The Shed recently had some great tools donated! Image from their Facebook page.

An enquiry reaches me from the wonderful Aldridge Men’s Shed project via Area Manager John Morris: the group are after an old PC or laptop computer for group use that could be donated – perhaps you’re offloading one you don’t need anymore?

Aldridge Mens Shed is going from strength to strength, and meets every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 9:30am – 12:30 and 13:00 – 16:00 at Alrewych Court on Northgate – Between Walsall Wood and Aldridge.

You can find out more at their website here and their Facebook page here.

Every time I mention the shed I get ladies complaining that it’s not for them – it is, and ladies are very much welcome!

John said:

Good afternoon,

The recently formed Aldridge Shed group are on the look out for a laptop or desktop computer for their group to use.

Ideally they would like something that can be donated, by an individual or organisation that is disposing of one.

If you can help, please either reply to me or contact the group – aldridgeshed@gmail.com.

Many thanks…

John Morris
Area Manager
Tel: 01922 653711

So please – if you can help the group, please do – I love the concept of this project and love hearing about what those involved get up to!

My original post on the Shed project is below:

For a few moths now I’ve been following news of a new project starting in Aldridge to create a Men’s Shed, and after a whole lot of really hard graft by people from loads of different organisations, Aldridge Men’s Shed now has premises, and organisation and opening dates!

Men’s Sheds (and they’re not just open to men – the ladies can join too – if fact, some of the committee are ladies!) started in Australia a couple of decades ago and provide creative activities, a social focus and space just to hang out, chat and create for older members of the society who feel they’ve got lots to give the community.

I love the idea of Men’s Sheds – I love to do mechanics and make stuff and I could see myself joining such a project at some point.

This morning, I had the following email from Area Manager John Morris:

Good morning all,

I bring you the excellent news that Aldridge Shed now has a premises to operate from!

Although it may seem a long time since the public meeting to discuss the Men’s Shed for Aldridge (12th February, 2016) there has been a tremendous amount of work going on behind the scenes since then, to get to where we are today. We do have a brand new, constituted group called The Aldridge Shed, that has 7 committee members, plus 3 co-opted members and now the group have secured premises from which to operate the Aldridge Shed, which will be Alrewych Court, Northgate. We also need to point out that the shed is for all, in fact 2 of the committee members are ladies, so this group is open to anyone, with no discrimination.

I know that there are around 30 people that signed up at the last public meeting to say they would be interested in attending the shed once it is up and running, and I also know that a number of local partners and organisations are very keen to know what’s happening with the progress of the Aldridge Shed, as they will want to refer people to the shed, especially people who may be suffering from social isolation and loneliness.

The Aldridge Shed committee would like to extend a welcome to everyone to come along and see the new premises and find out what the group are offering. There will be a series of 3 dates:

· Tuesday, 7th June (10am – 3pm)
· Wednesday, 8th June (10am – 3pm)
· Thursday, 9th June (10am -3pm)

During these days, anyone is welcome to drop-in to have a look around, have a chat, find out more information about the shed and sign-up for membership.

The actual location of the shed will be in the old day centre within Alrewych Court, which has its own entrance, store room and toilets. Signage will be provided on these days, to make it easy for you to find the “shed”. Alrewych Court also offers an “open to the public” restaurant that operates between 12noon – 2pm.

If you have any questions about the shed, or about the open days that are mentioned above, please email aldridgeshed@gmail.com. The chair of the group is Ivor Anderson.

And finally, the committee will need to fund raise and apply for funds in order to sustain the group. If you are in a position to help, please do let us know.

If any local business is in a fortunate position to be able to help out, with either cash or supplies, please do get in touch and let us know. We will promote any business that helps out the group.
Also, if you have any old tools, materials, in fact anything that you think might be useful to the group, please drop us an email and let us know.

We hope that you are able to join us on the 7th / 8th / 9th June, and we look forward to seeing you and beginning the next step of this amazing adventure.
Many thanks…

John Morris
Area Manager
Tel: 01922 653711
Mobile: 07852 421421

 I’d like to thank John for this update, and look forward to seeing the results – this really is a wonderful initiative and a great thing for an often overlooked and under appreciated section of society.