A CLUB for people who like to ‘make stuff’ and learn new skills will be holding its first meetings later this month.

The Makers Club will be inviting makers of all types to talk tools, swap ideas, solve problems, share materials and enjoy the company of like-minded people.

The first meetings will be in Watchet on Tuesday (April 14) at the Esplanade Club and Williton on Tuesday, April 21, at the Railway Inn (both at 6.30pm).

Makers Club will welcome everyone from inventors to DIY enthusiasts, from upholsterers to model makers, from designers to builders and from repairers to those who “just like to tinker”.

Skills sharing is also a central idea for Makers Club. It is part of West Somerset Council’s Skills Swap Brokerage and aims to build on the huge wealth of skills within the district.

These ideas have come out of the work of the new Onion Collective social enterprise group, based in West Somerset, and community consultation leading to the Easy Quay Work Foundry proposal in Watchet, which will incorporate a communal workshop ‘makerspace’.

Onion Collective director Georgie Grant said: “We know there’s a huge number of makers in West Somerset, many of whom are working in isolation and who have expressed an interest in working together.

“Really, the idea is that together we are stronger. By bringing likeminded people together, the collective skills-set becomes very strong, the combined knowledge and experience of the makers means that there’s the potential for any project to be achieved, and for ideas and knowledge to be swapped in an informal and relaxed setting.”

Makers Club is also working in partnership with Watchet and Williton Community Employ-ment Hub which aims to help people find work and improve skills and confidence.

The Hubs are run by volunteer mentors and offer a range of support including help with searching and applying for work, tips on preparing for interviews and access to the internet.

The Community Employment Hubs have been open two months every Tuesday morning in Williton Children’s Centre and Thursday mornings in The Sanctuary in Swain Street, Watchet.

For more information about the Employment Hubs email employmenthubs@gmail. com or call 01984-248169.

Makers Club is supported by the West Somerset Our Place Partnership and Family Focus and is working in partnership with The Sanctuary and Onion Collective – for more information contact Georgie Grant on 07940-950396 or visit the Onion Collective website at www.onioncollective.co.uk