New Men’s Shed Launched in Limavady Town.

Mayor of Limavady, Ald Alan Robinson, attended the launch event along with existing ‘shedder’, staff, funders , committee members and members of the local community.

Following the success of their Mens Shed project based at the Be Safe Be Well office in Foreglen Community Centre, which opened in April 2013, they decided to open a project in Limavady in response to demand.

The new shed project adds to the list of 21 Mens Shed project which have been created over the past 5 years in Northern Ireland.

Be Safe Be Well decided to embark on the project after looking for  ideas to attract men to their project.  They we came across the ‘Mens Shed’ concept which was developed in Australia in the 1990s to address a number of issues which were raised about Men’s health.  It was suggested that Men’s Sheds could help promote social interaction and reduce depression related illness in elderly men. The Shed also encouraged social activities and friendships, while providing vital health information to its members. Since then a number of articles supporting Men’s Sheds have been published, stating they help increase the length and quality of life of elderly males.

Since the emergence of Men’s Sheds in 1996, the number of Sheds has grown year on year. In Ireland the various shed organisations  are supported by the Irish Mens Shed Association of which there are over 223 mens sheds in Ireland todate.

The Be Safe Be Well Mens Shed offers men aged 25 +  the space to complete a number of activities which have been chosen by the members. The project currently operates every Tuesday and Thursday from 09:30 to 4pm at the Be Safe Be Well office and garden, Foreglen Community Centre. The new Limavady based project will operate on a Monday and Wednesday, 09:30-4pm

A Men’s Shed is somewhere men can work on practical projects and activities of their choice, at their own pace and in their own

time. It’s a place where men can share their skills and develop new ones.

Add to this as much tea and coffee as you want to drink and the companionship men get from working shoulder to shoulder and you’ve got the makings of what our Men’s Shed is all about.

The activities which the Foreglen Mens Shed members have taken part in so far include, gardening, wood and willow craft, art, archery, bowling, darts, pool, reading, dominos and many trips to other mens shed locations.

The new mens shed project is open to all men aged 25+ who are living both in Limavady town and the surrounding area.  It is free to join the project, and it will be open on Mondays and Wednesdays every week. If you live outside of the town and need help with transport to and from the project, we may be able to help you with this. For further information on how to join a mens shed please call Chris or Mark on 02871 338125 or email chrisdunne@besafebewell.co.uk