Walter starts to plan the next WW1 exhibit – a plane!
Watch Walter introduce the project and his initial sketch design.
It will be about 3.5m in total wing span. He will make a small scale stick model as he did for the galleon two years ago, illustrating the construction method. We expect production will commence in early summer.
Two images of hands inspired by a comment by Shedder Jacko (not our designs)
Whitby Tech Shed launches
Wheelchair Steve is a finalist in the Inclusion category of Catalyst’s Awards
The Shed nominated Steve, stressing his support for Norton Shed and his positive “overcomer” attitude.
Hi Steven,
Hope you are well, my name is Mark and I work for [Catalyst] a local Charity in Stockton-on-Tees. Each year we ask the voluntary sector for nominations of individuals and groups who are deserving of recognition. Those nominations then get taken to a panel of the sector and from there it gets whittled down to the finalists.
I am delighted to share that after the panel meeting, you are a finalist in the “Inclusion Award” category for your amazing work with Norton Men’s Shed.
The winner of the category will be revealed at our awards on Wednesday 18th February and we would be absolutely delighted if you could join us on the day.
Mark
WELL DONE STEVE FOR BEING THE SHEDDER YOU ARE. Norton Shed is pleased to have nominated you.
Norton Shed meets North Shields Fishermen’s Mission Cancer Champions project with Andrea Love of Macmillan Cancer Support.
Deb Johnstone. She is real but do not believe the background!
At the Shed this morning we had a Teams call with Deb Johnstone brought about by Andrea Love. It was a great meeting of minds that Thursday Cancer Portal Shedders joined in with.
We knew there were plans for the North Shield project to visit next month for a podcast, but what we did not know was that they are intent on having a Men’s Shed on the quayside. Great, we are keen on Sheds in the North East!!
Like us, they received a grant from Macmillan last year and they created a project that recruits Cancer Champions to spread the word about cancer care.
It is a wonderful match, with us being able to help them with some Shed guidance and us learning from them on how the Cancer Champion strategy works.
Meeting Deb was a joy and it looks like they will be visiting us in Norton on Thursday 19th February with some fishy people to discover what we get up to and how we run, and for them to interview some of us in a podcast to promote Sheds up the coast.
Really positive news on the back of Steve’s good news.
And now about a toilet for the disabled at the Shed
On a Monday we have two wheelchair Shedders, Steve and Ian. Ian’s wheelchair is a rugged brute and too large for a cubicle, so, advised by him, we did some rearrangement of toilet partitions.
To be precise, we removed one and the door to make a large area for Ian’s performance!
We are taking advice from the Council as well as Ian and Steve on the fittings needed to make it conform to good practice recommendations. Probably means a raised toilet seat, one or two sets of support rails and grab handles.
Best part of it was that it has been so easy to do. All partitions kept for future reinstatement.
On 20th of January we are giving a talk on funding received for Reducing Inequalities from the Lottery through Catalyst. We are telling the story of the impact of the wheelchair lift and we can now add the tale of the toilet.
Lottery Community Awards
We were very pleased to receive news in the week before Christmas that our application for funding to engage more widely with the community was successful.
Part of it was to support the Shed in its general growth and reach but two thirds was to acquire a box trailer for our use and for projects in the Norton area that sometimes need transport.
Well, we have purchased on eBay a second hand trailer (new 2019) that has plenty of capacity for general goods, is long enough to transport the large display items we have made (and are making this year!), is tall enough to stand up in (if used as a mobile workshop), and is wide enough for wheelchair Shedders to manoeuvre in (with the tail ramp for access). It could also be a quiet, dark place for Dennis to hold his head in.
We will be working with others in this initiative to take the Shed into the community at events, schools, village places. If any reader sees potential for use, please contact with ideas. It could even be a new project supported by non-Shedders.
It is part of our ongoing plan to work collaboratively with other groups and sectors in our patch.
Growing list of Jobs To Do 2026!
A Callout for Stakeholders in Norton and district for working with the housebound
Wagons Roll, says Tony
