Shirley Men’s Shed, a Southampton based charity was officially opened by the Mayor of Southampton, Councillor Jacqui Rayment yesterday (July 14).
Shirley Men’s Shed has created a community space where people can connect, converse and create.
The charity’s aims are to combat loneliness, improve mental health, foster new friendships and improve wellbeing. Members can use the shed to make new friendships, use the tools to make, repair and create things and share skills and knowledge. The charity also welcomes those that would just like some company, a chat and a drink.
Since its formation in 2018 the charity, which is a member of the national UK Men’s Shed Association, has been raising funds through activities and grants to build and operate a Men’s Shed in the heart of the Shirley, Southampton, community. Grants awarded so far from amongst others, the National Lottery Community Fund, Arnold Clark, Southern Water and Southampton City Council and money raised through fund raising activities such as a sponsored walk and the members making and selling bird boxes and bug hotels have enabled the charity to build and equip premises on a piece of land owned (and leased to the charity) by St James Road Methodist Church, in St James Road, Shirley.
Despite the impact of Covid, progress on building and equipping the shed has been ongoing, with volunteers doing the majority of the work.
Chairman of the Shirley Men’s Shed Trustees, Peter Hill, said of the official opening:
“ It has taken us around four years from the idea of creating a Men’s Shed in Shirley to being able to officially open the shed. It has been a lot of work for our trustees, members and volunteers, with the added complication of a Covid epidemic to deal with. We are all very grateful to those organisations that have awarded us grants, which include the National Lottery Community fund and Southampton City Council, and to those organisations and individuals that have donated goods and equipment, often at low or no cost. We all hope that the shed will help many people over the coming years. ”
For more details about Shirley Men’s Shed and their charity work, visit their website: shed.stjamesroad.co.uk
You can email the charity at: info.mensshedshirley@gmail.com
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