MEN’S SHED NEEDS PERMANENT WORKSHOP SPACE

Crewkerne & District Men’s Shed needs permanent workshop space that is ideally within walking distance of the town centre. The group which comes under the auspices of Henhayes Community Centre and is also open to women, have been meeting in the Kings Arms on a Wednesday morning since the middle of September last year. They are extremely grateful to Richard Hall for his generosity in allowing them to use his premises but are mindful that he has plans to refurbish the ground floor. They do not wish to impede his plans and have set a deadline to move out at the end of February.

Interim chairman of the Men’s Shed Peter Boothby-Smith said: “We are thankful for Richard’s help and support in allowing us to use his venue and store our tools and work in progress there. Since we became operational about four months ago, we have attracted 22 signed up and paid up members. We are growing in numbers each week. According to the Men’s Shed UK and the Royal Voluntary Service Shed Co-ordinator this is an outstanding effort. In that same time frame, members of the community have donated tools, supplies and money, to what they see as a worthy cause. We have received endorsements from medical professionals at the main medical centres in Crewkerne. These are people who see first hand the effects of loneliness and depression in an ageing society.”

The aim of the Men’s Shed is to give people a new purpose in life with workshop and basic woodwork facilities. Men and women can take up a hobby or project for their own benefit or for the benefit of the wider community, using shared tools and the accumulated expertise and experience of members. Crewkerne & District Men’s Shed also offers a community FIX IT scheme, where people can bring their broken chairs, tables and other wooden items to be mended.

Simon Colledge, the former co-ordinator of Crewkerne Woodcarving Group which closed in December after 30 years said: “I have recommended the Men’s Shed as a place that our former members may like to check out and become involved with. I believe it is an excellent facility in the town which helps a lot of people.” Permanent space for the Men’s Shed needs to be approximately the size of a double garage with an electricity and water supply. The group also need to be able to store their tools, machinery, materials and work in progress in the building.

Peter Boothby-Smith has contacted Crewkerne Town Council to see if they can offer any assistance in finding a suitable building. The town council has agreed to discuss the matter further and has put the item on their agenda for the next Full Town Council meeting on Monday January 29th at 6.45 pm in the town hall.

3 Comments on "MEN’S SHED NEEDS PERMANENT WORKSHOP SPACE"

  1. Peter Boothby-Smith | January 24, 2018 at 3:18 pm |

    The Men’s Shed is a real amenity for the town. It not only helps prevent loneliness and depression in an ageing society by offering a facility where friendships can be formed, where new skills or hobbies can be learned in an atmosphere of shared expertise, experience and tools of other members. It also offers a service to the community by fixing broken object for individuals and providing skills and expertise to other community groups. Crewkerne needs their Shed!

  2. Carolyn Roche | February 22, 2018 at 8:35 pm |

    Dear Peter Boothby-Smith
    I would really like to have a conversation with you about possible venues to host the shed and also an activity you can help another local facility with. my email is carolyn@somersetrcc.org.uk

  3. Tinkler John and Carol | September 4, 2018 at 10:02 am |

    Hi Peter. Hope this reaches you and you are well. We often talk about you and hope you are happy. We are still in Beaumont and still love living here. We did try phoning you while you lived in France but you had moved on.Regards John and Carol x

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