13th October 2021

Members of Mill Street club in Trowbridge are getting stuck in to DIY projects together.

A dining chair in urgent need of TLC was the first project for the newly formed Mini 'Men’s Shed' at the dementia day club. Now club members will be able to get involved in more projects in the months ahead, being supported to retain practical skills they may not have used for some time. 

Club support worker Fiona Sadd came up with the idea, inspired by her father who is still keen on practical projects.

She said: “We have a lot of activities traditionally enjoyed by women in the club which the men join in with, but I thought it would be nice to do something more obviously for them, building on traditional male skills using tools and handiwork.

“I’d found three chairs at home during a clear-out. They needed sanding down so were the perfect first project for the mini Men’s Shed.

“The men really enjoyed it, particularly one who doesn’t normally participate in the activities and a
lady who is usually very quiet. It really brought people out of themselves.”

The next project for the ‘shed’ will be building bird boxes and Fiona is scouring antiques shops for more items to renovate.

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