Men in Sheds Lancing and Sompting
"Each shed participant is both a teacher and a learner" ..." Associate Professor Gary Misan
website update 19 11 22
"Each shed participant is both a teacher and a learner" ..." Associate Professor Gary Misan
website update 19 11 22
Today, Saturday 19th November is International Men's Day. The three core themes for International Men’s Day in the UK are:
"Making a positive difference to the wellbeing and lives of men and boys;
Raising awareness and/or funds for charities supporting men and boys’ wellbeing;
Promoting a positive conversation about men, manhood"
The theme for 2022 is "Helping Men and Boys". Whilst any campaign is about real people, it is sometimes easier to see the picture via statistics where real people become data that can be categorised and recognised more easily. Numbers can be a blur but they are important. Here are some of the latest from The House of Commons Library; On average, about 12,000 men (12,039) die from prostate cancer every year; In 2021, 4,704 men in England, Wales and Scotland took their own lives; There are over 84,000 men in prison across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland who make up 95% of the prison population.
The vast majority of Men have fulfilling lives, help bring their families up well, work hard and are able to show their love appropriately - and that is equally to be celebrated on this important day.
On Thursday in the House of Commons, Nick Fletcher MP led the House of Commons International Men’s Day debate - 17 November 2022. It was full of thoughtful ideas, experiences, stories and yes, love; The Men in Sheds movement gets referenced too! You might like to watch it online after reading this, the link is https://youtu.be/olK7vrZx70g
Our project started seven years ago to "challenge isolation and loneliness" by offering a safe space for people to meet, talk and gain friendships. We put our time and resources together to learn and teach skills, and, when that point arrived, reached out and help in our local community. We have come a very long way. We are primarily Older Men who are now a hugely talented, resourceful and inclusive group who just go from strength to strength.
We have come this far not only because of our own efforts but also due to huge kindness and support given to us across the local and wider community by people, many of whom we will never get to know. People shopping at the Co-op are allocating a portion of their spending directly to us via the Community Scheme. Names on the bottom of an email or letter from a funder telling our Manager and Trustee Frank King that his brilliant bid has been successful. Drawings from children sent to us after a visit to build bird boxes with them. Monies left in a will to us. Visitors to parks and gardens across Adur who see items that we have made to boost their local environment and Nature. The many smiling visitors to our stalls at local events. Local authority staff and Members who endlessly give encouragement, support and ideas.
We are now a Charity, another part of our progress. That structure and compliance has been embraced and achieved, to the benefit of all Shedders. If, having read this, you want to find out more about us for yourself or someone you know, please do. Direct Message us or contact us via the website.
Can we help you in any way with a project? Please ask. Do you have any comments about how our project is going? We would really love to hear from you and our funders would too. Please reply to let us know.
A key aspect of our project is "wellbeing", one of those words that we all know the meaning of but sometimes find it hard to describe, I am sure you can do that, please let me know! Our Treasurer and Trustee Trevor Crowter has created a "ring fence" fund to support wellbeing. It is used to pay for/subsidise outings, visits, meals and the like.
We are recruiting. A good way to find out more about that is to come along this Wednesday 23rd November to The Sompting Big Local Hub in Cokeham Parade from 10am to noon to chat, have a cuppa and perhaps play a game or two .....
All the best to you
Andy Brook, Chairman and Trustee
#internationalmensday
"Making a positive difference to the wellbeing and lives of men and boys;
Raising awareness and/or funds for charities supporting men and boys’ wellbeing;
Promoting a positive conversation about men, manhood"
The theme for 2022 is "Helping Men and Boys". Whilst any campaign is about real people, it is sometimes easier to see the picture via statistics where real people become data that can be categorised and recognised more easily. Numbers can be a blur but they are important. Here are some of the latest from The House of Commons Library; On average, about 12,000 men (12,039) die from prostate cancer every year; In 2021, 4,704 men in England, Wales and Scotland took their own lives; There are over 84,000 men in prison across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland who make up 95% of the prison population.
