From Game Design to 3D Printing: Thrilling Tech Adventures Await in Stockport’s Digital Events this February

The programme of experiments and have-a-go digitally creative experience events called Make Stuff is for everyone, regardless of their knowledge or skills, and aims to inspire and engage through enjoyable and thrilling new technologies. Make Stuff is part of Stockport Council’s Digi Fest, which takes place throughout February, and also as part of Stockport’s Town of Culture activities and will be hosted by MadLab.

There’s a whole range of events from family friendly activities to gaming for teenagers and adult tech meetups. So, whether you are a boffin or a beginner, no matter your age, there will be something for everyone with free or low-cost activities including:

• On 10 February is Family Edition!, which will be held at Stockport Central Library, Wellington Road South, Stockport, SK1 3RS from 11am to 3pm.

It will showcase over 10 exhilarating activities, each lasting 15-20 minutes, such as experiencing the force of 1000 watts of bass power running through your fingers, dancing with alien oobleck made of corn flour, creating laser-blaster sounds with a slinky, learning about sound waves and discovering hidden amazing sounds in everyday objects, playing a mechanical violin, connecting friends to an electrical circuit to find out how squeaky their noses are, making a Robot Chicken or Auto-Strummer using recycled computer parts, and the opportunity to enjoy stop-motion making, crafting, coding, and much more.

Tickets are priced at £5 per family and after the event, attendees can choose to be refunded or donate their ticket to MadLab CIC to support future community-led events. If you are unable to afford a ticket, please email [email protected] with your name and postcode, and they will be in touch.

And throughout February, there will be a wide range of free or low-cost activities for everyone, including:

• Create a Video Game on 3 February for individuals aged 15 and above who love gaming and want to learn about game design and developing a Game Boy-style game.
• 3D Modelling: Creating a Beehouse on 6 February for adults interested in learning about solitary bees and how to create a sustainable 3D printed beehouse using Fusion 360.
• 3D Modelling: Creating a Fidget Bolt Keyring! using Fusion 360 on 13 February.
• Introduction to GitHub: Workshop Series, a website and cloud-based service that helps developers store and manage their code, on 14, 15, 21, and 22 February.
• Meet the Meetups on 15 February to introduce adults to Greater Manchester’s exciting tech meetup ecosystem, from gatherings for JavaScript enthusiasts to socials for complete beginners and meetups for women in tech and coders for good.
• Intro to Node.js: an online workshop on 16 February to learn about an open-source, cross-platform JavaScript runtime environment that allows individuals to use JavaScript to build backend applications.
• Whatever Next: High Res Clothes Peg, on 17 February and Whatever Next: Cheeky Futures on 24 February to explore a topic with a guest speaker who possesses creative digital skills and will support participants in imagining how it will unfold in the future.
• Code Golf Workshop on 21 February for those looking to enhance their programming skills by solving coding challenges and then collaborating with a partner to perfect their code.
• Intro to Express.js: An Online Workshop on 23 February for developers interested in learning about the web application framework for Node.js.
• Community Hackathon on 28 and 29 February for individuals who want to make a positive impact by joining other change-makers to use their combined creativity and problem-solving skills to prototype solutions for local community issues.

Other Make Stuff events will continue throughout March. For more information on all events, visit the Make Stuff website.

Councillor Jilly Julian, Cabinet Member for Finance & Resources at Stockport Council, said: “Make Stuff promises to be an absolutely fantastic programme of events for children and adults to learn about and improve their digital and technology skills – my children and I cannot wait to get involved! Here in Stockport, we are leading the way in helping our communities get online and stay up to date in a rapidly changing world, whether they are establishing businesses here as professionals or simply wanting to connect with family and friends online.”

Make Stuff is organized by Stockport Council’s DigiKnow partner MadLab, a grassroots innovation organization that collaborates with technology and people, combining knowledge of new and emerging technologies with participatory design techniques. The Make Stuff project, which runs throughout DigiFest, receives support from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, a part of the Government’s broader Levelling Up agenda, and has been made possible thanks to the support of Stockport Council and Greater Manchester Combined Authority.

Rachael Turner, Director of Madlab, said: “I am incredibly excited about the upcoming Make Stuff events this February, and I want to personally invite you to join us on this journey into the world of digital creativity. Our team at MadLab has worked passionately to curate a diverse range of workshops and experiences suitable for all ages and skill levels. The intersection of technology, innovation, and community engagement is at the core of what we do, and Make Stuff is a testament to our dedication. Whether you are a seasoned tech enthusiast or a curious beginner, there is something extraordinary waiting for you. Come and join us on this adventure, explore the possibilities, and let’s make February a month to remember! We look forward to seeing you at our events.”