About This Project
Help launch Canberra’s library of things!
Community Toolbox Canberra will launch in early spring 2021. As a tool and equipment library, it will allow members to borrow items to build a chook pen, paddle down a river, make a feast and so much more.
Everyone should have the means to create, have fun, try a new hobby and make their home more liveable. But we shouldn't need to buy and store the associated equipment to make it happen.
It's much more affordable, space- and resource-conscious to create a shared pool of equipment. That's something we can do together.
Getting equipment into people's hands
Around the world and throughout Canberra, tools and equipment are sitting in cupboards and sheds, their owners wondering if they'll ever use them again and if they're ready to say goodbye.
The Community Toolbox Canberra will facilitate those items being available to the wider community, maximising their intensity of use until they need to be broken down and recycled. It will be an important part of Canberra's sharing economy and provide members with annual access to a broad range of tools and equipment for what it would cost to buy one tool.
We aim to provide equitable access to tools and equipment, allowing people to connect with their community, reduce waste, save money and learn new skills.
We will operate with the support of SEE-Change, an established grassroots Canberra-based organisation, which supports and develops collective actions for a more sustainable local society, environment and economy.
What will the Toolbox offer?
Using a library model that has been successful around the world, Community Toolbox Canberra will lend old-school and modern tools and equipment for craft, household and leisure activities.
In talking to our members-in-waiting, we have discovered that people don’t actually need tools – they need control over their living space, freedom to explore their creativity and independence to give a new skill a go.
We can save money, stress, space and the planet's resources by embracing the sharing economy and living more sustainably.
Most people don’t need a drill – they need a hole in the wall; they don’t need a sewing machine – they need to create; they don’t need a kayak – they need an adventure. We want to help you find that adventure.
Let's make something together.
We have rented premises at the YWAM site in Watson, secured in-kind backing from SEE-Change and expect that the majority of our stock will come from garages and cupboards around Canberra. But we need your help.
Having this resource in our community - with plans to expand it into an even more valuable hub - will benefit the whole city.
We have some great perks to share with you as a founding supporter. Membership includes full membership of our supporting organisation, SEE-Change. Make a pledge now and then we’ll see you at the Community Toolbox Canberra.
Let's build something together.
https://www.communitytoolboxcbr.org/
Use Of Funds
$7,000 Tipping Point Goal
Your financial contribution will help us do so much:
- fit out the Toolbox space
- install signage and security equipment
- purchase computer equipment
- make volunteering easy via specialist software
- contribute to maintenance and safety of equipment
- and more...
$12,000 Stretch Goal
This level of funding will allow for increased accessibility of the site, as well as a higher quality fitout - it all makes the experience of using your Community Toolbox easier.
Latest News
Aug 31, 2021
$16.5K Raised!
Thank you so much!
Oh
my! $16447! Thank you, thank you, thank you Canberra! Our crowdfunding campaign has finished and the final total exceeds all our expectations. $16.5K is an excellent base on which to launch your tool and equipment library. We have 200 founding members which is just brilliant. Welcome! Thank you for the faith you have placed in us and the concept of a 'library of things'.
A special shoutout to each of you who made a donation without taking up membership. You supported Community Toolbox Canberra simply because you believe in it. That is really special and we are touched by your generosity.
And to those who contributed at the Mason, Designer and Master levels - wow! You are awesome!
We're planning to
open as soon as Covid restrictions allow. An official launch party will have to be put on hold for a bit but, don't worry! We're planning a fun event to go ahead when such things are permitted again.
Shortly we'll provide information about activating memberships. We'll also be sending out gift certificates to everyone who purchased a Father's Day gift. Keep an eye on your inbox!
All that is left to say in this final update is another THANK YOU! We can't wait to see you at the Toolbox very soon!
Aug 20, 2021
$12000 Goal Reached
You've done it Canberra!
You've taken Community Toolbox
Canberra over the $12000 stretch goal we set for our crowdfunding campaign! Thank you, thank you, thank you! The support for this project has been amazing - from the response to the campaign to the messages on social media and all the conversations we've had over the last few months. It is clearly something Canberra needs, and wants to get behind. What an awesome community we have! We can't wait to open the doors for you.
Of course, things are a little bit on hold while we get through this Covid outbreak but we're as keen as you are to get the doors open. Keep an eye on our social media for updates. Better still, join our mailing list at http://eepurl.com/hAyuJL which is how we'll be sending out all the important info about how to activate your membership, when we're having donation drop-off sessions and, of course, the first borrowing session.
Meanwhile, the crowdfunding campaign is not over! We're running through to the end of August. Tell your Canberra friends and family that it isn't too late to snag a founding membership.
Once again THANK YOU! You are all amazing and we are overwhelmed by the support you have shown this project.
Aug 20, 2021
Zoom Q&A This Coming Tuesday
Virtual Q&A Session about CTC
Kathy Ehmann, instigator of this initiative, along with committee
member, Rebecca Tregurtha will share more about the Toolbox in a live Q&A session on Zoom this coming Tuesday. Join us to
learn more about the Community Toolbox Canberra - what it is, why it
exists, how to join, how to volunteer, how to donate tools and equipment
- and ask all your questions.
