Here are some recent shots of things and people that are neatly coming together just in time for Christmas . . .
The Portakabin area has been given an overhaul by Dennis, Lollipop Pete and Jacko
3D Paul and Mike the Struggling Potter commission the laser cutter
The satisfied pair. They worked very safely. Lasers can be dangerous.
Walter has created a camp site for 1st Norton Scouts in the middle of the railway
Graham has two death masks that needed supports to display
3D printed
Aidan in Whitby Sheds Digital Space
Shedders Paul & Derick made these 3D printed snowmen
Podcast News
It was great to see Gordon commissioning the podcast recorder, working with apprentice Wheelchair Steve
Gordon will then install podcast editing software, Audacity, and teach Steve and Graham the rudiments of that process.
In January we will create a short podcast demonstrator.
It’s good to have purpose and to share skills.
Jim Crooks of Staithes Shed and The Iron Shed writes . . . . .
Hi Graham
Jim and Andy
From: crooksj12@
Date: 20 December 2025 at 06:32:16 GMT
To: kelly.birch@ukmsa
Cc: andydickinson1963@
Subject: Shed Stories end of Year call
Hi Kelly,
Here’s an article that may be of use for the UK Men’s Sheds Newsletter….
In the photos you can see a joint gathering of Staithes Shed and its nearest “sister Shed “ the Iron Shed in Loftus having a shared Christmas buffet.
Staithes Shed has been established for several years and the Iron Shed was only launched in May of 2025. They are neighbours with Staithes being in North Yorkshire Council area and the Iron Shed just across the border in Redcar and Cleveland, part of Teesside.The Iron Shed name was chosen to reflect an iron ore mining heritage. The two Sheds got together on Thursday 18th December and enjoyed a buffet at Staithes Shed premises that was kindly prepared by Christel and Staithes Shedders.The Iron Shed was established by Shedders from Staithes as the need for one in the Redcar and Cleveland area was identified as Redcar and Cleveland have, sadly, one of the highest suicide rates in the country.Both Sheds have a range of projects on the go from making tombola machines for the MFC Foundation to picnic benches, planters etc for local community groups. The Sheds are looking forward to even closer working throughout 2026.On behalf of both Sheds we’d like to wish every Shedder a very busy , peaceful and happy new year. And finally if your visiting our area look us up (we meet every Monday and Thursday) and call in for a cuppa and a natter.
Regards,
James Crooks from Staithes and The Iron Shed
Jim is up front
You can see Christal at the back
Candles and mince pies
Some final photos on Christmas Eve
Brian has developed a new skill
Some more examples – he takes commissions
3 sizes of 3D printed figures for Walter’s railway. The 3 bears chose the middle size!
Just listening to James Dyson (the inventor) as guest editor on Radio 4’s Today programme on Boxing Day
He’s an “ideas creator” and “make it work” engineer at heart. He is a business man and maker of money but that is not his starting point with each invention, it is a challenge to do something worthwhile with a worthwhile outcome, where outcome is measured only in part financially, He stressed the need for failures, failures that lead to the next attempt at success. There were hundreds of failures before first Dyson bagless vacuum cleaner hit the market.
He bemoaned the fact that we are not a nation that respects creativity, manufacturing and the engineering mindset. Also the lack of risk taking – people want guaranteed success with anything new. That results in evolutionary improvement, not revolutionary change.
The past 4 decades of Men’s Sheds (started in Australia) has been about something that was not a guaranteed success. It required some big strides and many failures to arrive at something that is still not a guarantee of success at the individual Shed level but that is a proven success at the concept level with expansion into many continents including our UK.
Long may the attempts at change be accompanied by risk. That means we need to work for success. What work? The work of helping people help themselves out of loneliness, isolation and loss of purpose.
We have just learned that a Lottery Community Fund grant application submitted in early October, and written in September, has been successful. £9130 over roughly 18 months from early 2026.
Here are the introductory sentences email in the email arrived unexpectedly on last Monday (3 days before Christmas Day)
Project name: Enlarging the Frontline of Community Impact
Congratulations, we’re going to fund your idea
We’re really happy to tell you we will be funding your project following your application to the National Lottery Community Fund.
This means The National Lottery Community Fund is giving Norton Men’s Shed £9130 to help your community thrive.
Well, funding an idea (that sounds like they are not seeking guaranteed success) and “helping your community thrive” (that means supporting the charitable objectives of Norton Men’s Shed).
They want Norton Shed to take a long stride and do something that builds bridges for good.
We have some good partners to work with in the Shed work in 2026 and opportunities to make a difference to lives through others (and them helping us). Simply building the foundations for community belonging.
More details in next years blogs.