by Rebecca de Vaux
WHAT’S HAPPENING
- A hands-on community project to help meet the emotional, physical and social needs of older men has been given £262,876 funding after a two-year pilot project (BromleyTimes.co.uk, 2 August 2012).
- Based in Eltham, south-east London, the Men in Sheds project has more than 50 retired male participants who are putting their manual skills to work, making a useful contribution to their local community.
- Among the community creations crafted by senior shedders are ramps for disabled people, furniture for a children’s nursery and a bridge in a local park.
- Charity Age UK provides the “shed” workspace and tools, but members have control over deciding which projects to undertake.
- Men in Sheds projects are run across the country by Age UK and independent providers to help prevent social isolation among older British males.
WHAT THIS MEANS TO BUSINESS
- Retired British men, once prized in the workplace, feel a renewed sense of purpose through schemes that value their practical or professional skills.
- Involvement in social activities helps Britain’s aging male population banish feelings of isolation, depression and low self-esteem.
RESOURCES
