Lest we forget . . . .
What have the Sheds in Whitby District done that reach out beyond the Shed sessions? Normens included.
This was the request from UKMSA for the Northern Shed-Fest sponsored by Ronseal. At Harrogate Yorkshire Show ground.
Not MugsThe presentation was a PowerPoint but above, for convenience, is a .pdf version
Unfortunately there was no projector available and no way to illustrate by pictures!
But at the event Graham met a couple from Stockton and she is to come to the Shed next Friday 18th November. She attends the Shed in Redcar but was intrigued to learn of Norton Men’s Shed closer to home. That chance meeting took place in the Q&A session at the end of the presentation by Charlie Bethel. The lady and Graham responded to a question from another member of the audience and that was
the catalyst for further conversation at the end.
Similarly a man at Graham’s talk engaged in a lengthy conversation at the end . He lives in Darlington. He is not in a Shed because he is in full time work. However, the man’s job and his past experience were very relevant to things Graham mentioned in his talk. He said how several things made connection to people he knew and, indeed, himself. He’s visiting one evening and his experience with SEN (Special Educational Needs) young people in schools will make him a valuable “consultant” to Sheds in Norton and Whitby. We may be able to restart an evening Shed again (N.B. Dave T!)
One of our Whitby Shedders attends a talking group in Scarborough for men with mental health concerns and experiencing loneliness/isolation. It’s under the banner of Andy’s Man Club which has 100+ venues in UK having started in Halifax in 2016 as a result of Andy’s suicide. A charity started by his family without realising where it might lead.
Our Whitby Shedder goes to Scarborough on a Monday night by bus. Sadly, the buses were cancelled for the return trip and he had to pay a taxi fare. His thought was that Whitby needed it own Club. Graham noticed promotional cards for AMC on the UKMSA desk! That is what several parties in Whitby are working on together.