Life is what you make of it! As individuals, a Shed or a community like Norton Sports Charity or Norton itself.
That sets the theme for this blog possibly . . . . .
Laying out the green carpet. The holly and flowers are real.
See our new veranda lawn.
Norton Cricket Club on the Sports complex has had its dry practice area entirely replaced. Complete with very realistic artificial grass.
The Shed is a scavenger for left over materials in skips. Thus, tipped off by one of our “observer” Shedders, we reclaimed handy offcuts (with permission).
Now we have a greensward. It requires no cutting, of course.
Deck chairs and picnics are banned and sunbathing with shirts off is banned.
That’s some of the magic of the Shed. Lots of rabbits to pull out of hats with a Shed load of magicians! There is so much that is a surprise every day with opportunities to be seized on.
All keeping our brains alive and helping build communities.
In the distance in the photo is an arbour seat. That was donated to us by a Norton resident two years ago and was the subject of a makeover.
The edge of a table can be seen. This was another donation that for the winter can be folded away.
Connecting Sheds to Schools
This is a long running idea that happens in Oz but far less so in UK.
Our Friend in Frome, Patrick Abrahams, has been investigating the possibilities of creating a model for UK Sheds to contribute to education in some way. He came across Sleights Youth Shed that Whitby Sheds established on a Friday evening after school at a Scout Hut in 2018. Sadly it ceased to be after 18 months as a result of Covid-19 lockdowns. We had to refocus on bringing the Sheds back and we were nearly 4 years older than when it was started!
There were a couple of workshops done with a secondary school (making large planters) which proved a hit but there are practical difficulties in working with schools. In trying to find some photographs of these, Graham discovered an idea from 2015 before he got involved in Sheds.
It was a project idea called WorkEx, with the aim of simulating work experience opportunities which were not available in Whitby. Below is a project concept that was taken to a secondary school in Whitby. That was when it was found that work experience, which had been a statutory educational requirement for schools to steer, had been made non-statutory two or three years before.. Not banned, just left to schools but at a time (as now) when resources were under great challenge.
Here is the presentation prepared and there were a couple of example course syllabuses drafted for surveying and canoe building (not included).
workexTank dismantled for painting
Kevin and Mick stripping down (tank)
Jacko paints himself into a corner
Tony has a key to the door for Brian to add a name
New Shedder Les brings remote control car. Now we all want one.
The Shed at Our Place, Our Say, a care event at Thornaby
Steve and Graham there. Steve did a lot of talking to people. Community and health professionals
Whitby Shed closing in on completing its IT enclosure
UK Men’s Sheds Association Awards 2025
Health & Wellbeing Award
Norton Shed happened in 2022 because a local Social Prescribing Link Worker needed it. Her problem was men, what to offer them (still a major obstacle). Our problem? No fixed abode!
The need was known from Whitby Sheds so we negotiated winter shelter in an unheated cricket club and decorated it.
Undaunted, we persevered with support from the link worker. Norton Sports Charity saw our joint commitment to helping men and 6 months later they offered a dilapidated cabin for a safe max 8 Shedders, 3 seated! We got on and made it Shed-shape!
It was rewarding work, encouraged by the link worker. Working together is the Shed therapy. Physical, mental and spiritual with hands, head and heart. Creating common vision and purpose in individual Shedders and moulding Shed culture.
3 years on, there has been all-round expansion with workspace for 20 Shedders every weekday. Woodwork is one of many interests, including digital tech (3D design/printing/engraving, electronics), a model railway, fabricating super-sized WW1 armoury (for 11/11 Remembrance) and online digital learning for the housebound.
New entry portals were developed for men recovering from long-term isolation or a cancer diagnosis. In collaboration with NHS, Macmillan and cancer support groups.
Andrea Love, Macmillan N.E. Engagement and Improvement Lead said, “Norton Shed and NHS colleagues laid the groundwork for collaboration we joined. Norton Shed shows a way for men, with or without cancer, towards help and hope.”
