Brian from Saintfield Men’s Shed shares his experience of being a Shedder.
I got involved with Men’s Sheds because I’m a Director at Rowallane Community Hub and we had an under used farmyard with raised bed allotments and a shed that could be converted to a workshop, plus a meeting area with a kitchen and toilet. We thought a Men’s Shed would be a good use of these facilities.
The Men’s Shed reduces social isolation by getting together with others. There are also the health benefits of the walking group and mental health benefits of being able to get out and talk to others. I enjoy getting together with others who have similar and different interests. It means I can learn something new and share knowledge and experiences. I just like getting out and talking to others.
Through Groundwork’s support, we did a workshop in Mossely Mill, which helped to set up our Facebook page. We also received help with organising insurance cover and we went to a workshop at Groundwork’s office that helped us to think of fundraising ideas. It would be great to see a Northern Ireland Association established to increase support for more Men’s Sheds.