Open meeting to explore Men’s Shed group

A group is holding an open meeting to discuss the possibility of offering a meeting place for men, designed to improve mental health and passing on skills and knowledge.

Men’s Sheds are similar to garden sheds – a place to pursue practical interests at leisure, to practice skills and enjoy making and mending. The difference is that garden sheds and their activities are often solitary in nature while Men’s Sheds are the opposite. They’re about social connections and friendship building, sharing skills and knowledge, and of course a lot of laughter. 

Men typically find it more difficult to build social connections than women, and rarely share personal concerns about health and worries. It is not the case for all men, but for some, when retirement comes, it can feel like personal identity and purpose is lost. Men’s Sheds can change all of that. They rebuild communities and in many cases, they save men’s lives.

Men’s Sheds have been set up in Louth and Mablethorpe and have seen great success, and there are now over 400 Men’s Sheds across the country with many more in development.

Men’s Sheds can be for any age group and can also include women.  Initially the group want to concentrate on men aged over 55. This is the age group that needs support most, with support for younger people in the future.

A men’s shed based in Spilsby would offer the local men a meeting place that is about production and giving back to the community.

The meeting is being organised by Andrew Fitzgerald and is being held at The Sessions House, Spilsby Theatre on Wednesday 15th January between 1.30pm and 3pm.