The Wokingham Men's Shed
FUNDRAISING is a Catch-22 for many newish organisations. Before any funds can be raised, equipment must be bought, but often the war chest is bare.
Going into its third year, this was a quandary faced by the Rotary Club of Winnersh and Binfield, of which I am President. With dates already in the diary for 2023, we were keen to start fundraising for local charities.
The Wokingham Men's Shed came to the rescue in magnificent style. In return for a small donation, the 30 plus members of Men's Shed set to work designing and building several fun games: Tombola Box, Pick-a-Lolly, Ball Roll and Tin Can Alley.
Armed with this well-made equipment, we have got our fundraising off to a flying start. Fun was had at both the Wokingham Lions May Fayre and the Wokingham Festival in August, while Winter Wonderland is now in the diary (come and pay us a visit).
Rotary has been around in the Thames Valley for nearly 100 years. Big celebrations are planned to mark this milestone on July 6th, 2024. The Men's Shed, however, is a newer creation. It started in Australia 20 years ago and there are now about 600 Men’s Sheds across the UK. Our local one can be found in the Pavilion on the Latimer Road Playing Field, Wokingham.
The aim of Men's Shed is to provide a welcoming place for retired men who feel lonely, isolated and want to put their practical skills to good use. Women, of course, are welcome, but loneliness and isolation are particularly concerning issues among older men in the UK – especially post-Covid.
The average age of those who belong to Wokingham Men’s Shed is in the mid-to-late 70s - although this is raised by member Ken Mills. His dry wit and spry looks belie the fact that he's well into his nineties. But there is now a growing interest in the group from men in their 20s and 30s who feel increasingly isolated because of working from home.
Wokingham Men's Shed opened in November 2019 with the help and support of local councillors such as Imogen Shepherd-DuBey and Tony Lack. A grant was provided to upgrade the derelict Pavilion on Latimer Field and members now pay a nominal annual subscription to cover the peppercorn rent and running costs.
The Shed is now open three days a week with between five and eight members attending daily. As well as making splendid games for Rotary, recent projects have included a coffee bar for St Sebastian's Church Hall; large information boards for the Friends of Fox Hill; and an outdoor swapping library for the Cowshed.
Ron Baillie is the guiding light at Wokingham Men's Shed, responsible for getting it off the ground and overseeing its ongoing success. Ron would like to see a Men's Shed in the Bracknell area. Maybe, readers know of a suitable site …
If you would like more information about Winnersh and Binfield Rotary Club, please contact me: leoniebentley@yahoo.co.uk.
If you're interested in joining or supporting the Men's Shed, email chairman@wokinghammensshed.org.uk.