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Men in Sheds Lancing and Sompting
"Each shed participant is both a teacher and a learner" ..." Associate Professor Gary Misan website updated 18 07 2026 |
17 07 2026 Shed Weekly Update: Planes, Trains, Pillories & The Great Escape ( well day trip out ) !
It has been an absolutely jam-packed, high-energy week here at The Shed! We’ve successfully balanced heavy-duty community projects, a high-stakes freezer restocking mission, and a grand day out where we actually let the Shedders loose in public around a fantastic collection of engines and vehicles.
Here is the full gossip from the past week:
The Shedders On Tour: Brooklands Museum !
We ensure that as our Shedders work so hard we also make sure we have time out too, this week all shedders had a pass out of the workshop, so we piled into the mini bus( Thank You Choice Rentals) for a fantastic day out at the Brooklands Museum! We spent the day admiring vintage aircraft, historic racing cars, and generally acting like big kids amongst so many fantastic items to see and learn about.
Remarkably, we managed to come back with the exact same number of Shedders we started with—no one got left behind in a vintage cockpit!
Keep your eyes peeled: A dedicated post with some brilliant photos taken by some of the shedders, along with a fun video reel of our adventures, will be heading your way very shortly!
Elevenses Update: The Great International Biscuit Haul
Our tea breaks are a serious business, and this week we were treated like royalty:
• The Irish Connection: A massive thank you to Doris Martin, who whilst away in Ireland knew the best souvenir she could bring back for our shedders was a stash of fantastic Jacob’s biscuits for the Shed! It was a first for those shedders who enjoy a biscuit at Elevenses, many had never seen this brand of Jacobs —they went straight into our fuel tanks .
• Local Treats: Lovely local resident Virginia also popped by with a surprise delivery of delicious biscuits to keep our energy levels up. Thank you both so much!
• Freezer Defence Protocol: With the warm weather hitting us, we’ve officially enacted "Operation: Cool Down." again this week and the freezer tray has been completely topped up with Magnums, and the fridge is bursting with cold drinks.
Stocks, Sponges & Shenanigans at The Globe Primary Academy . Holly from The Globe Primary reached out for help to build a Pillory, and of course, we couldn't resist a bit of medieval mischief! We put the final touches on it and delivered it just in time for their big event.
We have a very strong feeling a teacher (or perhaps a very brave volunteer) is going to be facing a barrage of wet, soggy sponges. We wash our hands of any splashing, but we hope you all have a splashing good time!
Caravan Rescue & Workshop Wonders
The sawdust has been flying in the workshop this week with projects of all shapes and sizes:
• Shed Roadside Assistance: We carried out a delicate caravan door bin repair for our great supporter Sue , we also re-installed her newly refurbished Spitfire whirligig, and walked away with a section of her handrail to build a brand-new replacement.
• On the Benches:
o Work is well underway on another of our super-popular 4x2 timber two seater benches.
o The custom book lending library for Councillor Julia Watts is progressing beautifully.
o The replacement planters for South Downs Leisure are agonizingly close to being finished.
o We've also been busy at the saws cutting out components for an upcoming Lancing Parish Council event.
A Massive Green-Fingered Thank You!
Our garden area is getting some serious love thanks to our wonderful community supporters:
• Asda Community Champion Gary: A huge thank you to Gary for popping by with a brilliant donation of bark chippings! These are going to be put to excellent use next week keeping our garden area looking smart, tidy, and weed-free.
• The Bedding Plant Team: Another lovely thank you goes to Tinia , the Lancing & Sompting Lions, and Ferring Nurseries ! They have kindly donated a fantastic top-up of bedding plants to keep our planters looking vibrant, colourful, and fully stocked for the summer.
Seth the Master Builder & Planter Progress!
Remember the planter-building event we held at LPC a while back? We received the most wonderful update from Kay this week. Her grandson, Seth, built his very own planter at the event, packed it with the compost and bulbs supplied, and took brilliant care of it.
We are absolutely thrilled to report that his hard work has paid off—his flowers have finally bloomed! High five, Seth! Future Shedder of the Year right there!
Final Call: Adopt a Garden Critter!
Our extra stock we made for those who could not attend the recent Care for Veterans Summer Fayre is getting dangerously low! If you want to take home an item you'll need to move fast. We only have:
• A couple of swan planters left
• Just one lonely Cockerel planter looking for a good home
• A couple of our buzzy bee whirligigs
• The very last of our standard planters.
. A Train Planter all set to steam off .
Once they’re gone, they’re gone! Pop down to see us during our session times if you want to grab one.
Have a great weekend! Thank you so much to every single one of you for all the likes, comments, and incredible support you show us week in, week out. It keeps our engines running!
