100th member at Men in Sheds

A LOUGHBOROUGH project, which gives older men a chance to make friends while building household items, has welcomed its 100th member.

And now it is calling on residents’ help to secure future funding from Tesco Bags of Help.

Age UK Leicester Shire and Rutland’s Men in Sheds project in Loughborough is running so successfully its member count has now hit triple figures.

The older men meet to tackle practical activities and undertake community and individual projects.

Many members suffer from health challenges, are socially isolated or have caring roles and the camaraderie at the shed, in Oaks Industrial Estate, Festival Drive, Loughborough, makes a real difference to their lives.

In its first two years of operation, many diverse projects have been completed. Amongst them, a rocking horse was built and donated to Ashmount School for disabled children, a renovated bench was made for Coalville Community Hospital and hedgehog nesting boxes have been crafted.

A garden is being landscaped at the rear of the shed and this has been funded by an earlier Tesco Bags of Help grant.

Tessa Trace, head of marketing at Age UK Leicester Shire and Rutland, said: “The success of this project would not be possible without the support of our funders and our volunteers.

“The contribution through the Tesco Bags of Help scheme is extremely valuable. We want to encourage the public to support us during September and October when votes can be cast by token in all Tesco stores in Loughborough, Sileby and Shepshed.”

For more on Men in Sheds, contact 01509 211603 or visit: www. ageuk. org. uk/ leics/ our_ services/ men-in-sheds

Len Morley with a rocking horse.

Pictured is Trevor Martin with a boiler cover made at the Shed.

Pictured is a bench built at the Shed, located at Oaks Industrial Estate.

Pictured is Clint Leek working on a project.