David Rutley MP has given his continued support for Men in Sheds by declaring a new facility in Macclesfield officially open.
Thanks to a number of generous funders, Men in Sheds Macclesfield has a brand new home on Henderson Street. The new shed houses all the equipment older men require to use the workshop, enabling them to learn and share skills in an environment that also supports their social interaction.
Men in Sheds is a place for men over the age of 50 to get together in a relaxing environment to share interests, skills, experiences and decent conversation. The primary aim of Men in Sheds is to re-engage local older men with their peer group in an environment where they can improve their social and emotional wellbeing and participate in meaningful and productive activity, such as woodworking.
David Rutley MP said, “I’m delighted to have the chance to open the new Men in Sheds facility. I have always been a huge supporter of this initiative as it makes a real difference in improving the quality of life and health outcomes for older people.
I hope that more people will come and use the facilities, and that local residents and businesses will provide further funding so it can go from strength to strength.” Damon Taylor, Chief Executive of Age UK Cheshire East said: “We are extremely proud to open the doors to our brand new shed for older men in Cheshire East. We’d like to encourage more men to come to the shed and try it out, you won’t be disappointed.”
The charity has been able to create the brand new space in Macclesfield thanks to the generosity of a number of funders including the Royal British Legion, the Morrisons Foundation, HSBC, Leigh Trust and Pennycress Trust. The opening also provided a chance for the charity to launch its fundraising campaign for the year ahead. The cost of running sheds in Macclesfield and Congleton for one year is a minimum of £50,000 and the charity is asking for support from the local community to reach its target by becoming a sponsor, donating, fundraising or volunteering.
The charity operates two sheds - one in Macclesfield and one in Congleton. If you’d like to find out more about Age UK Cheshire East’s Men in Sheds project, call 01625 660534 or visit www.ageukce.org