1400x1760x3/2 = 3.7 million

That’s the number of steps Tom Judge will take (at least!) with his fridge on his back as he walks from Teesside to Benidorm drawing attentionon to men’s mental health on Teesside and in Spain.

Norton Men’s Shed met Tom Judge at the North East Ladies Day Spring event with lunch at Wynyard Hall a few weeks ago. Three men (Tom, Shedder Steve and Shedder Graham) with 160 women. There was a little desert island we were able to retreat to, table 13! We reported on this in an earlier blog. 

We also met a lady called Sue involved with a residential centre where her daughter lives. We hope to help her project practically.

Meeting up with Tom proved to be a very significant event because it became clear that First Contact UK Mental Health and Norton Shed are both concerned with helping men cope with, and overcome, mental heath issues caused (or exacerbated) by a wide range of circumstantial factors.

Tom has a heart for homeless and today Paul and Graham heard a summary of the many strands of help that Tom has designed and implemented almost single-handedly. ‘Inspirational’ is what we would say of Tom and the work he does and intends to do.

The summer stroll is important, because the fund raising before, during, and after the 12 week challenge will go to supporting his work on Teesside and adjacent areas and in a Spanish town. Intrigued? Well, we were! Tom will be publishing a lot more detail in early June. 

So, what could we do to support Tom?

A couple of weeks ago Paul and Graham began to consider “giveaway” promotional gifts – 3D printed of course. We worked on a fridge magnet and a credit card sized lithophane picture (hold it up to the light). Today Tom nodded his approval and we will soon go into production. Maybe he will keep a supply in his fridge and attached to it.

A 3D printed QR code is attached to the rear of the fridge magnet. Will explore a small version to go on the credit card.

Tom outlined other ideas for the future that he and his team would appreciate help with.

The QR code accessed with a mobile phone camera takes people to Tom’s giving page.

Paul and Graham will happily share what was discussed with Tom today, with individual Shedders.  More in a month’s time though !  Would you consider joining Tom on the walk for a mile or two up in our neck of the woods?

First Contact UK has a giveaway already (unsurprisingly) – a wrist band

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A garden shed is on its way to us soon

To be repurposed for the  Sow Northern Garden project at the Sports Charity complex (on the other side of the tracks!). Kindly donated by a Squash Club member. His daughter helped make it some years ago and she is returning to assist its dismantling.

We were interested to learn that he volunteers with the Air Ambulance, giving talks to groups. About half an hour plus questions. Might he want some 3D printed helicopters?

Daisy Chain

Daisy Chain web site

Daisy Chain’s main working base is next door to Norton Sports complex. We had an approach to obtain some timber and make a storage shed for them. In fact, Jewson saved us that effort because they are donating materials to Daisy Chain and two of the staff/volunteers are undertaking building the shed. Normens is redundant!!

Not quite, because Helen Deehan needs one for the Orchard Garden project and the garden shed in the previous news snippet will provide the materials for that. Adaptation rather than fully stripping apart. It’s much like the build for Anthony two years ago.

However, staff member Frankie wants us to meet them and for them to meet us. Why? Not just for tea and cake but because there may be some things we can each do to help each other. For instance, Graham knew that Daisy Chain worked with children but not that their work extended to adults and some of our age! 

It costs nothing to collaborate a little and it becomes easier when the collaboratioin is centred on helping people.

We’ll be visiting them in the middle of May. 

3D Design and Printing Workshop 29th May at Land of Iron

This is for Shedders in Norton and Whitby district plus possibly some other interested parties. 

It is a working session (learning and trying under guidance), not a visit to the museum as such. 

Sunny day at the Shed on Tuesday

 

10 best practices for community engagement (by local governments) to boost participation

From an article by GoVocal

[GoVocal is a US community engagement management system. Information is vital and easy management of it. This is an article based on a background article originally published by GoVocal. Graham (to put the blame on someone) is republishing the article that was republished by Word on the Streets!  The article is not about their system, but GoVocal’s understanding of thje underlying approaches that are behind changeing social cultures. This arrived this week and it connects possibly with the recent blog on Stocton-on-Tees Borough Council’s Annual Conversation.   Italics is Graham’s addition and is Graham pointing to remarks that have a ring of truth with his past and present experience.]

Introduction

The landscape of community engagement is changing. While traditional town halls and surveys remain essential tools, successful local governments are discovering that meaningful engagement requires a more nuanced, long-term approach. Many struggle to engage their communities and get meaningful input. But it doesn’t have to be this way. They are finding that effective community engagement isn’t about individual events or initiatives – it’s about building and maintaining trust through consistent, accessible, and responsive interaction with residents.

Here are 10 best practices:

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1. Build a foundation of trust and understanding
Residents are less likely to feel motivated to engage if you only reach out when you need something. Establishing a foundation of trust and understanding is essential.  One of the most effective ways to foster a strong relationship with your community is through consistent and proactive engagement. Establish a regular cadence of smaller-scale interactions rather than waiting for major projects, including fun and light hearted activities. 

