I am big fan of the Men’s Shed movement. That’s the network of community workshops we now have in the UK where men can connect, socialise and create.
They help to improve wellbeing, by combatting social isolation and loneliness, bringing people together to make, repair and repurpose often for the benefit of their local communities.
We have a Men’s Shed in Northallerton which I visited earlier this year and we now have a very similar project about to open in Leyburn.
I recently dropped in to the Leyburn Community Shed in the grounds of Leyburn Arts and Community Centre to see how the project is taking shape.
The volunteers driving the project have decided not to call it a men’s shed even though it is based upon the men’s shed concept. While many Men’s Sheds, including the one in Northallerton, have women members, the Leyburn volunteers want to make sure their project attracts a wide cross-section of the local community. They want to attract men and women, young and old, from the start.
It’s going to be a fantastic facility when it opens later this month.
Established in three container units at The Old School House, as the community centre is better known, the Shed has been funded from various grants, donations and gifts – powered by volunteers.
The aim is to provide a facility open to all sectors of the community – not just men – to encourage people to develop and enjoy hobbies, pastimes and skills, in the company of others and to share those interests and skills.
The Leyburn Shed will be open for its first event next Saturday, November 16, when a repair café will be held between 9.45 and 12.30pm. People will be able to bring their damaged or broken goods, including small electricals, computers and toys, to the café’s team of experts to see if they can be fixed.
There will be the opportunity to find out more about the Shed and take out membership (just £30 a year). From that point on the plan is for the Shed to be open six days a week, Monday to Saturday, 9-5pm.
During my time as Prime Minister I was proud to maintain this country’s unwavering support for Ukraine in its battle with Vladimir Putin’s Russia.
I was equally proud of the support people here in North Yorkshire gave to Ukrainians – either by welcoming them into their homes or providing aid in various forms.
While we are now heading towards the third anniversary of Putin’s invasion, that support is still strong.
For example, I recently wrote to Mark Farrow of Scorton to congratulate him and his friend Stephen White on raising more than £8,000 to buy a 4x4 vehicle, convert and equip it for use as a battleground evacuation vehicle and then drive it more than 1,300 miles across seven countries to deliver it to make a difference in the Ukrainian war effort.
They plan to do it again and I am sure they will receive the same level of backing from local people. Ukraine needs our continued support.
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