Over the last three months the Men’s Shed network in Norfolk has grown. We’ve seen the “grand opening” of the brand new Poringland Men’s Shed building on October 7th. This followed many years of hard work, planning and fundraising. This is their fourth venue and will hopefully now be their ‘forever’ home! It will also enable them to provide an increased service to the Poringland area. More sessions are already under discussion, including the formation of a ‘Women’s Shed’. Poringland’s new building also came hot on the heels of Ditchingham Shed’s formal opening of their new premises at the former Earsham Wetland Centre towards the end of September.
There are currently 23 sheds open across the county. Significant progress is also being made in growing the Men’s Shed network and developing new Sheds in Aylsham (where nearly 40 people attended an information morning in late November), Swanton Morley, Fakenham and Costessey. Gorleston Shed also hope to move into their first ‘workshop’ premises in January. More new Sheds are under discussion for the New Year!
Several Men’s Sheds have put their time and talents towards helping other BTN projects in the past few weeks. They have helped with the building and refurbishment of ‘Chatty Chairs’. They have also helped construct ‘Kindness Postboxes’ before giving them away to other groups to decorate.
Many Shed leaders also came together for a ‘Shed Leaders’ Zoom’ on November 15th. They discussed the effects of the cost of living crisis on Sheds and their members. Several sheds are opening for additional hours as ‘warm banks’ or ‘hot spots’ during the winter, and looking to assist their local communities in a variety of ways.
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