#MenInSheds #Lancing #Sompting #BrooklandsMuseum #SheddersOnTour #TheGlobeSchool #CommunitySpirit #ShedLife
It has been an absolutely jam-packed, high-energy week here at The Shed! We’ve successfully balanced heavy-duty community projects, a high-stakes freezer restocking mission, and a grand day out where we actually let the Shedders loose in public around a fantastic collection of engines and vehicles.
Here is the full gossip from the past week:
The Shedders On Tour: Brooklands Museum !
We ensure that as our Shedders work so hard we also make sure we have time out too, this week all shedders had a pass out of the workshop, so we piled into the mini bus( Thank You Choice Rentals) for a fantastic day out at the Brooklands Museum! We spent the day admiring vintage aircraft, historic racing cars, and generally acting like big kids amongst so many fantastic items to see and learn about.
Remarkably, we managed to come back with the exact same number of Shedders we started with—no one got left behind in a vintage cockpit!
Keep your eyes peeled: A dedicated post with some brilliant photos taken by some of the shedders, along with a fun video reel of our adventures, will be heading your way very shortly!
Elevenses Update: The Great International Biscuit Haul
Our tea breaks are a serious business, and this week we were treated like royalty:
• The Irish Connection: A massive thank you to Doris Martin, who whilst away in Ireland knew the best souvenir she could bring back for our shedders was a stash of fantastic Jacob’s biscuits for the Shed! It was a first for those shedders who enjoy a biscuit at Elevenses, many had never seen this brand of Jacobs —they went straight into our fuel tanks .
• Local Treats: Lovely local resident Virginia also popped by with a surprise delivery of delicious biscuits to keep our energy levels up. Thank you both so much!
• Freezer Defence Protocol: With the warm weather hitting us, we’ve officially enacted "Operation: Cool Down." again this week and the freezer tray has been completely topped up with Magnums, and the fridge is bursting with cold drinks.
Stocks, Sponges & Shenanigans at The Globe Primary Academy . Holly from The Globe Primary reached out for help to build a Pillory, and of course, we couldn't resist a bit of medieval mischief! We put the final touches on it and delivered it just in time for their big event.
We have a very strong feeling a teacher (or perhaps a very brave volunteer) is going to be facing a barrage of wet, soggy sponges. We wash our hands of any splashing, but we hope you all have a splashing good time!
Caravan Rescue & Workshop Wonders
The sawdust has been flying in the workshop this week with projects of all shapes and sizes:
• Shed Roadside Assistance: We carried out a delicate caravan door bin repair for our great supporter Sue , we also re-installed her newly refurbished Spitfire whirligig, and walked away with a section of her handrail to build a brand-new replacement.
• On the Benches:
o Work is well underway on another of our super-popular 4x2 timber two seater benches.
o The custom book lending library for Councillor Julia Watts is progressing beautifully.
o The replacement planters for South Downs Leisure are agonizingly close to being finished.
o We've also been busy at the saws cutting out components for an upcoming Lancing Parish Council event.
A Massive Green-Fingered Thank You!
Our garden area is getting some serious love thanks to our wonderful community supporters:
• Asda Community Champion Gary: A huge thank you to Gary for popping by with a brilliant donation of bark chippings! These are going to be put to excellent use next week keeping our garden area looking smart, tidy, and weed-free.
• The Bedding Plant Team: Another lovely thank you goes to Tinia , the Lancing & Sompting Lions, and Ferring Nurseries ! They have kindly donated a fantastic top-up of bedding plants to keep our planters looking vibrant, colourful, and fully stocked for the summer.
Seth the Master Builder & Planter Progress!
Remember the planter-building event we held at LPC a while back? We received the most wonderful update from Kay this week. Her grandson, Seth, built his very own planter at the event, packed it with the compost and bulbs supplied, and took brilliant care of it.
We are absolutely thrilled to report that his hard work has paid off—his flowers have finally bloomed! High five, Seth! Future Shedder of the Year right there!
Final Call: Adopt a Garden Critter!
Our extra stock we made for those who could not attend the recent Care for Veterans Summer Fayre is getting dangerously low! If you want to take home an item you'll need to move fast. We only have:
• A couple of swan planters left
• Just one lonely Cockerel planter looking for a good home
• A couple of our buzzy bee whirligigs
• The very last of our standard planters.
. A Train Planter all set to steam off .
Once they’re gone, they’re gone! Pop down to see us during our session times if you want to grab one.
Have a great weekend! Thank you so much to every single one of you for all the likes, comments, and incredible support you show us week in, week out. It keeps our engines running!
