The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
A member of Long Sutton’s Men’s Shed has donated £10,000 to help improve mental health in the area.
After being set up to try and combat male loneliness, the group where members can meet up to work on various projects has continued to expand to the point it now believes with around 85 members it’s the largest of its kind in Europe.
It’s next work is to create a room for more quieter pursuits and a place where the men may be able to talk more freely and improve their mental health.
The NHS has provided £7,000 for its creation next to the several workshops that continue to expand themselves.
That’s been added to by member Dave Wilson who has donated £10,000 in memory of his parents Jim and Pam Wilson.
Dave says the Men’s Shed has helped him and he wants to help others as part of their legacy.
“What we as a group have is experience,” he said. “Most of the guys here have been through something that someone else might be going through.
“I’ve had cancer, I’ve been through a divorce, all sorts happens in a lifetime.
“The idea behind the new room is so people can come hear and talk to people who have experienced the same kind of things and come through it.
“My mum and dad both died with dementia and I was left a fair bit of money and I wondered what I could do with the money to improve the lives of others.
“This is a kind of legacy for them.”
Men’s Shed secretary Barry Meade, said: “We hear about a lot of mental health issues from our members.
“We do have a small area to have a coffee and tea in but it’s in the middle of the workshop.
“The idea behind this is you can come here and it will be a quieter room where you can do thing like play games of chess, painting or use the computers we’re looking to install.
“Some members might have members on the other side of the world and they can come in here and zoom call them and connect with them wherever they are in the world.
“We’re working with the NHS, charities such as Mind and Shine so members know exactly where to go to for help.
“Just by being in other people’s company it helps.”
