Members' Guide

Colchester Makerspace gives you shared access to a professional ceramics and printmaking studio. You can use kilns, pottery wheels, silkscreen, risograph, letterpress and more — for a monthly membership fee.

We welcome everyone — whether you're trying something for the first time or you're an experienced maker.

Our Team

Core Team

Marc De'Ath

Co-founder

Peter Jones

Co-founder

Natalie Kelly

Studio Manager

Eddie Dan

Studio Technician

Associate Artists

Ceramics

Sam Elston

Ceramicist

Harriet Caslin

Ceramicist

Neville Tatham

Ceramicist

Printmaking

Heidi Sharp

Printmaker & Illustrator

Tom Armstrong

Printmaker

Katie Kennedy

Designer & Printmaker

Book a 1:1 via the Members' Shop.

Watch all three videos before your first session. They cover everything you need to know to use the space safely.

Edit your profile or payment details:

Membership Options

• Lite — £20/month: up to 8 hours per week
• Frequent — £30/month: up to 16 hours per week
• Student — £15/month: up to 8 hours per week

If your needs change, email us and we'll adjust your membership.

Cancelling

Membership has a minimum term of 3 months. After this period, you can cancel at any time with 10 days' notice. If you rejoin later, you'll need to complete the induction and pay the registration fee again.

Pausing Your Membership

If things get difficult financially, you can pause your membership for up to 6 months. This is a one-time option. Your payments stop and restart automatically after 6 months.

Note: You need to have been a member for at least 6 months before you can pause.

Discounts For Members Only

Members get up to 50% off all classes. To claim it: when booking on Eventbrite, type your registered email address into the promo code box. The discount applies automatically. This discount only applies to members — it does not apply to family and friends. Non-members need to book a full price ticket separately.

You can also receive a 10% discount at Patch by showing them your digital membership card.

WhatsApp Community

You'll get an invite once your membership is confirmed. The invite comes from 07535 960152 — save that number first.

The main WhatsApp groups are:

• Announcements (all members must join this) — For important information from the Makerspace Team. This is not a two-way chat. We won't respond to questions or enquiries here.
• Printmaking Member Chat or Ceramics Member Chat — To connect with other members who share the same interests.
• Makerspace Team Enquiries & Information — To reach staff for urgent or time-sensitive enquiries about the space. We'll get back to you when we can. It's not always monitored in real time. For general questions, email is better. Please always allow 48 hours for a response.

General Enquiries

Email: members@makercampus.co.uk

On-site Help

Our technician Eddie is in the space on Tuesdays 10am–2pm and Sundays 10am–2pm. For more in-depth help, book a 1:1 with an Associate Artist or come to one of our classes.

Monthly Tours & Welcome To The Makerspace Sessions

Tours are for non-members that are interested in signing up. The Welcome to the Makerspace Sessions are for new members who should attend to understand how things work at the Makerspace. Both are once a month and details are on our Classes web page.

Accessing The Building

• During Café Patch opening hours (Monday–Saturday 10am–4pm, Sunday 10am–3pm) — enter through the front of the building.
• Outside those hours — use the wooden gate two buildings to the left of Trinity Works. Tap 🔑 Essential Access Codes in the shortcuts above for the gate code.

Using The Space During Classes

You're welcome to use the space while classes are running — with some conditions:

• The Associate Artist leading the class is in charge
• They may ask you to pause for up to 20 minutes or keep noise to a minimum
• Equipment used in the class is off-limits during that session
• Always check the Members' Calendar before you come to see what's booked in

Three things we ask everyone to do

1. Respect the space and the equipment
2. Respect other people using the space
3. Act safely — look after yourself and others

Three basic rules

• No smoking anywhere in the Makerspace
• The space is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
• We prefer you not to work alone — see below

Working alone

We'd rather you don't work alone if you can help it. If you do:

• Tell someone where you are and when you expect to leave
• Make sure someone can raise the alarm if they don't hear from you
• Keep your phone charged and with you

Simple rule: Leave it better than you found it. Tidy up after every session.

After Your Session

• Wipe down tables, wheels and presses
• Wash up and put away any cups or glasses
• Return items to Patch if you borrowed them
• Separate your waste into the right bins
• Mop up any clay from the floor immediately
• Put tools back into their correct place
• Recycle/remove any scrap/unwanted paper or fabric

Weekly Clean

The space has a professional clean every Wednesday, 7am–9am. The space is closed to all members during this time. This also means no access to the Foyer. This is shown on the Members' Calendar. You will be asked to come back after 9am if you do arrive during these times.

