A project designed to reduce loneliness and isolation amongst the older generation is going from strength-to-strength, thanks to support from Grundon and community and environmental charity Groundwork South.
Shedquarters, located at Peppard Common, near Reading, is open five days a week and provides the opportunity for individuals – mainly men – to gain new skills, share their expertise with others and make friends in a welcoming environment.
From utilising their woodworking skills to make birdboxes, picnic benches and wooden planters, to learning about stained glass and clock repairing; the project was founded by local resident Sheila Maughan, from nearby Sonning Common.
She explains how the idea came about: “I was involved in a tea party event in the village hall where there were 60 women and just three men and I realised there was nothing locally for retired men to do.
“I had this crazy idea to set something up for them and gradually got more people interested. Together, we raised about £57,000, which enabled us to buy two shipping containers and convert them into the ‘men’s sheds’ that have become Shedquarters.
“Grundon was our largest donor and we are very grateful to them for their support. We have about 38 regular attendees, as well as others who drop in from time-to-time and they tell us that the companionship Shedquarters offers is really important to them. It is an opportunity to get out of their four walls, to learn something new and share their skills with others.”
Sheila Maughan
Grundon donated £15,000 towards the project via the Landfill Communities Fund, and Kirsti Santer, Head of Marketing & Communications and Annie Sessions, Marketing Manager, recently paid a visit together with Michelle Jones, Project Manager at Groundwork South, which distributes the landfill tax monies on behalf of Grundon.
“We were so impressed by what Sheila and the volunteers have achieved at Shedquarters. It is like an Aladdin’s Cave of woodworking and it’s clear that so much love has gone into creating this amazing space. This is exactly the sort of project in local communities that we are so proud to support, well done to everyone involved and we can’t wait to see how Shedquarters continues to grow.”
Kirsti Santer
Head of Marketing & Communications, Grundon
Michelle added: “The benefits of projects like this in helping reduce loneliness, especially among retired men, are well documented and this has been an excellent project to support. To see the difference it is making first-hand and to meet Sheila and her husband Dennis, who is also one of the volunteers, was inspiring to all of us.”
The conversion project was supported by a team of volunteers who worked on the shed’s foundations and cleared vegetation outside the premises, while others volunteered their time installing electricity and plumbing. Work benches, now fully equipped tools and machinery – most of which has been donated – are now in place and a toilet, kitchen area and seating have also been installed.
Shedquarters offers trial sessions to help local people see if they would enjoy it and then charges a small membership fee to help with running costs. Items made by the members, such as bird boxes and bug hotels, can be purchased for a donation, and in turn, they also donate items to local ecology groups.
Having opened its doors for the first time in January, the Shedquarters team recently celebrated their achievements with an official summer opening, attended by around 60 guests.