Norton Men's Shed
Formally, Norton Men's Shed provides a workshop environment "for the public benefit, the preservation and protection of good health among people (particularly but not exclusively men aged 18 or over) in Norton-on-Tees and the surrounding Stockton-on-Tees area, including those who are retired, unemployed or have health problems, and at risk of social isolation, through the provision of facilities for hobbies, recreation or other leisure time occupation including practical interests, skills sharing, the learning of new skills and helping with community based projects."
That leaves a lot of imaginative scope for a project designed to suit men's ways of relating "shoulder to shoulder" as they work, sit, talk, take a cuppa and exchange friendly banter together. The Shedders (and a few are women) are the Shed. They are the most important asset, not whatever is done or made - good though it may be.
The website www.normens.org.uk (just scroll down the home page to the many blogs below) tells the story of the Shed on a weekly basis. Big things, small things, proudly done things and humbling things as Shedders catch the spirit of helping people to help themselves and others.
Today, a newish Shedder with a serious health condition said in a casual chat with a handful of others, "It may sound stupid but with a wife and family members at home I felt lonely. Coming here to the Shed provides the atmosphere I need. I told my wife and she said she understood that." Others in the chat nodded in agreement.
Together we make a supportive community within our bigger community on 4 mornings a week. Two are for general Shedding but one is for those that welcome to chat more than do, and another is for men with a cancer diagnosis.
We work in trust with the local Social Prescribing Link Workers (since we started in 2022) and with equivalents in other agencies and charities.
We are one of 1200 Sheds in UK. We belong to the UK Men's Sheds Association and we acknowledge our debt to out Aussie cousins who started the movement 30 years ago. Thanks Mates.
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