Ripon Men's Shed preparing for opening day after being pushed back due to covid
It's hoped the centre will help tackle social isolation in older members of the community
A new social group in Ripon which will aim to tackle isolation in older men is preparing for opening day after being pushed back because of the pandemic.
Ripon Men's Shed will be a place for men to connect and form bonds, while creating and tinkering with different materials and machinery.
The activities are often similar to those of garden sheds, but for groups of men to enjoy together. It's been proven to help reduce loneliness and isolation, while being given projects to complete which will benefit the wider community.
The idea to create a Men's Shed in Ripon started in summer 2019, but plans to open the centre were stopped when the country was put into a lockdown.
But now the centre plans to open in just over ten days time at the New Life Church on Water Skellgate.
Andrew Makey, trustee, said: "They can do all the same sort of things which they might do at home but they're doing it with somebody. That's the key thing that they can socialise with some other guys who perhaps would be at home on their own.
"Everybody has struggled with social isolation in spades over the last 12 months so they can just come and make things but most importantly talk to each other.
"The aims we're aiming at will have spent much of the last year on their own so we're looking forward to putting this last 12 months of sadness behind us."
There are currently 599 Men's Sheds in operation, with a further 149 in development, including Ripon's own.
They're having a final open day on 21 May so prospective members can take a look at the building and find out more. The official opening will be in July.
The team have already had enquiries from other groups and businesses across Ripon who would like help from the Men's Shed.
Andrew, added: "That'll give the guys some purpose. They'll have some proper projects to do which will help the community and they'll see the benefit.
"Guys aren't very good at talking about things but they'll be quietly working away on these projects with a guy next to them and it could start those conversations they haven't thought about having before."
Activities in Sheds vary greatly, but you can usually find woodworking, metalworking, repairing and restoring, electronics, model buildings or even car building in a typical Shed.
Sheds typically attract older men, but many have younger members and women too. Whatever the activity, the essence of a Shed is not a building, but the connections and relationships between its members.