The following advice has been posted on the UKMSA website and we support this common sense approach: if you feel unwell please do not attend your Shed until you feel recovered and, if you are concerned at all, please call the NHS 111 service.
Stay well everyone.
We’re into the second month of 2020 already and, though there are plenty of exciting things happening this year, 2019 was a great year for the Essex Shed Network and our first year of funding from the National Lottery Community Fund. Here are just some of our highlights by month from 2019-
Jaywick Men’s Shed featured on Look East, the BBC evening regional news programme which aired Monday 13th January. Lead Shedder Steve Peterson was interviewed by Mike Liggins along with Matt Hume, ESN’s Shed Development Officer.
We got in touch with BBC Look East after seeing their series about the community of Jaywick (which aired through the week from January 6th) to tell them about the Men’s Shed we are helping to set up there and asked whether they’d be interested in filming.
They sent Mike Liggins and a cameraman to meet us at the Shed and put together a 2 minute piece which gave a good impression of what Jaywick Men’s Shed is about, as well as complementing the series which has presented a much more positive side of Jaywick then has previously been shown in the media.
The piece is available to view for a short time on BBCi player here and starts from 21mins 40secs.
We were honoured and amazed to receive a donation of £6038 from Taylor Wimpey East London. The incredible amount was raised from an auction during a Charity Golf Day organised by Taylor Wimpey. Thanks to the generosity of the various contractors and partners who took part in the auction, the Essex Shed Network received a sum which will make a real difference in helping to grow new Sheds across the county, whilst contributing to the support available to existing Men’s Sheds.
As well as a share of the proceeds from the auction, we were also handed a large box of tea and biscuits which had been donated by the staff of TW East London. This was gratefully received by Maldon Shed who also gave time out of their session to provide tours of their Shed and pose for pictures!
The Essex Shed Network were chosen alongside another charity by Taylor Wimpey East London to receive their support for 2019/2020. We were originally put forward by employee Steve Ellis whose uncle attends a Men’s Shed on the Isle of Man- so we owe a big thank you to Uncle Bob and Steve for thinking of us originally. Thank you also to the staff of Taylor Wimpey East London including Peter Sebry and Abigail Gray for your support.
We’ve just released the October 2019 Essex Shed Network Ebulletin containing all the latest news and more from around the network.
Don’t worry if you missed it, you can catch up by clicking here and then to make sure you get future monthly e-bulletins direct to your Inbox then just click here!
The Beacon Shed held its official launch event on the 2nd October under sunny skies and with a sizable crowd in attendance. Everyone who took a tour of the Shed couldn’t help but be impressed by what the Beacon Shedders have achieved; what started life as two 40′ shipping containers has now become something of a ‘Show Shed’ with its own kitchen, disabled toilet and even an office!
The Shed welcomes all men from the community and, although a project of Thundersley Congregational Church, Terry Irving as Shed Lead was keen to stress that there is “no expectation for men to be a part of or join the church to use the Shed”.
Opening on Monday, Wednesday and Fridays between 9am and 2pm from 7th October, The Beacon Shed is certain to make a real difference to the lives of men in the local community.
The Shed is located in the car park off London Road, opposite the Bread and Cheese pub. Anyone wishing to find out more can email – shed@thebeacon.org
The September e-bulletin has been sent out with all the usual Men’s Shed goodness including news on the Beacon Shed Launch, our being chosen as one of Taylor Wimpey’s charities of 2019/20 and our Health Awareness & Networking event at Essex County cricket ground, plus more.
If you missed it you can click here and to make sure you get future monthly e-bulletins direct to your Inbox then click here!
The network is growing all the time and the newer Sheds out there are beginning to find that, as they become better known in their communities, more individuals or organisations start to approach or refer their clients to them. Unfortunately not all of these people will be suitable for Sheds (more often than not on the grounds of health safety) but it can be stressful to know when this is the case; Shedders like to include rather than exclude anyone who might benefit, as they do, from belonging to a Shed.
Having had conversations with several Sheds on this subject, we have organised an event which we hope will help Sheds to manage outside referrals, confidently welcome men who will benefit most from Sheds and be able to provide each other with non-professional support; the Essex Shed Network Health Awareness and Networking Day will be held on Tuesday 10th September 2019 at Essex Cricket ground and will include talks about dementia, drugs and alcohol, mental health awareness and general men’s health.
There will also be plenty of time in the day for Sheds to network, share information and find out how other Sheds cope with different aspects of running a Shed including referrals. Not only that, but we will also host a Q&A session at the end of the day with a panel including the founders of the Essex Shed Network, Sarah Troop Laskar and Clive Emmett, along with other Shed experts, ready to answer any burning questions.
An email has been sent round to all Shed leads with the link to register for the event, but if for whatever reason you have not received or seen this then please email gary@essexshednetwork.co.uk and we will forward the details.
The July E-bulletin with the latest news and events from around the Essex Shed Network has just gone out. There is news about North Colchester Men’s Shed, our newly recruited Shed Ambassadors and a fund raising event being held for Harlow Men’s Shed. View it here, then you can make sure you don’t miss another by subscribing to receive it directly to your Inbox by clicking here.