'Escaping the Ordinary' on Grimsby Docks

A community space, with workshop, restoration yard, maker spaces, hot-desking spaces and meeting rooms, based at Auckland Road on Grimsby Docks.


We are passionate about rescuing and restoring heritage items from the numerous properties on the docks and restoring them either for sale to fund our service or to add to the collection of historical items displayed throughout our building.


When we're not hosting artist-led workshops for makers and creators, our building interior is the perfect backdrop for photography and brand videos.


With themed rooms designed to bring a unique backdrop to your meeting or event, we've created a number of spaces that exude character and creativeness.

OUR MISSION

Our mission is to help further our community however we can. Helping those with ideas get them off the ground with plenty of support and space to start.

OUR VISION

We believe that people coming together to create uplifting businesses, spaces and experiences to benefit the community should be valued, enabled and embraced.

OUR VALUES

We want everyone to be able to have a space where they feel safe and valued, learn new skills, meet like minded people and find their sense of community.

History in the (Re)Making...

By embracing the history and heritage of Grimsby Docks and using our understanding of the past helps us to develop new and modern initiatives that seek to wisely and freely use the space generously provided to our community by our predecessors.

Local media in Grimsby recently highlighted that many run-down areas within the community were in need of renovation, including the docks in Grimsby.


Creative Start was selected by ABP as a tenant on Grimsby Docks because of our social impact, creative skill set and community ethos.

We were given a choice of premises 'down dock' and were one of the first local community organisations to begin regeneration of a building in the area.


We've recently completed making a number of  rooms habitable for free use by our members and available to hire for the wider community in Grimsby.

We have focused on the build of workshop environments, where heavy tools can be used for renovation work.

Next stage is the restoration of the building exterior; scheduled to start in 2023.

We are in the process of creating a community social space, community kitchen and Grimsby's first recovery cafe.

Creating A Space for Future Recovery...

An insight in to some of our community projects and plans for the future of The Great Escape...

Support and Mentoring

Our lived experience, peer-support structure focuses on using art and social contact to build trust, encourages personal development to create a sense of positive well-being and rebuilds members' confidence and self-esteem.

Funding Creativity

All profits generated go towards delivering creative workshops and projects as an abstinence-based aftercare therapy solution for people in recovery from a range of different life challenges, including addiction and mental health issues.

Creative Assistance

By assisting members with practical skills, expertise and access to essential spaces and equipment and creative activities that suit all skill levels, we help to create different forms of art that can be exhibited or sold to further support our mission.

Collaboration and Co-creation

By collaborating with local communities, council-led services and other 'not-for-profits' to organise activities such as murals, art exhibitions and social events, we help our members bring their creative ideas to fruition.

Heritage Zone Projects...

By assisting members with practical skills, expertise and access to essential spaces and equipment and creative activities that suit all skill levels, we help to create different forms of art that can be exhibited or sold to further support our mission.

  • Ongoing Recovery Café, Community Kitchen and Social Space build.
  • Restoration of Building 7 'Sub Zero Storage' in to a Community Workshop and storage facility for our building and restoration projects.
  • Upskilling, training and working towards employability.
  • Community workspaces for makers creators, hobbyists etc.
  • Community Initiatives around well-being and mental health.
  • Down Dock Digital Project - Heritage Tours, Podcasts. Historical Archive.

Recovery Community Projects...

Our lived experience, peer-support structure focuses on using art and social contact to build trust, encourages personal development to create a sense of positive well-being and rebuilds members' confidence and self-esteem.

  • Further development of a diverse itinery of workshop events.
  • Paint the Town Proud II - Community Murals and Outreach.
  • Increase provision of holistic therapies and counselling.
  • Focus attention on inclusion of families and affected others.
  • Further integration in to community to reduce stigma associated with addiction.

We couldn't do a project of this size without hard-working volunteers like you.

Get Involved
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