THE SHED

The Shed was busy last week and will be next week beyond the Shed perimeter. In the community.

On Saturday 14th December we are at the Green Market event at Red House School junior campus. It is a monthly market orchestrated by our friend Helen Deehan. We have a stall (and event shelter and two tables) where we will both sell some of the items that have been made this year and will make the community aware of what the Shed is really about – male friendship and mutual support.

Finalising some tasks

Off to the Clink

Next Wednesday PaulH and Graham are off to local Holme House prison for a visit to a new cohort of prisoners being equipped for release.  They are on an 8 week programme informing them of useful guidance for adjusting back into their communities. Every man is unique and has his own personal challenges. 

We are taking in a session on 3D printing – with no equipment so it is not a practical session of printing! It is more printing “in our head space”! We have a PowerPoint which we will forward to the course tutor from BEAM (more about them later). 

Think of it more as a Ladybird PowerPoint to get across the principles of 3D printing rather than it demonstrating actual operation!

[click on the bottom right expansion symbol and then the Start Slideshow on top right for a better experience! The last slides have short videos to watch. To exit full screen press escape key.]

Although the motivation for the PowerPoint was the visit to Holme House, it is a PowerPoint that will be used in other training/educational contexts.

Christmas Shed Get Together at the Moline Cross

It was a chance for some partners to see some of those who their other halves mix with. On a serious note, there were a couple of comments from wives who were grateful for what the Shed had done for their menfolk.

One tree doesn’t make a forest or a model train layout. But we start somewhere.

https://youtu.be/4vGyVM-V0yE?si=TLa3HEeWobGIiYlb

And rock faces . . . .

https://youtu.be/XyNaRI9z4NY?si=Npgo0GEedG5jeWvK

9 Years of Sheds in Whitby district and now Norton!

The first practical step taken was in December 2015 when an application for funding to start Sleights Area Men’s Shed (SAMS) was made to North Yorkshire (County) Council.

It was submitted to the fledgling Stronger Communities team and Karen Atkinson in person. It was written on a flight to Melbourne (9 hour stop over in Dubai) and a draft was sent on arrival from Melbourne Airport. 

9 years later, 5 Sheds were delivered though through loss of premises SAMS had to close during lockdown. The most recent descendent of that first Whitby Shed (and pretty much the first in North Yorkshire) has been Norton (on Tees) Men’s Shed.

Many men’s lives have been touched by these Sheds and also a few women. The Shedders built the Shed infrastructures (meaning the atmospheres) and gave their peer-to-peer support to each other. 

How many people have been helped?  Hard to say with certainty. But it will be two or three hundred Graham would guess. More if families of Shedders are taken into account. 

It’s not all about Sheds. It about other organisations too that strive to provide a compassionate framework. That includes agencies such as council, health and faith sectors. 

Thought Provoking

Stockton Borough Council Directory entry for Normens

Brian’s All Lit Up

More bits and bobs

On the left is a model of the Shed with a rotating antenna. Apparently, the figure on the right with a black drill in his hand is Graham!  It’s a working model and could be the next James Bond gadget.  All DaveW’s work.                                                                                  We’ve got new doors going on the rear of the cabin. They have been recycled from replaced panels from a sectional garage door. Normally they are horizontal but with a bit of ingenuity, gate hinges, nuts and bolts they are converted to upright doors. Sadly rain interfered with play or we might have got both on. 

We have a motorboat windshield which will be recycled as a rain canopy to go across the top. 

Looking forward to March when we can clad the rest with steel sheets, thanks in large part to North East Ladies Day charity. They are visiting the Shed in a weeks time. Best behaviour all!

Christmas Green Market December 14th

We were at the Market with our wares. Everything from begging bowls to snowmen, bird boxes and Christmas trees to 3D printed fobs, painted stones and owls.

Set up at 8am, gate open at 9am, packed up at 2pm and home soon after. Pat, Ray, Chris and Graham involved. But thanks to all those who contributes to making the goods.

The result (with some pre-sales included) was just over £460!!

We also made some valuable personal and professional contacts.  Mission achieved. Take a look for yourself.