Blog

The (Complicated) Process of Matching Applicants to Meanwhile Spaces

Since we launched the ‘Meanwhile in Oxfordshire’ programme, we’ve received over 315 applications for space from local businesses, organisations and individuals across the county. This number underlines the huge amount of demand there is for affordable workspace, as well as a wider issue in the commercial rental market across Oxfordshire. These are exactly the problems we’re trying […]

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Press Release: Meanwhile in Oxfordshire in the Covered Market

Two people hold a large red key outside and empty retail unit in Oxford's Covered Market

15 November 2021 – Four empty units in Oxford City Council’s Covered Market have now been transformed into pop-up shops for local, purpose-led retailers ahead of the festive season. The ‘meanwhile’ or short-term use of these spaces is part of Makespace Oxford’s ‘Meanwhile in Oxfordshire’ programme, commissioned by the City Council, which seeks to reanimate space in […]

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Coming soon: The Community Works

If you’ve spent any time around Frideswide Square recently, you might have seen a vibrant splash of colour in one of the shop windows. This mural was by local artist Eleanor Greenhalgh, known as Nor. Against backgrounds of yellow, red and grey, the work featured abstracted figures embracing each other. In some of the individual figures sat […]

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Meanwhile in Oxfordshire: Orinoco’s New Banbury Location

You may have heard the news last month, but in case you missed it, we’re thrilled to announce that we’ve helped a couple more organisations into space in Banbury through the ‘Meanwhile in Oxfordshire’ programme. One of these organisations is Orinoco, who got the keys to a property on Banbury’s High Street and begin the fit out […]

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Meanwhile in Oxfordshire: Making space for Autism Champions

Dee Nic Stiric, Founder of Autism Champions, in their new unit with a LAB sign next to her

The process of finding a space, securing a ‘meanwhile’ lease on it and fitting it out can be a long and arduous one, so when we were able to support our first occupiers into a space earlier this summer, we were very excited. We were introduced to Dee, founder of a local community interest company called Autism […]

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Launching Meanwhile in Oxfordshire

Makespace Oxford and partners have teamed up with local councils to launch a new £1.7m programme to breathe life back into high streets and urban centres across Oxfordshire, supporting our communities to bounce forward from COVID-19 over the next year. ‘Meanwhile in Oxfordshire…’ is unparalleled in its ambition, and the first in the UK of its kind. Over the […]

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The Community Works Mural

If you've been wondering who's responsible for that riotous pop of colour in Frideswide square, wonder no longer! It's a brilliant comissioned piece by local artist Nor to help bring some life back to the area and speak a little to the emotional toll of the last year, speaking to our need for connection, and the impact [...]
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Makespace Central is Open!

We are overjoyed to be able to finally announce that the Makespace Central building on Park End Street is officially fully operational AND we have managed to secure full occupancy, with residents due to properly move in once lockdown 3 is over! Over a year ago, bright eyed and bushy tailed, we signed a lease on the [...]
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Resident Interview: Zahra of Young Women’s Music Project

This month we hear from Zahra of the Young Women’s Music Project, a local charity that provides an inclusive, supportive space for young womxn to get together to make music, learn new skills, express themselves, and grow in confidence.  Zahra: The Young Women’s Music Project was founded by Kate Garrett in 2000 in response to inequality in […]

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