Axminster Community Shed lives! Today, we moved into our shop unit in Chard Street, Axminster and began the substantial task of turning it into our very own ‘Shed’. There’s a lot of work to do, with painting as an immediate priority and then setting up the various work stations.
Facing the street (just behind the George Hotel), we have a rather attractive and well-lit shop area that we plan to use as our front office, point of welcome and ultimately to sell the items that our members make to help raise more funds. We are also waiting on some grant applications that we need to buy new tools and to help cover our running costs.
Meanwhile, donations of tools are coming in quickly and this morning we even had a box of biscuits from one kind lady! Watch this space for updates – progress will be rapid.
Axminster Community Shed produced some fantastic Christmas-themed wooden boards for the Light Up Axminster event.
Linden Homes, who are building homes nearby, provided the materials that Axminster Community Shed then turned into festive boards in time for the towns annual Christmas lights switch-on. Linden Homes sales consultant, Sherrie Dampier commented: “We were delighted to donate the materials to the local community and it was wonderful to see the boards transformed and in use at the Christmas light switch on event. Axminster Community Shed is an incredible organisation and we’re pleased to be supporting them by spreading some festive cheer locally.”
Plans to establish an Axminster Community Shed have received a major boost with an offer to use a town centre property where men and women can connect, chat and create. While providing a host of opportunities for new social interaction, organisers say their aim is also to contribute to socially beneficial community projects across the town.
The offer of a base from which the ‘shedders’ can operate comes from Shane Morgan of Morgan York estates agents and involves a retail unit in St George’s Street, Axminster. “We are absolutely delighted and hugely grateful to Shane,”says Axminster Community Shed secretary Colin Hayward. “Our plan is to take over the premises in about a fortnight’s time with a view to running our first sessions in January.”
Researchers at the University of East Anglia are launching a new project to see how ‘Men’s Sheds’ can improve mental health and loneliness.
Men’s Sheds are community spaces for men and women to come together, work shoulder-to-shoulder on projects, learn and share skills and build social connections.
The UEA team will investigate how being part of a Shed community impacts mental health and loneliness. And they are looking for ‘Shedders’ around the UK to take part…