The Men’s Shed in Downpatrick has been enetered by Newry, Mourne and Down District Council into this year’s IPB Pride of Place Competition in association with Co-operation Ireland.
The Men’s Shed in Downpatrick is a place for men aged 60+ to meet and discuss issues, share skills and explore new interests, with the aim of promoting their own health and well-being whilst putting something back into the community. It is a larger version of the typical man’s garden shed in their garden. Activities undertaken at present include joinery, gardening, woodturning, art, crafts, cookery and IT. Volunteering opportunities also form an integral part of the Men’s Shed.
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Shedders Barney Graham and Raymond Higgins get the garden into shape.[/caption]
The Men’s Shed will be judged on Tuesday 28 July 2015 when two judges from Co-operation Ireland, Mr Blaise Treacy and Mr Terry O’Niadh, will visit the Men’s Shed to assess the good work the project does.
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Art tutor Tom Cunningham with Shedder John Aldworth.[/caption]
Councillor Naomi Bailie, Chairperson of Newry, Mourne and Down District Council, said: “ The IPB Pride of Place Competition is an annual all-Ireland event aimed at recognising and celebrating the vital contributions that voluntary organisations make to improving people’s quality of life in their area.
As the Men’s Shed Downpatrick makes an important and valuable contribution to the health and well-being of men aged 60+ in our district we are very pleased to be entering the project in this year’s competition.”
Action Mental Health launched Men’s Shed Downpatrick in October 2013, with funding from the Big Lottery Fund’s “Reaching Out: Connecting Older People” Programme.
Members of the Men’s Shed (Shedders) come from all walks of life – the bond that unites them is that they are men with time on their hands and they would like something meaningful to do with that time. The Men’s Shed is a powerful tool in helping men to once again become valued and valuable members of our community.
The judges’ will spend two hours in Downpatrick. Judging will commence with a PowerPoint presentation on the background and work of the Men’s Shed project. Following this, the judges will be taken on a tour of the Men’s Shed to view the facility and the range of opportunities it has to offer men. During their visit the judges will meet and chat with representatives of organisations that support the project and those who participate in the project.
Irish Public Bodies (IPB) Mutual Insurances Ltd is the major sponsor of the IPB Pride of Place Competition in association with Co-operation Ireland.
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