Shed on a Page and more!

Shed on a Page

Norton Men’s Shed (Normens)

A personal perspective by Graham Storer drafted for UK Men’s Sheds Association magazine “Shoulder to Shoulder” and approved by Shed Trustees!

In the beginning there were 4 Sheds in Whitby, North Yorkshire. The first was a very rural Shed opened in early 2016 in Littlebeck on the Coast-to-Coast Walk. It was an initiative seeded by an incidental visit to a Men’s Shed in Victoria, AU in 2014 to get a toy fixed.

Whitby thrives on tourism and fish & chips. There are many incomer retirees living in the area due to its coast and moor location. No longer is it whaling, shipbuilding, ironstone mining or anything that James Cook might have known.

Norton-on-Tees is markedly different. Teesside has an industrial heritage – ICI (Imperial Chemical Industries), Dorman Long (now Tata Steel), British Steel and others were major industrial enterprises. Moreover, 2025 is the bicentennial of Stevenson’s Stockton to Darlington Railway and Locomotion 1. Heavy engineering is in the region’s DNA. 

What then of Norton Men’s Shed? Norton Shed started  at the beginning of 2022 with nothing, no premises even. However, it was much required even in leafy Norton (no chimneys there!). Required for the local NHS Social Prescribing Link Workers (more accurately in early 2022, just one and now 13, some with specialist roles like cancer or the 75+. Required by the NHS but needed to help men reconnect with others in community. Speaking plainly. men are a problem because they often don’t/won’t acknowledge the risks to themselves of isolation to engage with help in some way.

However, after 8 months, Norton Men’s Shed was offered an aged building-site cabin in need of refurbishment situated on Norton Sports Charity’s complex. We could begin to build in earnest!

Shoulder to Shoulder (this magazine) says it on the tin. Doing something alongside someone else is a first ladder to beat a snake of social isolation. We want people (yes, women too) to be collaborative individuals in their Shed. We have volunteers and beneficiaries and they are the same people!

Early in 2024, we managed to get another proximate work space that tripled the original workshop area. Just as well because demand was growing for new Shedders to attend and for existing Shedders to attend more often. That meant increasing the number of morning sessions from two to 4 during the year including a session catering for men with a cancer diagnosis.

And we have just added a fifth morning, the Wednesday Skills Shop, for Shedders to work on a project or a learning task of their own, but in the company of others. Like TV’s Repair Shop. We hope that each involved Shedder will take on an apprentice to learn the skill.

The Shed also accelerated existing skills and added some new interests. From 2 lathes with only one in use in 2024 we now have 4 lathes and more than a dozen Shedders trained by a newly recruited experienced Shedder in this traditional craft. Leaping from ancient to modern we added 3D design and printing to the menu and recently laser cutting and engraving. On a different track, a model railway has been started with trackside assets and little people made by 3D printing, including of our Wheelchair Steve.

Maybe seeing something will provide greater insight. When you’re ready, look at a recent Normens’ website blog by following the link or using the QR code below. It’s one of 160 that detail our story of growth.

QR code link.
View with phone camera

 OR  https://normens.org.uk/?p=4917

As well as internal Shed growth there is external growth of “influence”. In 2025 we have stepped up our efforts to connect with other groups and services concerned with wellbeing. We have gone as far as making it a more formal strategy. It’s not difficult to do even, once just a small connection has been made. Why? Because it can grow new community wellbeing opportunities. Norton Shed can always offer a manageable practical favour, especially now with 3D printing.

Illustrating this, we have made friends with Tom “One Man and His Fridge” Judge this year. He’s busy raising funds for men’s mental health and homelessness issues on Teesside and also for the goal of twinning with Benidorm in Spain and the Spanish Red Cross. One outcome is intended to be establishing more Spanish Sheds (there’s currently only one!). We’ll be helping with that.

Tom’s doing something very practical by walking from Teesside to Benidorm carrying his fridge raising funds on the way down the UK and down Spain. We decided to support practically with a 3D printed fridge magnet with a QR code pointing to his fundraising site. We will be making a thousand plus, and if any Shedder wants to print a few we’d appreciate help.

