Make It Sustainable has purchased the iconic Old Print Works in Balsall Heath to provide affordable space and opportunities for makers and creatives to share their skills, collaborate and innovate.

The charity launched in 2011 in response to concerns that ‘hand’ skills were being lost in today’s digital age. It wanted to build a platform where people could learn from each other in an engaging, economically resilient and environmentally sustainable way.

The Old Print Works provides 40 studios and several common spaces, but as tenants Make It Sustainable didn’t have any security. A £822,200 loan from Unity unlocked additional grant funding so it could buy the £1.25m listed building and invest in its future.

Hannah Greenwood, CEO at Make It Sustainable, said: “Unity lending us 70% of the purchase price made it possible for us to get government funding for the rest. We wouldn’t have been able to do that otherwise. We’re saving money compared to the rent we were paying, creating two new jobs and exploring new opportunities. Now we own the building we’re looking into more energy efficient measures such as solar panels and new windows.

“We bank with Unity because it supports organisations like ours. It’s great when people invest in things that make the world a better place. We had reassurance from the start and our relationship managers, Amy McDermott and Tom Boag, are always there when we need a quick response.”

Impact

Balsall Heath is a diverse inner-city area with a high concentration of places in the top one per cent of England’s Index of Multiple Deprivation. Over 100 creatives use The Old Print Works every day. Many offer free workshops to promote their work and engage with the community. Up to 30,000 visitors attend community events throughout the year, including a monthly arts festival called Balsall Heath Second Saturday. This helps build community engagement and renewal.

Hannah said: “It’s a welcoming space and we have a range of creatives. One pottery group has 100 members. Other people produce textiles and sustainable fashion. A screen-printing business, which uses organic materials, started with one part-time worker. It now employs two full-time people which is fantastic. We also have co-working space for people who work from home. We attract like-minded people who care about things like sustainability. When we receive applications for studio space, we prioritise those who live locally and think about the environment, those who are willing to share their skills and align with our ethos, people who are both creative and interested in community impact.”

Find out more about how Unity supports charities here.