run or empty the dishwasher
• Sweep something up
• Sort or take some rubbish out (see Waste and Recycling Initiative)
• Clean a loo (see Cleaning the hackspace)
• Sweep and mop studio floor
• Empty rubbish bins, replace binliners
• Change towels (workshop, kitchen, bathroom)
• Launder towels
• Hoover blue room and member's storage
• Sweep and mop kitchen floor
• Wiping down the kitchen counters and surfaces
• Organising the kitchen cupboards
• Clearing out the fridge and pantry of expired food
• Hoover workshop
• Sweep electronics bench
• Clean toilets
• Tidy blue room
• Tidy studio
• Tidy comfy area

Projects

All of the examples below are completed projects, picked from many that have taken place. Generally, they were initially raised at members meetings, though sometimes you might also see projects emerge from the Google Group. All were led on a project basis, with ad hoc teams of interested people existing for the duration of them.

• Plumbing in the wet area.
• Building the spray booth.
• Wiring the space with CAT 5.
• Building shelves.
• Sorting through occasional large donations.
• Building the dusty area.
• Flooring the metalworking area.
• Additional workshop lighting.
• Getting a 3D printer up and running.

Discussions of projects and potential projects often pop up on the mailing list. A small number of people can achieve quite a lot once they've got the budget and the remit to do something.