If you looked at the particular blog pointed to above, you will have read that as part of our strategy we have reached out to two local MPs and a local councillor. We have also recently had a very constructive meeting with Council officials and we are working to help 3 new Sheds (or similar) to start in the region.

Why did we meet MPs, the Council and other significant charities serving Teesside?  It is not to sell the merits of Norton Shed but to make them aware of the Shed movement itself and to share some real stories of men thankful for the Shed.

We want to be a part of building community engagement for no particular benefit to ourselves other than to see good come from our efforts.

Recently a bold Shedder said to one of our visitors, quite directly, that a Shed costs relatively little to run because they are volunteer run and considerably resourced by Shedders themselves through their subs. He posed the question of what Sheds (and other voluntary wellbeing projects and groups) are saving the public purse, and whether that has been quantified?

Norton Men’s Shed was founded, in part, to help Social Prescribing Link Workers, part of NHS provision to local GP services. Link Workers are signposts and guides for patients in need of rejoining community but they need destinations to send people to and Norton Shed is pleased to be one such destination.

And we have just been reminded that there is a WW1 tank to be made (mobile and with steering!), a lady’s metre long wooden train to repair, the railway layout to move on and hopefully soon, when Council permissions come through, there will be the site cabin to clad with profile steel sheeting. Plus now many things to make using the 3D printer.

Arguably best of all is that the Shed is not dumbed down. It is an ever changing place. The Shed is under Trustee care but it is not Trustee run. That’s the collaborative role of every Shedder who comes in ways to suit their capabilities. Every Shedder matters.

Well, that’s our story. Also a little of the story of Whitby District Sheds from whom we sprang as a “30 mile” seedling. We’re so glad too the Aussies invented something even better than XXXX.

Why not share your Shed’s story?

Norton Shedders nortonmensshed@gmail.com  

Adding some additional photos of today away from the Shed

Dennis & Paul visited the Real Thing today at Darlington’s Hope Town museum

Graham in Scotland found some woodturning blanks for the team. In the grounds of Saint Conan’s Kirk on the shore of Loch Awe  https://stconanskirk.org.uk/

This 94 year old from near Leeds was on the same coach break as Graham during the VE celebrations

He isto be interviwed this week on BBC radio. He is a Shedder at Morley Men in Sheds project. 

Now meet Phil from Fairfield who contacted again

“Hi,  This is Phil xxxxxx.  I’m the guy who gave you the tools for your Men’s Shed, two years ago.  If your Men’s Shed is still running could you give me a ring?  I want to ask you something. 

No I don’t have any more tools to donate and I don’t want any money. 

But what I am suggesting might be of benefit to you and your members.”

Curious, Graham gave Phil a ring immediately and then another on Saturday morning.  Phil then sent another message:

“A few photos of my garage workshop.  I have most tools. 

I would love some occasional company for a bit of banter and advise your members on projects.”

Apparently, Phil is bad on his legs these days and cannot erasily leave home. So his bright idea is to invite people in! To his workshop for a natter! Putting this to our Monday group, for instance but it has caused another thought to spring to mind.

Not (yet) saying what! 

Meanwhile, here are twp photos of his tidy garage workshop .

If you are wondering what’s going on across the moor at Whitby Town Shed, Staithes Shed, at the Land of Iron and at BayThorpe Shed, follow this link.

Every Shed evolves differently and often has to be reinvented to match changed circumstances. 

Here is what was written  as a summary of the current changes and progtress of Whitby District Sheds to North Yorkshire Council Localities Community Team of goings on.  They have supported the expansion of Whitby District Sheds (4) ever since the first one almost 10 years ago. It’s always a good idea to keep both funders and encouragers (even from the past) informed and to make it clear they are an important part of the Shed family.

Hello Paddy,

We’ve pulled together some news from each of the three Whitby Sheds and also the new Iron Shed (under the Land of Iron Museum)

https://whitbysheds.co.uk/catch-up-on-whats-new/

Catch Up On What’s New Whitby Town Shed will soon have two options – a Wednesday Woodwork Shed and a Thursday Tech Shed It will happen from the beginning of June. The second day, for the Technology Shed, will… whitbysheds.co.uk

BayThorpe had its first AGM as a CIO and the minutes make a very interesting read for me (because at the end of the year I’ll be doing the same for Norton Shed!).

