Men in Oldham who have been busy refurbishing furniture, making toys and 'putting the world to rights over a brew' have been saved thanks to a generous donation.
'Men in Sheds', which has been run by Age UK Oldham for more than a decade in Failsworth, provides support and a safe and friendly meeting place for men over the age of 55 who might otherwise find themselves isolated and lonely.
Meeting at Charles House on Albert Street West, the workshop-style initiative encourages members to share and learn new skills and participate in a mix of fun and practical activities, from restoring furniture to making wooden toys.
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According to Age UK, more than one million older men now live alone in the UK and face issues such as the loss of a relationship through bereavement or reduced social interaction due to worsening health or mobility.
Initiatives like Men in Sheds can have a significant positive impact on the wellbeing of older people.
However, the initiative faced grounding to a halt after the initially agreed three-year period as Age UK Oldham had not been able to secure any further funding.
The charity funds all staffing and overheads themselves and relies heavily on donations from the public to help keep the shed alive.
Spotting an opportunity to help, the McCarthy Stone Foundation stepped in and donated £2,000 to be used towards new materials and tools for the projects for the rest of the year.
John Scholes, Co-ordinator at Men in Sheds, said: “We can’t thank the McCarthy Stone Foundation enough for their generous donation.
"The Men in Sheds group has become a key part of Failsworth and the wider Oldham area, providing a safe and fun environment in which local men over the age of 55 can share skills and try something new whilst establishing new friendships.
“Using the donation from the McCarthy Stone Foundation, we can purchase the materials and equipment we need.
"This means we can provide members with a better-equipped facility, which will ultimately help them with their own projects, as well as those that will benefit the Failsworth community.”
The McCarthy Stone Foundation supports grassroots, volunteer-led charitable causes that promote the health and well-being of older people.
It is the independent, registered charity of the UK’s leading developer and manager of retirement communities, McCarthy Stone, which has a new retirement living development under construction on Ashton Road West in Failsworth called Sydney Grange.
Declan Fishwick, Business Development Manager at McCarthy Stone, added: “Supporting and engaging with the communities close to our developments is a key focus at McCarthy Stone and we are delighted, in partnership with the McCarthy Stone Foundation, to lend a helping hand to Men in Sheds in Failsworth, which has been a prominent feature in the town since its setup in 2013.
“As a company specialising in the development of friendly and welcoming communities for retirees, the happiness and welfare of older people is at the heart of everything we do.
"This makes initiatives such as this a great fit for us.
"We look forward to seeing the Men in Sheds group continue its work in supporting the wider community through its range of activities.”
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