We are one today! Wirral MakeFest became a community interest company on this day last year. Directors Alison and John continued from Wirral MakeFest 2023. Originally started with Diana Powell and Wirral Unplugged CIC (now uk.unplugged CIC). Jules Kay joined the WMF team and then more recently, Tony Terry.
We span the 50s, 60s, 70s and 80s. We are interested in young and old getting involved with Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Maths. We have backgrounds in the arts, physics, nursing, coding and are interested in community, volunteering, the environment and educational activities.
As we move forward towards Wirral MakeFest 2025, we have an exciting workshop in March with Nicola of @quiltstitchsocial in Moreton, using banners from the Borough of Culture to make into bags. This follows on from the rag wreath making workshop in Liscard before Christmas. Also in the planning stage is a free public workshop in the newmaker space in Birkenhead @birkenhack with @jackiesees of @doesliverpool. Our intention is also to create an event promoting repair with @wirralrepaircafe and coding with @wirralcodeclub for seniors before the main event on Saturday the 10th of May. The extra workshops have been made possible through funding we received through Wirral being the Liverpool City Region Borough of Culture, and the generosity of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. Wirral Makefest represents many things, including sustainability, and we wanted to provide some revenue for some of the makers who have supported us or will support us. The events have taken place in different parts of Wirral moving out of Birkenhead. As we will be unable to support music and poetry at our main event this year, we have asked Alison Shultz to arrange a barn dance at Start Yard as a fundraiser plus a fun opportunity for makers and volunteers and the public to get together in April.
With the funds we received last year, we were canny and bought wisely. The pop up banners purchased early last year and the feather flags that are coming are un-dated so we can use them year on year and also for different events such as workshops. The lanyards and teeshirts are made from recycled materials. We have commissioned one of our makers to design a new medallion for our makers and provided birch ply for this to be made. The process has already started.
Alison Bailey Smith
Julie Kay
Tony Terry
John Howard