Why I have nominated Norton Men’s Shed?
Norton Men’s Shed owes much to the 4 Sheds established in Whitby district since 2016. All were focused on people with needs, not their wants. People impacted by life events typified by bereavements (separations) of various kinds and at risk of social isolation. That is the modern day wellbeing and health killer. Sometimes literally. In all the Sheds we sought to partner with an agencies needing to place men in a manly environment and one that could help people rebuild with purpose.
Norton Shed was only an embryo, when ‘pressure’ came from the one and only social prescribing link worker who needed something to solve her problem, men! What to do with them or, better expressed, how to help them reconnect with community.
The Joy of Sheds is to see things changed. A log turned into a bowl magic is the or a filament of plastic into a replacement part. My greatest joy is seeing men remake themselves helped by, and helping, others like themselves.
Norton Men’s Shed is not impressive in terms of its premises. Nor for what it makes, though very creative. It is impressive for its inclusivity, warmth and the involvement of men in running their Shed.
The Shed is a repair shop (hospital?) for people with loss. We recently had a visiting Aussie who had tried a Shed in Victoria but found it too focused on production. He said, “If only that Shed had the atmosphere of yours I would have stayed”.
Norton Shed lives out the proverb to “look after the Shedders and the Shed will look after itself.”
Partnership Award
Based on the experience of 3 out of 4 Sheds in Whitby district, starting a Shed is not a fast process, needing to find premises, gather ‘Shedless’ pioneers and gain support.
Exceptions were the first Shed in Sleights (2016) and the latest, Norton-on-Tees Shed (2022). Both launched in under 2 months.
The common accelerant was partnership between a fledgling Shed and a fledgling agency service. In Whitby, the link was to a council social connector and in Norton to a NHS social prescribing link worker. Both needed an activity for men at ‘some kind of a loss’.
In turn, the Shed needed partners to filter Shedders, and isolated men needed us both. Symbiosis!
Who started Norton Shed is a moot point. A relocated Shedder needed a Shed. A social prescribing link worker heard rumour of a Shed and called a cruise ship to enquire. Half a dozen would-be Shedders answered an ad. A sports charity provided a cricket pavilion to decorate in January.
It was new Shedders joining via the Link Worker who nailed Norton Shed and made it happen.
Claire Walker, lead Social Prescribing Link Worker said, “We’ve grown together over 4 years, jointly fostering the Shed and introducing new entry portals for those with anxiety and cancer. We are a fit”.
Through cancer support Link Worker Deb, other partners were recruited to the cause of men with a cancer diagnosis. including Macmillan Cancer support and local cancer support projects.
Working together. Shoulder to shoulder in the Shed, side by side with partners.
Why I have nominated Norton Men’s Shed?
Norton Men’s Shed owes much to experience with Sheds in Whitby over a decade. All are focused on people. People impacted by life events typified by bereavements of various kinds and at risk of social isolation and worse. Hence it has been natural to partner with agencies needing to place men in a manly environment and one that rebuilds with purpose.
Norton Shed values and invests in partnerships. The social prescribing partnership led to a surprise visit from a link worker with the new (to us) specialism of cancer support. She met Dave there, a Shedder with cancer, and gave him practical advice and help. It triggered the idea for the Shed having a men’s cancer Shed session that met Link worker support and to contact with several cancer services and charities, including Macmillan North East.
Adequate funding followed and now cancer diagnosed Shedders come any day, even several in the week. A Thursday in the portal to first meet for conversation.
Norton Shed stresses that all Shedders be encouraged to be involved in running the Shed. Bringing manual and management skills they have. They have a vested interest in their Shed day to day.
Confidence and esteem return as they meet shoulder to shoulder on woodwork, 3D printing/laser cutting, a model railway and online support for housebound people in the wider community.
The Shed ethos is to help others, because doing so helps us too. Importantly, an outward facing Shed is a great example of a community working together for cohesion.