The Belgian city of Ostend, for instance, has a yearly competition where they let residents discover and vote for their favourite festive light displays. This initiative sees 175 locals, including entrepreneurs and associations, light up the city with beautifully decorated facades, gardens, balconies, and shop windows. The competition offers enticing prizes, spurring as many people as possible to participate, including shopping vouchers from local stores for residents and a cash prize for businesses and organisations.

2. Make engagement relatable
Proximity to an issue can significantly influence resident engagement. People are more likely to participate in discussions that directly affect their neighbourhood or daily lives. Instead of conceptualising a citywide comprehensive plan as a broad, overarching initiative, consider framing it as a way to improve specific neighbourhood qualities, such as connectivity, health, and liveability. 

3. Incentivise and recognise participation
Sometimes, a small incentive can motivate people to get involved. We already mentioned you can organise contests, but you could also consider offering rewards or recognising community members who actively contribute to projects. This creates a culture of participation where involvement is celebrated and valued. Additionally, offering training on civic engagement can help residents feel more confident, informed, and ready to participate effectively.
In the German city of Chemnitz, for example, a photo competition called “Chimney Perspectives” invited locals to capture unique views of the city’s iconic brown coal power plant chimney. The best photo wins a special prize: a trip for two to Paris, celebrating the artistic roots of the chimney’s designer.

4. Embrace digital platforms for broader and sustained engagement
Digital platforms have revolutionised the way we connect and engage. For local governments, they offer a powerful tool to reach a wider audience, gather diverse perspectives, and foster ongoing dialogue. By using a digital community engagement platform, you can attract younger demographics or those who may be less likely to participate in traditional, in-person events. Moreover, you can easily re-engage past participants, inviting them to contribute to ongoing initiatives and providing opportunities for continued involvement.

5. Offer inclusive and accessible opportunities to engage
For engagement to be truly successful, it must be accessible to all. This means accommodating people with disabilities, addressing economic and time barriers, and offering options like translation services and multiple meeting times. Additionally, providing online and virtual engagement options allows those unable to attend in person to participate. Inclusivity strengthens the engagement process by giving a voice to diverse perspectives.

6. Close the feedback loop
Feedback should be a two-way street. Governments can use surveys, focus groups, and community data to improve services, but they should also demonstrate how past feedback led to real change. Showing residents the tangible impact of their contributions reinforces that their input matters, fostering trust and encouraging ongoing participation.

7. Partner with community groups for deeper connections
People are more likely to engage when called to action by groups they trust. Partnering with faith-based organisations, non-profits, neighbourhood associations, or civic groups can help you reach underrepresented residents. These groups often have established connections within the community, which can help bridge the trust gap and create a more receptive environment for engagement.

8. Develop targeted outreach strategies
Residents often want to get involved but are simply unaware of opportunities. Typical outreach methods like posting on a website or social media page are sometimes ineffective. Consider using direct mail, text campaigns, or even targeted social media ads to reach residents affected by specific issues. Targeted outreach is essential in today’s crowded digital landscape and helps ensure that correct information reaches the right people.

9. Embrace hybrid engagement strategies
Hybrid engagement – combining digital and in-person methods – offers flexibility that’s just as effective in small towns as it is in large cities. Smaller communities can take advantage of local familiarity by attending events like farmer’s markets or community fairs, where officials can gather feedback naturally. With a tablet or pen and paper, officials can document resident opinions on the spot, later adding them to digital platforms to ensure all voices are heard.

10. Assess the process and outcomes
Finally, assessing the impact of community engagement efforts is crucial for understanding their effectiveness. By quantitatively and qualitatively evaluating the actions you took to get residents involved, you can make informed decisions on future projects and ensure that they meet your community’s diverse needs. Moreover, share the results of these assessments with the community. This builds transparency and encourages ongoing dialogue about engagement practices. 

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Effective community engagement is a marathon, not a sprint. To ensure sustained participation, it’s essential to prioritise applying best practices consistently. Using these principles, you can cultivate a thriving community where residents feel empowered and invested in the future.

END OF ARTICLE

Shedders, we will be having a chat soon about this and the strategies that Norton Men’s Shed is following which are concerned with looking outward and connecting locally geographically and connecting with organisations and individuals even in distant places like Middlebrough and Australia who are on a similar track to ourselvers (or even different ones). We are in times of very rapid transformation. Times of uncertainty. Where old ways do not always work nor new ways. There is upheaval that we are all engaged with – councils, agencies and those on the ground!

Thursday was a lazy day in the sun!

However, Walter was busy inside making another name board for the model gunboat he has restored.

New man, Tony, is on bottom right. He demonstrated a skill with his phone which we decided to show to other Shedders. Voice control. He turned on his mobile phone microphone, spoke gently to it, and up popped our web site for him to connect to.

However, Graham was busy in the afternoon trying to shruink Wheelchair Steve. Graham found a TinkerCAD model of a disability gymfrom which he extracted one figure and his wheelchair. To get to model railway scale the model had to be simplified but for use on a model railway the result was quite satisfactory.

Understanding and Coping with Cancer in different ways at different stages from Cancer Research UK

https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/coping/mental-health-cancer/during-and-after-cancer-treatment?sfnsn=scwspmo