Men’s Shed project is highlighted

Men’s Shed project is highlighted

31 July 2013

DOWNPATRICK was the venue last week for an information day detailing the work of the men’s shed project.

The initiative is designed to bring together men who are over 60 to share their skills and have a laugh and a cup of tea, while working on practical activities of their choice. Men can also exchange ideas, learn new skills, support each other and build friendships.

The Men’s Shed project is co-ordinated by local charity Action Mental Health (AMH), which also runs a garden centre at the Ballydugan industrial estate in Downpatrick.

AMH has provided life-changing services across Northern Ireland since 1963 and Men’s Shed project co-ordinator, Eoin McAnuff, and project officer, Hazel Wilson, were joined at the Asda store last week by a couple of ‘shedders’ to provide an insight about the initiative.

After the information day, Asda manager Simon Arlow and the store’s community life champion, Emma McKee, visited the nearby Men’s Shed and were given a tour of the Ballydugan Road facility.

Local Men’s Shed user, Terry Murphy, said the project has given him a new outlet, explaining he’s brushed up on old skills like joinery and gardening.

“I enjoy the social side of being involved in something that adds structure to the week and gets you out of the house. I am also looking forward to learning new skills like woodturning,” he added.

Hazel Wilson explained men are generally happier talking shoulder-to- shoulder doing a job, rather than face-to-face. She said in this particular environment, men will talk about all sorts of things.

“With more and more working men reaching retirement age, we have got to be thinking about how we provide quality services for them,” Hazel added.

More information about the Men’s Shed project is available at www.amh.org.uk/services/mensshed or by calling Hazel Wilson on 07885 407 094.