The secret life of trustees: Someone has to keep the lasers legal!

This is a copy of the post I wrote for nottinghack.org on april 12th, to archive on my personal blog

Lasers, lathes and leadership
When I first joined Nottingham Hackspace in October 2024, I was mostly looking for a place where my partner and I could build things without tripping over each other in our shared house. I’d heard great things about the space, but I didn’t realise just how much it would come to mean to me. Yes, the tools were impressive—giant laser cutters, an impressively stocked wood workshshop, even a metal lathe—but it was the people who really got me hooked. A community of tinkerers, builders, hackers, and artists who share ideas freely and love nothing more than helping each other learn.

Becoming a Trustee (Even When You’re Not Sure You Can)

When a mid-term trustee position suddenly became vacant, I didn’t immediately think of putting myself forward. I had surgery coming up, and honestly, it felt like a big commitment. But the election was at risk of not happening due to a lack of nominations, and a few fellow members encouraged me to go for it anyway. “You don’t need to be at every single meeting,” they said. “There are lots of ways to contribute.”

They were right. I threw my hat in the ring, was elected, and haven’t looked back. Being a trustee has been one of the most challenging—and rewarding—things I’ve done as part of the Hackspace.

What the Role Actually Involves

It’s easy to imagine that trustees mostly deal with big-picture decisions—budgets, strategy, long-term planning. And yes, that’s part of it. But the real core of the role? People. Supporting members. Mediating differences. Listening. Encouraging. The Hackspace is full of wildly creative, passionate individuals, and naturally, there are a lot of different views about how things should run.

As a trustee, one of the most important things I’ve learned is how to hold space for disagreement while still moving forward. You’re not always going to get it right. There will be tough conversations, emails that sit in your inbox a little too long, and moments when it feels like everything is on fire. But even in those frustrating times, you get to play a part in keeping the space going—for everyone.

Yes, There Are Rules (and They Matter)

Let’s be honest: when you think “creative space,” your brain doesn’t exactly jump to risk assessments and insurance compliance. At first, some of the rules can feel pointless, or like a buzzkill. But the more I understood their purpose—keeping us safe, legal, and able to operate—the more I appreciated the scaffolding they provide.

Some rules are flexible. Others, like lease terms or fire safety procedures, really aren’t. Navigating that tension is part of the job. But done well, it means members can keep doing amazing things without worrying about the foundations crumbling underneath them.

It’s Not Just You—It’s All of Us

The Hackspace works because of its members. Full stop. Trustees don’t “run” the space so much as support the members to do so. Whether it’s by unblocking problems, making sure there’s budget for new tools–or running a pledge drive for them, or helping turn big ideas into reality, our job is to clear the path.

And what’s exciting is that trustees also get to help steer the direction of the Hackspace—supporting community events, improving accessibility, finding new ways to welcome members from all backgrounds. It’s a way to give back to the space beyond any monetary donation.

The Honest Bit: It’s Not Always Easy

There are definitely moments when being a trustee is frustrating. Things move slowly. Consensus can be hard to reach. People disagree (sometimes passionately). You’ll occasionally wonder why you signed up for this. But in the end, it’s worth it—because the Hackspace matters. It’s a place where people find skills, confidence, community, and joy. And helping keep that going? That’s a pretty good feeling.

We Need More Voices at the Table

If you care about the Hackspace and want to have a say in how it grows, please consider running for trustee in the upcoming election. We especially need more women, nonbinary folks, and people from marginalised communities to step forward. The more diverse our board is, the better we can represent our members—and the better decisions we make.

You don’t have to be a governance expert. You don’t have to be an engineer or a tech wizard. You just need to care. To listen. To be willing to learn. If you’ve got ideas, if you’ve ever thought “I wish someone would…”—maybe you could be that someone.

Being a trustee isn’t about being perfect. It’s about showing up, doing your best, and helping keep the Hackspace thriving for everyone who walks through the door.