#MenInSheds #Lancing #Sompting #BrooklandsMuseum #SheddersOnTour #TheGlobeSchool #CommunitySpirit #ShedLife
Celebrating a Decade of Connection: Premiering "All for One and One for All" and Discussing the Power of Men's Sheds
This past Saturday, 17th May 2025, at our 10th Birthday party, we were incredibly proud to premiere a powerful documentary, "All for One and One for All." Filmed by the talented Lancing director Chris Dade of www.bebrightenergy.co.uk this film beautifully captures the heart and soul of the Lancing and Sompting Men in Sheds project.
For a decade, this grassroots initiative has been a beacon for retired men, offering a vital space to combat loneliness and foster genuine connection. The documentary movingly illustrates how the simple act of gathering in a shared space – building, tinkering, sharing skills, and simply chatting – has transformed lives, nurtured mental well-being, and created lasting friendships. It's a testament to the immense power of camaraderie in later life.
We know first-hand the profound impact a Men's Shed can have. We've seen how it provides purpose, reduces isolation, and offers a supportive community that makes a real difference.
Now, we want to share this message far and wide and explore how we can work together to bring the benefits of Sheds to even more individuals who could thrive within such a community
CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE FILM
This past Saturday, 17th May 2025, at our 10th Birthday party, we were incredibly proud to premiere a powerful documentary, "All for One and One for All." Filmed by the talented Lancing director Chris Dade of www.bebrightenergy.co.uk this film beautifully captures the heart and soul of the Lancing and Sompting Men in Sheds project.
For a decade, this grassroots initiative has been a beacon for retired men, offering a vital space to combat loneliness and foster genuine connection. The documentary movingly illustrates how the simple act of gathering in a shared space – building, tinkering, sharing skills, and simply chatting – has transformed lives, nurtured mental well-being, and created lasting friendships. It's a testament to the immense power of camaraderie in later life.
We know first-hand the profound impact a Men's Shed can have. We've seen how it provides purpose, reduces isolation, and offers a supportive community that makes a real difference.
Now, we want to share this message far and wide and explore how we can work together to bring the benefits of Sheds to even more individuals who could thrive within such a community
CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE FILM
2025 IS OUR 10TH BIRTHDAY!
A MASSIVE THANK YOU TO THE CO-OP AND THEIR SHOPPERS WHO HAVE DONATED £3,549.044 TO US AS PART OF THEIR 2022/3 COMMUNITY AWARDS - WE ARE SO GRATEFUL!!
17 08 2023 Painted pebbles. We found these left for us on the large planter outside The Shed this morning. To whoever did this, "Thank You" it makes our day go even better...
We were recently visited by video.filmaker Jon Rist of .Futurist Media who made a marvellous film about us. Here Shedders talk about the Shed, what it means to come along to the Shed and there are also great shots of Shedders working. Take a look at
https://www.facebook.com/FuturistVideo
PLEASE NOTE YOU NEED A FACEBOOK ACCOUNT TO VIEW THIS
Jon's website is at www.jonrist.co.uk
https://www.facebook.com/FuturistVideo
PLEASE NOTE YOU NEED A FACEBOOK ACCOUNT TO VIEW THIS
Jon's website is at www.jonrist.co.uk
We reach out to our local community by .
Please note that we are not a business. We do not seek to take work off local tradespeople. When we work on projects we simply ask for the cost of the materials that we use (if we do not already have then) and a donation to cover our running costs for the project like insurance, electricity etc.
- repairing items such as benches and planters for our local councils, local charities, sheltered housing projects and care homes
- making items for playschools and groups working with young people
- visiting local groups like the Sea Scouts to make items such as bug boxes and bird boxes,
- making items for community groups like The Friends of Brookland Park and Keep Lancing Lovely
- wood, materials and surplus items from local builders and developers, householders and community groups
- tools that are no longer required - if we cannot use them, we can usually find someone who can!
- donations of tea, coffee and biscuits!
Please note that we are not a business. We do not seek to take work off local tradespeople. When we work on projects we simply ask for the cost of the materials that we use (if we do not already have then) and a donation to cover our running costs for the project like insurance, electricity etc.
Our Shed Manager, Frank King keeps everyone up to date
with what is happening at the Shed(S) and our involvement in the community
with what is happening at the Shed(S) and our involvement in the community
Men in Sheds Lancing and Sompting is where
- we challenge isolation and loneliness by providing a warm, safe and encouraging atmosphere
- we learn and teach each other skills and ideas
- we get together for a cuppa and a chat
- we have lots of power and hand tools for people to work on woodworking projects they may have like bird tables, planters and the like
- we can show you how to use lathes to make beautiful items
- we go out into our local community to work on projects, build items and share our skills and time
Left. Howard Attwater or "H" as he was affectionately known was at our very first meeting and offered his double garage to be our first Shed. We were so grateful. H passed away in 2017 and the Shedders continue to support his partner, Julie.
