Fired up
Six months ago there was a fire at C103 — it closed the street, it was a shock, we got stuck into trying to claim on our insurance (which still hasn’t paid out) and trying to piece together a way forward. We haven’t really talked about it and it’s only in hindsight we’ve realised how much it set us back.
We had spent most of last year pulling plans together and applying for funding to bring the building back to life. We were turned down for capital funding in a pretty brutal way in the summer and then stretched ourselves to the limit to get a bid in for housing that then was also unsuccessful. In that process alongside many other challenges we faced — we lost a little bit of our nudginess.
At the end of last year I was lucky enough to hear a talk by Fairphone’s Bas van Abel (thanks to The Rank Foundation), he reflected on his experience as an entrepreneur trying to make change happen and how the established systems can just end up eating you up. His honest description of what it feels like really resonated and got me thinking what needs to happen so we don’t get eaten up.
At Nudge — we imagine it can be different, people want it to be different, but it’s incredibly hard to make that happen. The system, the processes, the behaviours and ‘the way things are’ make it really tricky…but not impossible. So this year, we were determined to make sure we keep the nudge in everything we do.
That has meant tuning in to what makes us different, what makes us laugh, what people say they love, welcoming people to join in, and being braver — trusting that our instincts are valid and often right.
At C103 we went back to getting volunteers on site, chipping away at what felt like an enormous capital project and not focusing on the fact we haven’t got enough money. It’s surprising how far love and determination can get you, (it shouldn’t surprise us because it’s largely been what has got us this far, and yet for some reason we often forget). It’s also magnetic — if things are happening, people are excited, bring ideas and solutions, and then others want to join in.
Lost in the dirt and grime of a dark and very derelict building finding little dinosaurs or a random paper mache bone become the highlight of our days.
We started to think how to share all these things — and so The Museum of Here began. A museum full of random finds and memories. It turned into a very funny project that has bought SO much joy already (and helped us get a bit of creativity and nudginess back).
Before we knew it Ardis Property — our contractors (that are now on site thanks to some UK Shared Prosperity funding) started finding things that ‘had to go in the museum’. Richard Fisher, a local historian brought in a bottle of stout that was bottled in the building well over 100 years ago that ‘had to go in the museum’. Eszter made jewellery from broken china swept up from the floor that is so beautiful it ‘had to go in the museum’. Regular volunteers Kevin and Phil rolled their eyes multiple times at all the ideas but were key to bringing it life and added their own special touches as the museum came together.
To be honest I just wanted things that I could finish — having everything stretching out in the future is tiring and the slow grinding processes are energy zapping, the resilience required to tackle the buildings we are nudging is not to be under estimated — pretty much everything is stacked against you — everything from roof leaks to the economic system!
Reupholstering chairs, ice cream brollies and re-imagining things we found in the building became the entertainment as we chunked through clearing and demolishing. Now we have a growing collection of things that have all those memories for us, also hold memories for local people who danced the night away around them, and can now be enjoyed by others.
We were finally motivated to deal with the damage the fire had done because we were replacing it with something special. Everything from the doors, floor, tables and displays we’re made from things we found in the building.
As the open day approached and volunteers were out on the street we met so many people who are excited to see the changes happening, had stories to share or wanted to join in. It’s so easy to forget how many people are quietly supportive and it has already brought so much laughter and stories. Local legend Doc Price opened the museum as people came along to find out what was going on and share their stories.
It may not have secured us the money and funding we need (should have really been locked away filling in forms and jumping those hoops!). But it will be OK because it has left us all fired up, reconnected, excited and invited people to be part of the change that is just as important.
It’s also making more difference than we imagined - lots of beautiful moments, a job for our long term volunteer Craig (thanks to Ardis), and a very special building is getting a nudge with much more to come.
Stop by and check out The Museum of Here and say hello:
- Friday 31 May 3–6pm
- Friday 7 June 2–4pm
- Friday 14 June 2–5pm
- Saturday 15 June 2–4pm
- Saturday 22 June 2–4pm
