Coming soon: Makespace Resident Portal
Have you ever wondered who exactly occupies the multiple Makespace buildings across Oxfordshire? With over 200 residents breathing new life into them over the past six years, you’d be forgiven for not keeping track.
But all of that is about to change…
Launching next month, the Resident Portal is a digital ecosystem designed to showcase the brilliant, purpose-driven individuals and enterprises that bring our multiple spaces to life across the county.
This will be a public resource, allowing anyone to discover and connect with the wonderful organisations, businesses and individuals within our community.
Desktop view of the Resident Portal, featuring a network of Makespace residents.
The Knowledge Hub
Within the portal will also sit an exciting new online tool, the Knowledge Hub, specifically for our residents; a dynamic internal space for skill sharing and conversation.
Our hope is that this hub will foster deeper connections between the residents across our spaces through learning channels designed by and for residents, addressing their individual interests and needs.
Our Journey to Connection
From January to July 2024, Community Development Coordinator and Project Lead, Fabio Di Donato – with the support of Comms Manager, Ray Pelekamoyo – engaged deeply with Makespace residents, delving into their hopes and dreams for a truly collaborative community. The message was loud and clear: residents are eager for more opportunities to get to know each other, connect, share resources, and grow stronger together.
Screenshot from a Deloitte Digital Connect meeting earlier this year
Hearing from the Heart of Our Community
Fabio has spoken with dozens of residents, each with unique stories and aspirations. From the artist looking to collaborate on community projects to the entrepreneur seeking like-minded innovators, the desire for connection and collaboration is a common thread.
The Four Phases
Discovery: We conducted extensive research to understand the needs and aspirations of our residents through surveys, interviews, and community meetings with a total of 56 residents.
Define: Synthesising our research, we identified key themes and priorities, forming a clear vision and strategy for the upcoming directory and portal.
Prototype: We brought our ideas to life, developing initial versions of the directory and portal. These were tested by a small group of residents, whose feedback helped us refine and improve the tools.
Implementation: We’re now in the final phase, refining the tools and preparing for the full launch. Our residents have played a crucial role, ensuring that the final products truly reflect their needs and aspirations.
A Heartfelt Thank You
Our gratitude extends to Deloitte Digital Connect, a programme by Deloitte UK & Cast, dedicated to aiding not-for-profit organisations on their digital development journey for their generous funding and the incredible training experience provided through the programme.
Also massive thanks to the Makespace Oxford residents who have brilliantly contributed to this process, sharing their hopes and insights openly.
Our dream space is to have a truly connected community where we can share, learn from each other, and embark on this journey together. I am confident that the Makespace Portal will help us achieve that. – Fabio Di Donato
Stay tuned for the launch and get ready to explore, connect, and grow with the Makespace community! For more information, questions or queries, email [email protected].
