North South West Picks of the day Gateway to the Lakes Jeremy Paul marks 25 years as artist Just £9.99 for £20 worth of Thai food! Nigel Armstrong wins Isle of Man Mountain Ultra Are you a teenage Steven Spielberg? Manx Miracles raises £40,000 in just 4 months Special meaning to First World War commemoration plans Gateway to the Lakes Jeremy Paul marks 25 years as artist Just £9.99 for £20 worth of Thai food! Nigel Armstrong wins Isle of Man Mountain Ultra Are you a teenage Steven Spielberg? Manx Miracles raises £40,000 in just 4 months Discover The Most ... Viewed Discussed 1Tesco temporary store rejected 2Investigation as money goes missing from police station 3Two vehicles damaged in hit-and-run 4Manx Miracles raises £40,000 in just 4 months 5Lawyer wins £10k libel case Project to help young men who find themselves out of work Published on the30 September 2013 15:02 Print this The economic slump means men of all ages are at a loose end, so Men in Sheds, the community project in Port Erin established for retired men, is now opening its doors to all men. ‘It started out as a place for just retired men but we have since recognised that there are younger men in our community who would benefit from being part of a project like this,’ explained Graham Hall, Men in Sheds chairman. ‘Since the economic downturn there are more men who are not in full time work and rather than feel isolated, bored and stuck at home we would like to encourage them to come and check us out, learn some skills, be part of some projects.’ The project – originally in a converted double garage by Thie Rosien, Four Roads – began in 2011, but in response to demand has expanded so men also work in a well equipped woodworking shed near the garage. ‘Men in Sheds is a larger, more sociable version of one a man might have at the bottom of his garden; it offers a place to pursue practical interests, work on individual projects or join in community ones,’ said shed co-ordinator Les Shires. ‘They are places to learn new skills, share old ones or maybe just meet, chat and enjoy a bit of banter with a cup of tea. It’s not just about the shed but about a network of relationships that are built up amongst its members.’ Since opening in 2011 the members of the shed have helped a number of community projects that have involved making things from scratch or refurbishing items that might otherwise have been dumped. ‘There are a few different projects coming up,’ explained Les, ‘including making a cart for the Port Erin Soap Box Derby, raised beds and benches for a community gardening project and even doing a bit of props work for a theatrical project based on the Passion of Christ coming to the island next year. ‘If there are any local men who are at a loose end, want to learn some skills or practice the ones they have come and join us as we could do with some extra hands.’ Anyone interested in joining can just turn up, the shed open on Tuesday, Wednesday or Friday from 10am to 5pm, phone 400840 / 427710 or email [email protected]
Posted on: Tue, 01 Oct 2013 07:47:04 +0000
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