New Milton Men's Shed unlocks temporary home from town council

THE New Milton branch of the international Men's Shed project which battles loneliness is set to be leased a town council building as a temporary home.

Hearing the group was still looking for a permanent headquarters following its launch in the area last autumn, the council’s amenities committee agreed the disused workshop next to the cricket club at Fernhill should be loaned to it while it continues the search.

Adrian Duckett, chairman of the New Milton Men’s Shed group, told the committee that as well as reducing loneliness and isolation among men, it can help improve both their mental and physical health.

“Men rarely share their personal concerns about their health and bereavement,” he said.

“This is about meeting like-minded people to share worries with, but it’s also about having fun. It can also feed into the wider community with projects benefiting other local groups.”

Since its launch, the local group has accumulated a committee of 10, with about 15-18 people attending weekly informal gatherings over tea and coffee at New Milton Football Club’s Fawcetts Field base.

However, Mr Duckett pointed out many more men had expressed an interest in joining up once the group secured a workshop.

“Our membership is predominantly retired, but we want to remain active in the way that sharing skills can bring,” Mr Duckett continued.

“Having somewhere where we can have a workshop and share activities would be invaluable. We’re still looking and just need somewhere desperately to make a base.”

Asked how the group was being funded, Mr Duckett said it had received a grant from local county councillor Fran Carpenter, while a couple of district councillors had also provided financial support. The group was also seeking funds through other avenues.

Pointing out he himself was a “paid-up member” of the Men’s Shed group, Cllr Robert Murrow stressed to the committee that a premises needed to be found for it as soon as possible.

Amenities chairman Cllr Geoffrey Blunden told members town council staff had looked at all sites in the area with a view to finding permanent accommodation for the Men’s Shed scheme. A review of Fawcetts Field had established it was not suitable for long-term use, he said.

However, suggesting the workshop at Fernhill, he pointed out it was self-contained with its own toilet facilities.

“This could be made available on a year’s licence for the group to use while it continues to look for a larger home,” he said. “We could provide it on a peppercorn rent.”

Cllr Blunden added that he had informed the cricket club of the idea as “a matter of courtesy”.

The proposal was welcomed by the whole committee, with members suggesting the licence period should actually be 18 months at a peppercorn rent to allow the group more time to find a permanent venue.

Cllr Alan O’Sullivan said: “I think this is an excellent idea and I think we should fully support it and help it get off the ground.

“Hopefully they can then find something bigger and better.”

Speaking to the A&T after the meeting, Mr Duckett said: “We’ve still got to keep looking for a permanent home, so that is still high on our agenda, but we can start now to build a workshop base. The guys are desperate to start working.”