Staithes have definitely found the Land of Iron to be an interesting and welcome distraction. Making a horse, Nelson, and an underground stable for him. Jim is photographed as a stand in horse.

Very important to Whitby Town Shed is the decision to make the Shed cover two days. Basically, one session for the woodwork using the bigger and noisier equipment and the other (a new Thursday Tech Shed) for creativity involving technology, starting with 3D design and printing. It is hoped this will attract maybe younger people or older people willing to give it a go! Norton will support Aidan Richards in this and maybe a new “without borders” virtual Shed might be realised.  

Any of the Sheds would be happy to speak about their bit of the composite jigsaw.

Graham

Hi Graham,

Thank you for sharing this – it is a great update of all the inspiring activity happening – well done all.  Interesting to see the Skinningrove developments and the pics of the products good as ever. 

Can I take this opportunity – especially with the talk of the tech shed in Whitby and virtual shed idea (but potential anywhere) to highlight there is a digital inclusion grant to be released this month which has capital opportunities, and some revenue, for projects that develop people who will support others with accessing digital.  This might be of interest and will be in the email we do that goes out from my colleague Ellen Jackson. 

Thanks for keeping in touch and us updated.  We will include the link in our email [new] too if that’s ok.

Best wishes,  Paddy

Keeping in touch involves some effort, but it is so worthwhile.  The grant scheme referred to is part of Government funding but the choice of how the money is spent is administered locally. Needs vary area by area.

Some Norton Shed Pictures

At Mallaig Station.  It’s a pair of wheelchair ramps

On the table for the model railway. Touch of blackpaint in ramp centre needed now.

Graham bought a late birthday present for Joan at the Norton Green Market

Meet me by the Duck Pond

By Mike Green, the Struggling Potter.

Graham met Mike at the Orchard Community Garden on Norton Sports complex a couple of week’s ago.

He now comes to the Shed when available and has offered to bring in some clay and a portable wheel for us to have a go at..

We can be confident of a lot of mud slinging!

Building Bridges

As you can read in the Shed on a Page, one of our 2025 strategies is to look outwards and discover who else (particularly in Norton) who is on a similar path to us.

Carried away with enthusiasm to demonstrate this in practice, Graham made a 3D printed OO gauge arched bridge by 3D printing. Courtesy of the Thingiverse library of premade things.

The “tentacles” are disposable supports for otherwise unsupported first few layers of the arch segments.

Printed bridgedeck down. Note the start of the support tentaclkes (formally called “trees”)

Nearing completion after 3.5 hours (yawn). The tentacles are relatively massive to be self supporting and are to support the first layers of the girder until they become self supporting!

There’s some crud to clean off but a disabled passenger, wheelchair ramps and a station worker there to help.

FINALLY, a great story from today about a man, not directly the Shed

After the Shed today, Graham and Dennis went to pick up some timber and other materials offered to the Shed by a new Facebook contact. Good news.

After that and after grabbing a sandwich Graham went late to the Glebe Community Centre where there is a monthly “Get Together” that Shedder Geoff attends and is provided by Norton Baptist Church. On the entertainment bill was Tilly the dog. A performing dog! But really a pet. It was a demonstration of obedience and it was great to see man and dog working together.  Apparently it does not work on his wife!

Graham left to take a call and as he came back into the venue there was a man who said he was wanting to enquire about the chair exercise group which follows the Get Together.  Graham chatted with the man and was told he had a lot of time on his hands and wanted to improve his physical health. Graham mentioned (yes) the Shed and went to his car to get a Norton Shed postcard to give the man.

The man needed to sit down and Graham took him inside the hall to sit on a chair whilst the previous meeting was being cleared away.

That’s when the man excitedly said, “I’ve only been here two minutes and I’ve just seen two people I know!”. It turned out he goes to a gathering at The Shack on Roseworth which is where he knew the two from. 

Graham handed over the postcard and pointed out that he could join the Get Together as well as the exercise class and even the Shed.

It’s up to him, but Graham was struck by the way the man felt he did not do much and how small opportunities for friendships cropped up in a few minutes.

It was also teamwork between individuals and some of their time that resulted in the opportunities being made known. .It seemed like a game of join the dots that gave the man a pathway.