The Carousel Learning Hub

The local economy

Our project has had a positive ripple effect on the local economy in several ways. First, by investing directly in local businesses and tradespeople during the renovation—buying materials, furniture, and equipment from local suppliers and hiring local contractors to help transform the space—we helped support jobs and small businesses in Nottingham. Now that the Learning Hub is up and running, it’s creating opportunities for freelancers, artists, workshop facilitators, and community educators who can now hire the space to run their own projects, events, and training sessions. By offering affordable and accessible space, we’re enabling grassroots organisations and small charities—many of whom have limited budgets—to deliver their own community programmes and skills-based workshops. This helps build confidence, employability, and digital skills among participants, which in turn boosts their ability to engage with education and work opportunities locally. Ultimately, The Carousel Learning Hub is helping to stimulate creativity, enterprise, and skills development right in the heart of Nottingham.

Volunteering, jobs & education

The Carousel Learning Hub has created new pathways into volunteering, education, and skills development for people across Nottingham. By offering a welcoming, well-equipped space, we’ve been able to expand our volunteer programme—giving people the chance to get involved in running workshops, managing the space, and supporting digital access sessions. This hands-on experience helps build confidence and job-ready skills, especially for those looking to re-enter work or gain new experience in the creative and education sectors. We’ve also delivered a range of educational workshops, from digital literacy sessions to creative arts and screen printing workshops that explore social justice themes. These activities have supported learning in both practical skills and critical thinking, engaging people of all ages and backgrounds. Importantly, the Learning Hub has become a stepping stone for individuals and organisations wanting to deliver their own community education projects, meaning its impact on learning and skill-building continues to grow.

Arts, culture & heritage

The Carousel Learning Hub has become a creative catalyst for arts and culture in Nottingham. By transforming the space, we’ve been able to host a wide range of arts-based workshops and events—giving people hands-on access to equipment like screen printing tools, computers for digital design, and space for group learning and making. We’ve delivered workshops that explore important social and cultural themes—like our screen printing sessions in support of Trans Rights—which empower participants to express themselves artistically while engaging with social issues. The Learning Hub has also provided affordable space for local artists, makers, and grassroots organisations to run their own creative programmes, opening up new opportunities for collaboration, skill-sharing, and cultural expression. In short, this project has helped strengthen Nottingham’s creative community by making arts activities more accessible, inclusive, and responsive to the voices and stories of local people.

Activity, health and leisure

The Carousel Learning Hub has become a space where creativity and community connection actively support mental health and wellbeing. By providing free and low-cost access to creative workshops and learning opportunities, we’ve offered people a positive outlet for self-expression and stress relief. Engaging in hands-on activities like screen printing, digital design, and group learning sessions has given participants the chance to switch off from daily pressures, build confidence, and develop new skills in a supportive environment. Many of our workshops have focused on social connection—bringing people together who might otherwise feel isolated. Through creativity, people have built friendships, gained a sense of belonging, and found purpose—all of which are vital for improving mental health and combating loneliness. For some, volunteering with us or helping to run activities has also provided routine, motivation, and structure—key elements for maintaining good mental wellbeing. Overall, The Learning Hub has shown how arts, creativity, and community spaces can play an important role in supporting people’s mental health and helping them feel more connected and resilient.