Celebrating Men’s Shed Association

Last month, The CJM and CRF team had the privilege of visiting a branch of Men’s Sheds Association in Birmingham, an amazing organisation that encourages people to come together to do woodwork of all kinds.

The activities range from repairing furniture, wood turning, sculpture, to bespoke items such as bee hotels commissioned by the RSPB. No matter what the work undertaken by members the main aim is to improve wellbeing and combat social isolation in their local communities.

Their mission is to create a safe space for all to enjoy, with a focus on the socially isolated, helping them find like-minded individuals to spend time together, learn new skills and create connections and friendships for the long-term. There are an estimated 13,728 families currently benefiting from the great work Men’s Sheds does across the UK.

The Charles Reynolds Foundation awarded a £1,500 donation, and a special delivery of the very best Cornish Pasties for the Men’s Shed in Tanhouse and were fortunate enough to spend the afternoon in the workshop hearing stories and experiences of the members.

When asked what the shedder's favourite things were about SHED, they mentioned 'socialising,” taking the mickey out of each other” “learning new things!'.

There are SHED groups located all over the UK who rely on the support of donations from their local community. These groups find their home in any building that is offered to them. The Tanhouse Group in Birmingham are based in containers that are left over from festivals or abandoned warehouses which have been converted to a wonderful workshop by their members.

If you have tools or wood that you don't want or need anymore, get in touch with your local SHED group who will come and collect the donations from you. You can find your closest SHED here - https://menssheds.org.uk/find-a-shed/

#ShedHappens #MensMentalHealth

About Men’s SHEDs - The Men’s Shed concept started in Australia around 1999 before spreading to New Zealand, Ireland, the UK, Canada and, more recently, Europe and the USA with a total worldwide of around 2000 Sheds in 2020. Connection, conversation and creation – that’s what joining a Men’s Shed is all about. Men’s Sheds encourage people to come together to make, repair and repurpose, supporting projects in their local communities. Improving wellbeing, reducing loneliness and combatting social isolation. Sheds bring health benefits by encouraging physical and mental activity, and improved wellbeing by providing an enjoyable way to stay socially integrated in local communities, by being creative, and learning or passing on skills. 

About CJ Medical - Founded in 2000, CJ Medical is proud to be a family-run business built on the core values of transparency and honesty. As a small to medium-sized enterprise we remain committed to providing a personalised service and strive to support our local community. Our commitment to advancement drives us to develop state-of-the-art solutions that not only streamline procedures for surgeons but also result in improved outcomes, reduced complexities, and enhanced well-being for patients.

About The Charles Reynolds Foundation – Our CJ Medical Chairman created this not-for-profit Foundation in 2020 to support the local community where our headquarters are based. Since then, we have donated over £100,000 to local initiatives, as well as contributing even more to advancements in urology. This commitment is testament to our dedication to” giving back “and making a positive impact both in our community and within the healthcare sector.