Age UK Notts’ Men In Sheds Project in Blidworth has been awarded £500 from The Mansfield Building Society Community Support Scheme for materials and equipment.

The project promotes positive mental health in older men through work, socialising, learning and skill development.
Men aged 60 and above attend sessions from Monday to Thursday to share and improve their woodworking skills, while also getting the chance to make new friends.

Age UK Notts provides the ‘shed’ – a workshop, tools and equipment as well as a co-ordinator for support, but the day-to-day running is undertaken by the group who choose projects and activities.

Members come from a variety of backgrounds, ranging from highly-skilled carpenters to absolute beginners.

Once activities have been chosen, the men work together to produce various wooden items which are then sold. All money made is then re-invested back into the group.

Nicky Wheddon, Men In Sheds project manager, said: “We have lots of members who love attending our sessions.

“They enjoy the camaraderie each activity brings and creating goods that we can use to further fund the project.

“The feedback we receive is fantastic with many men feeling less lonely, more confident and valued once they have completed sessions.

“It’s good to know our project is serving its purpose, helping to promote positive mental health.

“The donation from The Mansfield has allowed us to keep our members active.”

Nicola Caulton, branch and community development manager at The Mansfield, who is pictured above with members of the group, said: “After speaking to the members I learnt just how significant the project is and how it has helped every one of them in a very different way.”

The society’s community support scheme funds groups

nd organisations in Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire and meets twice yearly in May and November to consider applications. To find out more or to download an application form, go to Mansfieldbs.co.uk/community-support-scheme