The Sherwood Men’s Shed in Tunbridge Wells is celebrating after receiving £735 in funding for its community space from the Asda Foundation.Â
The project aims to bring local people together to take part in practical skills and activities.Â
It provide opportunities to share tools, -resources and abilities in order to create, learn about and develop social networks.
The Royal Voluntary Service, with funding from the Asda Foundation, established the Sheds Grant Fund in 2015 to provide small-scale funding for setting up Sheds, buying tools and equipment and helping with rent or insurance.Â
Abigail Hurrell, Sheds Project Manager at the Royal Voluntary Service, said: “Most sheds are started by local groups coming together due to a shared interest in traditional crafts, such as joinery, furniture renovation, metalwork and mechanics.Â
“We are delighted to be able to administer the Grant Funds so that these skills can flourish in a friendly and sociable environment, and that more local community-based Sheds can get up and running.”
Annmarie Rocks, Senior Coordinator at the Asda Foundation, commented: “The Asda Foundation is one of the many ways we can give something back to our local communities.Â
“We see the Sheds programme as making a real difference at a grassroots level, and are proud to support this initiative.”
The Shed movement follows a blueprint from an Australian project, and since the first Men’s Shed opened in the UK seven years ago, there are now more than 300 across the country.
Sheds are often places for older men to come together and work on individual or community projects, but they are now increasingly seeing younger men and women getting involved and benefitting from the social interaction and skill-sharing that are at their heart.Â
For more information, visit www.royalvoluntaryservice.org.uk/sheds or follow @rvssheds on Twitter for regular updates