Tuesday, 24th August, 6.30pm (AET)
Use this Zoom link to join...
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86880461366?pwd=TmovRnVL...
Meeting ID: 868 8046 1366
Passcode: 537582
Hope to see you then!
Aug 15, 2021
Drop-Offs Cancelled but Fundraising Continues
Happy Monday Excellent People!
Sadly our Covid luck has run out in Canberra as you are well aware. We had to, of course, cancel our drop-off session this past Saturday. We'll have another one just as soon as it is permitted. If you are spending some time during lockdown decluttering, please put aside your unused tools and equipment to donate to Community Toolbox Canberra. We'd love to get your unused tools into circulation. Check our Donate Items page on our website for all the details
Meanwhile, keep spreading the word about our crowdfunding campaign. Tell your friends. Tell your family. Tell your workmates about Community Toolbox Canberra. Share our campaign at https://startsomegood.com/projects/community-toolb.... We've got two more weeks left to reach our $12000 goal. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for helping us get to this point. The response to CTC has been truly heartwarming and motivating. Lockdown notwithstanding, we can't wait to open the doors for you!
Jul 29, 2021
Ready to take donations of tools & equipment
Ok Canberra, we're ready for you! I know a lot of people have been waiting for this. This Saturday the team will be at the Toolbox-to-be and will be accepting donations of good quality, working tools and equipment.
Most of our tools and equipment will be donated by you, our generous community. We really appreciate your kindness - it’s because of you we can exist!
Unfortunately, we can’t accept everything (limited space and person power), but please read on for how you can offer an item for donation.
What sort of equipment donations does the Toolbox accept?
Working, new or gently-used tools and equipment that people may like to borrow for garden, DIY, cooking/food preservation, hobby or outdoor leisure adventures. Plus new consumables (e.g. sanding belts, sharp blades) if they fit the equipment we have or if we think we can resell them.
Equipment we can't accept:
- Anything non-functional, rusty or broken
- Large items we cannot store or handle easily (but please ask us first - who knows. Kathy is very keen on a kayak!)
- Anything that we don’t think people would want to borrow much (remember that we have limited space so need to keep it for the good stuff)
- Liquids, adhesives, caulks, paints, or other messy building materials
If you are in any doubt or have any questions, please send us a message. You can email us at [email protected]
Where and when can you donate equipment?
The Toolbox is located on the grounds of Youth With A Mission, off the Federal Highway in Watson. Enter via the driveway on Zelling
Street. The Toolbox is the first demountable building on the right, next
to the circular driveway.
We'll be accepting donations this Saturday, 31st July between 10am and 1pm. Toolbox volunteers will only be on-site during opening hours so please do not come to drop things off outside of these hours. We want to keep our landlord happy after such a long search for premises!
Questions? Shoot us an email or shout out on Facebook.
See you Saturday!
Jul 20, 2021
Tipping Point Goal Achieved!
Thank you all! To every one of our new members and donors, thank you. We've reached our tipping point goal in under a week. That is just a brilliant result! Melissa's pledge took us over the threshold.
Your tool and equipment library is on its way Canberra! The money we have raised so far will be used to fit out the Toolbox space, install signage and security, buy computer equipment and software to run the library, contribute to the costs of maintaining and ensuring the safety of the equipment, and more.
The whole Toolbox team will sleep easier tonight knowing months of hard work has been rewarded. We are so excited to get down to the work of getting the doors open for you on 4th September.
7000 thank yous!
Jul 18, 2021
$5000 threshold crossed
Thank you, thank you, thank you! We've reached $5000 pledged. That is incredible. A shout out to Antonia for taking us over the 5K threshold. With 2K to go to reach our tipping point, we'd love you to share the campaign with your friends and family. It isn't until we reach the $7000 tipping point goal that the project will get funded.
To see so much support for the Community Toolbox so quickly - it is beyond exciting! After a long search for suitable premises, we are now so close to opening our doors to the Canberra community.
Jul 16, 2021
$4000 reached!
$4000 in 40 hours. Thank you to each and every one of our supporters. You are superstars!
Jul 15, 2021
You are all AWESOME!
AH-MAZING! 35% towards our goal already. Thank you so much!
Jul 14, 2021
Hear Kathy on ABC Radio today at 1pm
Thank you Canberra!
Wow! Just wow! Thank you Canberra! We are thrilled by the response to our Start Some Good campaign. We are at 34% of our goal in a bit over 12 hours. What an incredible start. Thank you for believing in this project.
Kathy will be on 666 Canberra at 1pm today
If you want to hear more from Kathy, driving force behind this project, tune in to 666 ABC Canberra today at 1pm when she’ll be talking to Dan Bourchier about Community Toolbox Canberra. She’ll also be speaking on Behind The Lines on 2XX tomorrow from 9am