COMMUNITY
• There is an abundance of community groups , small businesses , organisations and individuals across local areas who need spaces .
• As highlighted already , we know the variety of community initiatives that are happening all day and everyday in the spaces we work with . From meetups , to mindfulness , business meetings to language classes and everything in between .
• The global pandemic has created a fundamental shift in where people want to work . Liberated from punishing commutes , many people and businesses have realised it ’ s perfectly productive to enable people to work remotely . Even just for a couple of days a week . This is creating a growing demand for people wanting to live where they can work .
SPACE OWNERS
• There is untapped potential of space that can be used more if we enable people to understand when it ’ s available and how much it costs . Most spaces have peaks and troughs of demand , but these are varied , meaning when one space is busy , another may be free .
• There is potential to create new income opportunities for spaces if we shift mindsets on what spaces can be used for and how this demand is distributed .
• Local facilities can provide space for cultural events , workshop training , seminars and more .
• There is an opportunity for community spaces to become hubs and generate more income from their spaces .
LOCAL GOVERNMENT
• By spreading the demand for community space across a diverse range of spaces and facilities , council facilities could realise a greater return on its property assets . Whilst council community spaces are not necessarily built to raise income , improved use can at least mean that costs are covered .
• By making it easier for communities to learn , create , play and do in spaces local to them , we can build more connectedness across diverse community groups .
• It ’ s possible to create opportunities for learning and social mobility and greater understanding and compassion in a world that sometimes feels more divided than ever .
• By encouraging communities to meet and spend locally , neat circular economies are created within localities , where household and community incomes are ploughed back into the local area .
If the administration around space sharing is removed what does that mean for booking staff ? It means freedom from boring repetitive administration and a chance to engage hirers and gather feedback , apply for more grants and funding , do proactive community outreach and placemaking , run community programmes , plan events and so much more . Bookings should be easy so that the real work can begin .
IN SUMMARY Reinventing how spaces and places are shared is not only necessary in 2023 , it is an imperative and ought to be included in the transformation strategy in every local government . The cost of not making this a priority is a continuation of burdensome admin , low utilisation and a lost opportunity to enhance customer relations .
The space sharing economy is real and it ’ s happening every single day and night right in front of us . The disruption of the past 5 years has changed society and people are seeking connection , flexibility and local resources . Many of these things are to be found in our local community spaces and places .
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
JEREMY HURST Jeremy works with Councils , business and all types of community venues to help make it easier for people to find , book and use local affordable spaces and places . In 2015 , he created
SpacetoCo - a unique marketplace and enterprise bookings solution that can be used by local authorities to create a hirable ecosystem of both council and non-council facilities , therefore making more facilities available for community use . The business went live in early 2017 is used by over 45 local governments and over 110 community venue partners . Jeremy ’ s mission is to galvanise people to think differently about how space is shared and booked . For more information visit : www . spacetoco . com
VOL 16 NO 2 2023 34 www . edaustralia . com . au