The vast majority of Men have fulfilling lives, help bring their families up well, work hard and are able to show their love appropriately - and that is equally to be celebrated on this important day.
On Thursday in the House of Commons, Nick Fletcher MP led the House of Commons International Men’s Day debate - 17 November 2022. It was full of thoughtful ideas, experiences, stories and yes, love; The Men in Sheds movement gets referenced too! You might like to watch it online after reading this, the link is https://youtu.be/olK7vrZx70g
Our project started seven years ago to "challenge isolation and loneliness" by offering a safe space for people to meet, talk and gain friendships. We put our time and resources together to learn and teach skills, and, when that point arrived, reached out and help in our local community. We have come a very long way. We are primarily Older Men who are now a hugely talented, resourceful and inclusive group who just go from strength to strength.
We have come this far not only because of our own efforts but also due to huge kindness and support given to us across the local and wider community by people, many of whom we will never get to know. People shopping at the Co-op are allocating a portion of their spending directly to us via the Community Scheme. Names on the bottom of an email or letter from a funder telling our Manager and Trustee Frank King that his brilliant bid has been successful. Drawings from children sent to us after a visit to build bird boxes with them. Monies left in a will to us. Visitors to parks and gardens across Adur who see items that we have made to boost their local environment and Nature. The many smiling visitors to our stalls at local events. Local authority staff and Members who endlessly give encouragement, support and ideas.
We are now a Charity, another part of our progress. That structure and compliance has been embraced and achieved, to the benefit of all Shedders. If, having read this, you want to find out more about us for yourself or someone you know, please do. Direct Message us or contact us via the website.
Can we help you in any way with a project? Please ask. Do you have any comments about how our project is going? We would really love to hear from you and our funders would too. Please reply to let us know.
A key aspect of our project is "wellbeing", one of those words that we all know the meaning of but sometimes find it hard to describe, I am sure you can do that, please let me know! Our Treasurer and Trustee Trevor Crowter has created a "ring fence" fund to support wellbeing. It is used to pay for/subsidise outings, visits, meals and the like.
We are recruiting. A good way to find out more about that is to come along this Wednesday 23rd November to The Sompting Big Local Hub in Cokeham Parade from 10am to noon to chat, have a cuppa and perhaps play a game or two .....
All the best to you
Andy Brook, Chairman and Trustee
#internationalmensday
PLEASE SUPPORT US We have just received an email from Co-op Local Causes Uk to confirm we are a local cause this year, they have supplied the link for our local cause for anyone that may wish to add us as their cause in this round of funding. Thank You to all those who support us and the other local groups via The Local Causes fund, by doing so when you buy selected Co-op products and services, 2p for every £1 spent goes into your membership account and the Co-op split the same between like-minded organisations and local causes, Thank You again to all those who support local causes via the Co-op, the email confirmation containing the link to our local causes page is below: Men In Sheds Lancing And Sompting is part of the @Coopuk Local Community Fund, to find out more about our project and to choose us as your cause, click here https://membership.coop.co.uk/causes/65691 #ItsWhatWeDo
18 11 22 Another Fantastic week of donations given to us and also given by us, this week we took delivery of the Ronseal UK & Ireland donation of materials via our UK Men's Sheds Association Membership Thank You so much, we also received some lovely sausage rolls and chocolate cake from Sue Recycling in Lancing MORE
** Polite Notice ** We rely on donations to be able to not only refurbish the great units we now lease but also to make items for residents in our local community and also for working on community projects, by using donated items/reclaimed timber we are able to keep costs very low, we appreciate all the great donations we receive from local residents, however can we please ask that any donations are brought in during our opening hours please which is 9am until midday Monday, Tuesday and Thursday . We have recently had multiple donated items left by our doors, although very much appreciated we do have a covenant in our lease regarding items not being left outside for us, so we ask please do pop along when we are there if you wish to donate an item, we can then take a look and decide if we can use it or not, there is also the option of us collecting items if you contact us by using the message option here or via the contact form on our website we will then let you know if the item can be used and arrange collection, Thank You again for all the great materials and items you donate to us and for your co-operation in this matter . |
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.
