MAKE IT Barking: Now open for enquiries
Barking is set to see a brand new work and social hub open this Summer with the launch of MAKE IT Barking. After successfully winning a bid put together by Barking & Dagenham council in 2021 to reimagine Roycraft House, MAKE IT London are currently refurbishing the 35,000 square foot building in the town centre.
MAKE IT London are vibrant work and social space curators whose hybrid hubs aim to bring energy, enterprise and social value to underused buildings alongside a community of dynamic industries. Home to some of London’s most exciting SMEs who work in fashion, media, tech, food & drink, sustainability, wellness, design, live experiences and everything in between.
MAKE IT Barking is set to be a standout destination and landmark in the heart of Barking that will provide workspace, desk space, networking and hire spaces, a bar and cafe / restaurant and a cutting edge events programme. MAKE IT Barking will have both private and shared workspace for up to 150 businesses alongside photography & film, recording, wellness and event studios and meeting rooms all available for public use. The ground floor will become a bar, cafe / restaurant, event and community space accessible to everyone.
The project is now open for people to Register their interest in getting involved in a variety of different workspace options, membership, events and networking, studio hire and cafe and restaurant operation.
MAKE IT Barking joins other exciting projects set to transform the borough such as the new film studios, the Vicarage Fields development, the House for Artists, the imminent arrival of the historic City of London markets, Crossrail and the Overground extension to Barking Riverside.
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact Make It London directly through Hannah (hannah.briley@makeitlondon.co.uk)
Find out more in the news feed below.
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MAKE IT Barking Steering group Call out
MAKE IT Barking are opening an exciting new work and social hub in the heart of Barking Town Centre this July!
Barking is soon to become a workspace home to lot’s of small and ambitious businesses as well as providing event and creative facility space for the general public to enjoy.
The project has an underlying positive Social value concept at it’s core and MAKE IT Barking are looking to provide affordable space for start-ups and VCSE sector businesses to realise their goals, Business Support for those who would like it and free use of their event and facility spaces to Community Organisations.
As MAKE IT Barking edge closer to their target opening date of July the 1st, they are looking to put together a local Steering Group to help them make Community & Social Value led decisions.
MAKE IT Barking are looking to form a Steering Group of 12 local people to co-design their ideas across heavily discounted workspaces and Community-led activity programmes. Steering Group members will need to commit to a series of 2-hour workshops, (online and in-person) from June 2022 for 12 months, (some additional time will be required to read material between meetings). MAKE IT Barking want to work with you in their initial phone conversation to hear your thoughts on how often these sessions should take place and when - it could be once a month, once every two months or perhaps once a quarter. If you are selected to take part you will be remunerated with a £20 Amazon voucher per each 2-hour session. You will be committing to both contributing your ideas and listening to others; the end goal is to gain an informed understanding of the community's various thoughts for MAKE IT Barking to implement in their plans.
MAKE IT Barking eligibility criteria:
We are looking for people who:
- Are residents or business/organisation owners in Barking & Dagenham and have a desire/enthusiasm to represent their local community
- Can commit to participating in the whole programme
- Are willing to work as part of a team to share ideas and reach a common goal
Group members will be selected on the above criteria. Consideration will also be given to ensuring there is a range of people of all ages and backgrounds, with different skills and experiences to be as representative of the local community as much as possible.
If you think you would like to take part in this exciting co-design opportunity please fill in this Expression of interest form(External link) by midnight on the 29th April 2022. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact Make It London directly through Elvire.matu@makeitlondon.co.uk(External link) or Kirsty.smith@makeitlondon.co.uk
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'My Roycraft' pop up: Come and Say Hello
Share your ideas for events and activities, food and drink, shopping and sustainability at Barking & Dagenham’s new cultural hub.
Want to help shape the future? Make It London and Urban Symbiotics are hosting a ‘My Roycraft’ pop-up stall to engage with the local community and understand how Roycraft House can best be utilised by the public.
This is your chance to contribute your ideas: does Barking need a cafe, a restaurant, a cocktail bar… or all three? Would you like to come to see live theatre, spoken word, a cinema club or dance the night away to DJ’s? What sustainable infrastructure would you like to have available on your doorstep - A clothes recycling unit, an E-Bike station or maybe a zero waste refill shop? Roycraft House is a blank canvas, and Make It London wants to incorporate your ideas into the design of the building.
On the following dates and times, the team will be located at Barking Market or Station:
Barking Market
- Monday 27th September 2021 - 7:30am - 4pm
- Tuesday 28th September 2021 - 9:30am - 4pm
Barking Station
- Thursday 30th September 2021 - 8:30am - 4pm
- Friday 1st October 2021 - 1pm - 6pm
Hop into the ‘My Roycraft’ pop-up and interact with the ‘Ideas Wall’ to discuss proposed ideas for the building, as well as providing an opportunity for people to add their own ideas, comments and suggestions. Make It London will be handing out free popcorn and drinks in exchange for your opinions.
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact Make It London directly through Hannah (hannah.briley@makeitlondon.co.uk) or Kitty (kitty.watson@makeitlondon.co.uk).