Safety — Slips & Trips

• Don't leave anything on the floor — especially trailing cables
• If you're working at height, use the ladders and steps provided
• Never lift something heavy alone — ask for help
• Don't work if you're under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or medication that could affect your judgement

Sharp Items & Hazardous Materials

• Dispose of blades and sharps in the correct containers
• Only use hazardous materials as shown in your induction
• Don't leave flammable materials on site without permission

Accidents

For serious accidents: call 999 immediately. The first aid box is located by the white ceramic sink.

PPE stands for Personal Protective Equipment. These rules apply whenever you're in the workshop — even if you're not actively making.

• Clothing: No loose or baggy clothing. It can catch on benches and machinery.
• Jewellery: Remove it before you start work.
• Shoes: Closed-toe shoes only. No sandals or flip-flops. Protective footwear recommended if you're handling large materials or machinery.
• Noise: Keep noise to a comfortable level during office hours. The building is shared with a café and an architect's office. If you expect to be louder than usual, please try to time your work accordingly and let staff know.

1. Don't panic. Check quickly and safely — only use an extinguisher if it's safe or you need to escape.
2. Break the red alarm at the fire exit to raise the alarm.
3. Press the green emergency exit button to open the external doors.
4. Make sure everyone in your area evacuates calmly.
5. Close the door behind you.
6. Call 999.
7. Call the Makerspace emergency contacts: Marc De'ath — 07973 435483 / Peter Jones — 07976 432455

Assembly points

• Front fire exit: Corner of the Library on Trinity Street
• Rear fire exit: Eld Lane

Fire extinguishers

Located by the doors in each space.

• Black (CO₂): For fires involving live electrical equipment
• Cream (Foam): For fires involving solids or burning liquids

Materials (paper, inks, clay) are available from the Members' Shop. We operate an honesty system. Please only buy items from the shop whilst you are in the space/can take them immediately, otherwise it puts our stock system out of sync. Members can also bring their own.

Clay & Ceramics

Clay and glazes are available in the Members' Shop, stored in the front foyer. For full clay safety rules and ceramics guidance, see Section 11 — Working In The Ceramics Area.

Printmaking

The print area includes silkscreen, risograph, letterpress and linocut. Some equipment requires sign-off from an Associate Artist before independent use. Please attend a specific class or book a 1:1 session first.

The Key Rules

• Always use a wet sponge or mop to clean up clay — never sweep or hoover dry clay
• Wear an apron or overalls. Wash clay off clothes as soon as you can. Don't store dirty aprons — they create dust when you put them on next time.
• When you finish a bag of clay, pull it inside out and wash the remaining clay off before storing
• At the end of every session, wash down all surfaces, tools and wooden boards
• Mop up any clay from the floor as soon as it drops
• Seal wet clay back into bags. Store liquid slip in an airtight container or dispose of it while wet.
• If fettling dry clay, do it over the sink or a wet cloth

Throwing Wheels

• Anyone can use the wheels — but if you've never thrown before, we recommend an open workshop or class first
• Turn off the power at the wall when you're done
• Leave the wheel clean (sponge down) with no clay remaining
• Mop the floor around your wheel area after use

Recycling Clay

Any leftover clay can be recycled. Leave it on a wooden board to dry, then put it into the appropriate recycling tube.

Five places only for Work in Progress — with a fully completed yellow WIP form:

1. Above the wheels
2. Above the reclaim area
3. In the rear corridor above the storage box units
4. In your personal locker, storage box or portfolio
5. In the print drying racks provided

Work in Progress that isn't in the above areas, isn't labelled, and is over 8 weeks old (ceramics) or 1 week old (print work) will be recycled. No reminders will be sent.

Storage Boxes, Portfolios & Lockers

Storage boxes, portfolios and lockers are available in the online shop. Once purchased, Natalie will receive your order and contact you with your assigned number. If there isn't any available, please email Natalie to ask to be put on the waiting list. Use Makerspace padlocks only — purchase these whilst in the space using the QR code on the box located on the white wall unit by the inks.

Workshop/Class Items

The workshop unit at the rear of the Makerspace is for use by the Makerspace Team only. Please do not help yourself to any items or move the trays. If you want to find out if any of your work is available for collection/glazing, please contact Natalie with details of what class/workshop you attended: members@makercampus.co.uk

We have silkscreen, risograph, letterpress and linocut equipment. Some of this requires sign-off from an Associate Artist — they'll check you're comfortable with safe use before you work independently.

For current dates and booking visit makercampus.co.uk/classes or our Eventbrite page.

We can't do this without you. If you see something that could be better — safer, clearer, more welcoming — please tell us.

📝 Open the suggestion form

Thank you for being part of this.