Every man needs a shed

A 'Men in Sheds' group is looking to start up in Stratford-upon-Avon. The idea is to support men, who are retired, or have time on their hands, and want to get together, share and learn new skills - all in the welcoming space of a 'Shed'.

With the help of Stratford-on-Avon District Council, local resident Keith Madden and the team will be hoping to meet like minded individuals at an open afternoon on Thursday 24 January at the Civic Hall in Stratford-upon-Avon.  The event is free and informal and refreshments will be available.

Just where do men go after they have retired?  Research has found that men find it hard to make friends later in life; find it hard to deal with being retired or having too much spare time and find it off putting to join social groups in the community that may be dominated by women.  So where better to get involved than in a shed, bringing together  men in a workshop environment. Somewhere for men to come to do woodwork, metalwork, repairs or just escape and that will see older men meeting up to learn new skills, share existing skills and knowledge, and generally put the world to rights over a cup of tea.

Interested?  Would this suit you?  Come along next week for a chat at the Civic Hall between 1pm and 4pm to find out more about it. Drop in at any time during these hours.

It's still early days for this project and the group are also looking for a suitable location, equipment and tools.  If you can help please contact Jan Roberts, Policy Officer at Stratford-on-Avon District Council on 01789 260108, or Keith Madden on 01789 205806.

Men in Sheds is an Australian concept which has now been adopted in the UK and Ireland. It aims to bring older men together to put their practical skills to good use and encourage them to be more socially active.

It gives men the chance to:

• Make new friends
• Experience the camaraderie of working with other men
• Put practical skills to good use and also share them with others
• Try something new and learn new skills
• Support their local community
• Learn about other activities and services in the area.