FabLab Coventry is an initiative of the Coventry University Centre for Trust, Peace and Social Relations.
The mission is to explore a new relationship between the University and the City through the co-design and implementation of a civic engagement programme that provides mutual benefit to citizens, students, researchers, businesses, policy makers and NGO’s in Coventry and beyond.
Between FabLab Coventry and our Eco Furniture Factory, these two community maker spaces provide a neutral environment for all communities to come together to socialise, research, create, make, trade and or gain new skills and qualifications.
FabLab Coventry connects students, researchers, local communities and businesses together in responding to social challenges throguh mutually beneficial learning and social innovation, resulting in qualification, publications, artwork, citizen science and policy innovation.
History:
One consequence of Coventry University’s growth and success has been a changing relationship with the City; we are still close, but for some parts of our work, daily life on campus has been disconnected from the wider city; the University sought to change this trend.
CTPSR engaged with over 3,000 local residents and community organisations in co-designing an innovative civic engagement initiative, resulting in the establishment of FabLab Coventry in 2016.
A community space designed for & with the community
Goals:
The FabLab – short for fabrication laboratory – is a community maker space, providing access to state-of-the-art computer-controlled tools like 3D printers, CNC and laser cutters as well as traditional metal, woodworking and sewing tools. It is open access and many users are simply looking to gain new skills – share theirs; this is supported through offer and delivery of multiple different UK accredited courses and qualifications.
Technicians and researchers are on hand to support with the tools, skills and technology to be able to make almost anything, engage in social research or start new enterprises, running classes and supporting learning on the equipment.
Since November 2017, FabLab Coventry have been an accredited Open College Network West Midlands Centre. This allows us to provide our learners with accredited, UK qualifications on completion of our courses. Including the ability to develop new, bespoke courses, specifically to meet our type of delivery methods and our learners.
