07/20

Title

Lockdown Challenge

Proposer

Brian Norman

Date proposed

25/01/2021

Date for Decision

27/01/2021

Cost

£50 per member taking part + £150 (max) for prize production
Estimated cost between £500 and £2,000 with a maximum of £3,000

This will be funded by the Hackspace

What is being asked for

Lockdown challenge

Why/how this will be good to have

Bringing people together after a year of the Covid Virus and being unable to meet properly. Probably last 2 and half months from start Feb 2021 to mid April 2021

Who is for it

Marion, Alan, Ben, Brian, Peter, Barny, Craig, Dan, Craig, Andy, Tim,

Comments

Lockdown Challenge (NOT a competition! - this is fun – please treat it in the way it is intended!)

      1. 	2 weeks to come up with a proposed Lockdown build/idea/project – something to do.

2. Proposal put forward – can be a pdf or posted on Lockdown challenge channel or 1 to 5 min presentation on zoom (Just say what your project is give us a vague idea – you will then be sent £30 grant. (1 week)

3. 2 weeks to make some progress – Zoom presentation – join in have fun/listen to what others have done – again 1/5mins – if unable to make it then record it and post link in Lockdown Challenge channel – OR pdf or just post in words/pictures in Lockdown Channel. You will then be sent another £20. (1 week)

4. 4 weeks to complete your build as best you can – then Zoom presentation again/or other method if you do not wish to Zoom or cannot make it. This may take more than one session to complete this stage – so may have to ask for volunteers to go first! Probably Mid/Late April Finish???????!!!!!

Brian will sum up with list of people and sort out some bizarre voting system – suggesting we all vote on positive aspects (using a points system – but all fun) – e.g. Most complex Most interesting Most Practical Most effort Most colourful Most code etc.... People will only be able to win one category – hopefully some sort of prize (Marion reminded me I made a bronze keyring in the form of a raspberry Pi zero for Archie once) so maybe a simpler keyring in pewter to mark the end of a very strange year – presentations on Zoom – if we are still in lockdown then prizes posted to you.

.

Final decisions on prizes will be down to Brian – although hopefully voting will make this easy.

Basic FAQ's – No rules – this is fun – just some suggestions. What can I design? – anything – yes you have to think of something! Do I have to spend the £50 on the project? – no – although spare money spent on yourself might boost your wellbeing. Am I limited to the £50? – no (put your own money in if you wish) but if you spend over £1000 then I feel you are not competing on a level playing field (not that I care – after all it is how you win elections). What if I fail to complete the task? – I am sure I can give you a special prize. My initial plan was over ambitious for the time span? – then develop your plan to something you can do(it was your own fault – sort it – do not come winging to me). I want to build a still and make my own nasty alcohol? – you know that is illegal and can go badly wrong if done incorrectly so sadly does not count as a valid project. Similar dangerous stuff is banned – making your own chainsaw/guns/bullets/explosives – you really know what I mean. I have a fantastic idea that will make me money – is that OK? - Just get on with it and stop boasting, someone has probably done it already – try google. I believe anti viral injections contain microchips, 5G is spreading the virus, Trump won, the virus is a hoax and/or Qanon are correct – can I still take part? - Yes we have a Special Prize for you delivered by some men in white coats – but do not be afraid, and take that YMCA costume off. I want to redesign the NDR roundabouts so they are safer? - sorry too simple a project – 5 year old could do that. Can my children help me? - Yes get them involved – let Brian know they are helping - as I may need to make some special children's prizes.

I want to do this as a fun project – no pressure – no hassle – no stress – no publicity for the Lockdown Challenge.

If this works and someone else wishes to run something similar afterwards and to include all the publicity bit – then that is up to them. If you, as an individual, wish to put your own project on your own facebook page or youtube or twitter or blog or instagram - then that is entirely up to you, but keep me and Hackspace out of it.

Note - "All written, graphic and photo material remains property of the individual"

Any questions or issues please ask Brian – via slack or email brian@ftfarm.co.uk – but remember this is supposed to be fun – think of a project – any project – Yes Anything roughly sensibel - learn Origami or something new – you must have an idea – if not Alan has said he will be happy to spoon feed you some ideas. End of instructions / rules / ideas / thoughts / etc.

Lockdown Challenge Entry form

Name.......................................................

Children helping................................................................................................................................

Project Title..............................................................

Basic idea ….........................................................

….................................................................................................................................................... (continue in space below or add diagrams sketches etc. if you feel that will help – but a hint – the more vague you are the easier it is to say later that it was how you planned it from the start. No prize for best plan – although now I think about it maybe – I know in teaching you then have outcomes and all that sort of rubbish – but I no longer do that sort of thing.)

Lockdown Challenge

Costing Initial thought was just to give everyone a bit of kit and say “see what you can do with it”. Toby suggested giving everybody £30 and Marion suggested extra £20.

I agree giving people money and telling them to have a go at any project they can come up with is the best idea.

So cost from funds will be £50 per participant – but they need to opt in and have a project.

I would like to produce cast keyrings (probably pewter) for every participant or maybe a coaster – again in pewter – or bronze – depends if I can melt some old pennies – weather a bit cold and need to get some proper heat into the furnace for that.

I would like to purchase the stuff to make the keyrings – key ring bits/casting sand/pewter/etc – I have something that will melt the pewter and the basic kit - I would think maximum £150 (probably a lot less) depends on number of participants and weight of keyrings :-) . Any purchased left overs from this returned to Hackspace for casting in the future. I will provide all receipts for this.

Probably take Feb and March – into April for finish – might be close to getting a little less locked down by then??????

Outcome

Approved -by consenus, no objections 27/1/21
Brian to launch on Zoom, Monday 1st February 2021, accompanied by a mail shot