Positive Strides into 2023

There are many encouragements in Norton Shed . . . .

First up, the Shedders. It is a year since we started with a few raw recruits using the Cricket Pavilion to meet in and tasked to decorate it. Norton Sports Charity appreciated what we did and we appreciated them housing the homeless! It’s called a win-win.

Gradually we bonded as a group and gradually additional members were added to the fledgling band.  They are truly a mixed bag of individuals but we have become a supportive group to each other (akin to a family really as most Sheds become) and all pleased to see newcomers, one by one.

The big tick in 2022 was the provision of the Portakabin as a base. Late summer, autumn and winter activity majored on significant refurbishment and adaptation including rewiring the building, adding heaters and putting in dust extraction. This past week the electrics were tested and certified for use. Quite a journey in 6 months.

At the same time we received a lot encouragement from Social Prescribing Link Workers attached to surgeries in the area and. of course. the Norton Sports Charity staff.

As we enter the first couple of weeks of 2023 we are in a position to shift our focus from building work to using what we feel is a really comfortable, homely and safe place.

Newcomers

We are experiencing considerable interest in Norton Shed that is echoed also in our sister Sheds (brother Sheds???) in Whitby District.  The root problem people have )maybe from different circumstances) is loneliness. There are a number of clear examples of individual Shedders who have been turned around by joining the Shed. It is true to say that everyone has benefited from the sense of purpose involved that the activity provides everyone.

The Shed is not so important, but the Shedders are, everyone. It is they who welcome newcomers in the way they were themselves welcomed. We’ve all learned a lot about people and how we can support each other however we might be feeling.

New relationships

One of the joys for the Shed is to come across other groups doing essentially the same thing for people, though the activities will be very different because people’s interest are different.

Three new conversations took place in the past 4 days. The first was with a host  for a Ukrainian family regarding a possible Shedder. Attending a social gathering for Ukranians near held in Preston Park Graham met two English people involved in hosting . Sheds were on Graham’s agenda of course. Graham took a call two day’s later from one of the clubs that meet at Norton Sports Charity. They know a man who may benefit from the Shed because of hios personal circumstances. Then a call came from two separate Social prescribers, one with a possible Shedder and the other informing of a new project in Stockton for sufferers of fibromyalgia who would welcome help with internal decoration of premises they have secured to meet in.

All things to follow through on but which show that Norton Shed is becoming a recognised part of the Norton community.

New equipment and new projects

We were very fortunate to receive donations of equipment through Preston Park Museum and individuals including Veronica, the widow of Eddie, one of the original Sleights Area Men’s Shed (SAMS) situated in Littlebeck.

We are looking to acquire some further equipment for the finishing of rough wood such as recovered from pallets.  We were alerted by UK Men’s Shed Association to  beech  and ash lengths at a very good price and traveled to York area with a trailer. We secured half a cubic metre of it to be available to Norton Shed and the 3 Whitby Sheds.

The horse head will find a body this year and there is a life sized dog to make too for Norton Sports Charity’s Remembrance Service.in November 2023 plus we want to create a ramp for any with walking difficulties or reliant on a wheelchair.

Raised beds are on the cards too to improve the entrance to the football pitch and we need to consider how more permanent repairs can be done to the Portakabin roof..

And at the individual level there will surely be some personal projects of merit undertaken!!