The Engine Room – An Experiment
Hello! I'm Dr Eric Lybeck, an American expat sociologist from the University of Manchester, who’s been researching issues around place, education, work and what seems to be holding back community regeneration in Britain and beyond. Building on years of research into 'what works' in creative regeneration strategies, and local collaboration across sectors in Southport, Merseyside and Greater Manchester, we created The Engine Room. Our vision is one where there are no empty shops on the high streets and together we re-imagine our seaside town in dynamic, inclusive and sustainable ways.
Campaign Description:
The Engine Room is a groundbreaking initiative aimed at transforming disused spaces in Southport into vibrant community and creative hubs. Our incubation model should provide a sustainable solution to revitalize our town, fostering local entrepreneurship and cultural growth. We plan to kickstart a generation of entrepreneurs who can fill the historic Wayfarers Arcade and then Lord Street with activity, creativity and culture. To fund this we need to build up the right balance of public, private and philanthropic funding. Particularly as we are getting started we need your support to build out our space and support the first cohort of young people to start new ventures.
What We Need & What You Get:
The owners of the historic Wayfarers Arcade have given us our pilot space rent-free for one year. Southport BID has donated one year of the fastest broadband in town. And, Southport's high schools and colleges will be running events to connect young people with interesting and interested ventures ongoing in town. If you are a creative business please do stop in and share your experience and opportunities with young people and the community.
However, we need somewhere for our members to sit while they begin working, creating and learning together. In the first six months we require approximately £10,000 for desks and furniture; for our digital infrastructure, including secure 24 hr access, podcast studio and 'Zoom rooms'. We also need part-time administrative support to coordinate our diary of events, courses and workshops. Your contributions will directly fund these critical first steps - and we have structured these donations as one might 'sponsor' a young person wanting to start or join a project.
If our full goal isn't met, funds will still be used to initiate the project on a smaller scale - so whatever you can give would make a huge difference, particularly in these early days.
The Impact:
Your contribution isn't just a donation; it's an investment in our towns' resilience and potential to innovate and thrive in the 21st century. This project has the potential to reverse trends in Southport wherein shops are becoming empty and young people feel they need to leave the area for opportunities. Through our links with educational institutions, universities, government and businesses locally, regionally, nationally and internationally, we are confident Southport can provide a model for similar towns globally. Your support will make a tangible difference in Southport's future, particularly for young people - but also for you, who will see a wave of creative products, services and events take over the high street.
Risks & Challenges:
Every ambitious project faces hurdles. We anticipate challenges in coordinating stakeholders and managing complex logistics. My expertise, which includes both an academic and a business background, when combined with our dynamic community of creatives and partners locally, will equip us to navigating these effectively, ensuring project success.
Our plan is to scale our pilot from summer 2024 onwards, so our greatest risk is that we do not seize the opportunity now - by demonstrating the support of the local community and a demand amongst creatives to use these empty shops in new ways, we should be able to make something really exciting happen in Southport and beyond.
Other Ways You Can Help:
Even if you can't contribute financially, spreading the word is invaluable. Share our story, use Indiegogo's share tools, and become an ambassador for change in Southport. Sign up to our Facebook page for updates and our Eventbrite for news about interesting events, courses and opportunities.
Join us in making The Engine Room a reality – a dynamic and creative hub in Southport.
