The first Men’s Shed in Carlisle will open its doors later this month.
Houghton Men’s Shed will start on September 22 at Gosling Sike and is open to all men who would like to hone their building and repair skills and make new friends.
This is the fifth Men’s Shed in Cumbria, and the group offers a chance to learn practical skills, as well as build friendships and boost wellbeing.
The new Men’s Shed at Gosling Sike, Houghton, on the edge of Carlisle, will be open every Friday, starting on September 22, from 10am to noon.
People can drop in or stay for all of the two-hour workshop.
Anyone aged 18 and above is welcome to come along – no experience necessary. Staff will provide training and induction on the tools (along with the essential tea, coffee and biscuits!).
Adam McGinley, manager of Gosling Sike, said: “We wanted to offer the local community a regular activity to support their wellbeing. Coming to our Men’s Shed will provide opportunities to be creative, build, repair and socialise with like-minded people, in tranquil, natural surroundings.
“This is the first Men’s Shed in Carlisle and it complements the existing volunteering opportunities at Gosling Sike.”
Some of the materials for the workshops are donated or recycled, some are provided by Rebuild which takes surplus materials from construction sites and put them to good use.
Maisie Hunt, of Rebuild, said: “It’s a great idea, and we’re very happy to be supporting a project that will be a really useful and needed community asset.”
Booking isn’t necessary for each session, but people are asked to let the team know if they plan to attend, so an induction can be arranged.
