Chris Hellawell, Edinburgh Tool Library

Manifesto point 3 – We share our resources and we are collectively responsible for acting on our own ideas.

“Edinburgh Tool Library is built upon sharing resources. We believe in the principle of access over excess, and that by sharing what our community has, all members of that community are better off. Access to resources that would otherwise be restricted invites our members to explore their own creativity, without financial obstacles.”

 

Chris Hellawell is the director of The Edinburgh Tool Library, which aims to provide access to tools for everyone, without costing the earth.  As well as a catalogue of over 1,500 tools for DIY, gardening, and making, The Edinburgh Tool Library also has two workshops in Leith and Portobello. They teach classes to budding makers, and run member open sessions four times a week at no extra cost, meaning making is affordable to everyone (a one-year membership costs £10-£30). The Edinburgh Tool Library has a Women’s Woodshop programme, a mobile bike kitchen, employability project, and young makers space. They also have a programme of weekend volunteer builds throughout the year for the benefit of other charities and community groups.