Group needs a new home
An East Kilbride based charity and inclusion group is appealing to the public to help them find a new home.
Dedicated to creating and maintaining wellbeing and companionship in their membership, of mostly elderly retired men and women, East Kilbride Men’s Shed are desperately seeking new digs.
The group are urgently appealing to local business and the wider community to locate and/or provide a premise in which they can continue to function.
It is as a result of the rapid loss of their previous space at Westcoast Storage Centre in College Milton.
The charity are now homeless after their lease was terminated by their landlord.
Group secretary Paul Munday told the News: “We now need to locate a new base.
“The property lease was terminated quickly and that has meant expensive storage for our assets in an industrial lockup.
“The main function of the Men’s Shed is as a valuable resource to the community.
“Many of the members are able to use their life skills in making and mending simple products from wood, metal and fabric.
“The Shed is well-known and is often approached to make special one off gadgets for other charities and disadvantaged people in the community.”
Due to being a small, local charity, the group can’t afford commercial rates but are able to contribute towards rent.
Paul added: “We can pay for accommodation, but cannot afford commercial rates.
“As a charity, we have built up a small cash surplus through member donations, awards and grants and the charity has the ability to raise funds to cover reasonable outgoings.
“The group has a committee and a vibrant membership enthusiastic to restart when safe from the pandemic.
“The value of Men’s Sheds as a social outlet for any who might suffer extreme loneliness is well established and the Men’s Shed movement, both nationally and internationally, is now high profile.
“Anyone who can help will bask in the warm glow of assisting this local charity to continue it’s good work.
“The major priority is for an East Kilbride based organisation with a social conscience and some spare space, to come to our rescue.”
A further appeal has also been issued for monetary donations to help tide the group over until they reestablish themselves in new premises.
One method of support for those who do online shopping, is to do that shopping through: easyfundraising.com
Simply log in, search for East Kilbride Men’s Shed and follow links to carry out purchases.
To help the group email Paul: eastkilbridemensshed@gmail.com