The Wickham Market Shed Project
The Wickham Market Shed Project
Welcome to the Wickham Market Shed Web Site. This an exciting new project initiative which is currently in the development stage.
The project is being championed by the Wickham Market Partnership in conjunction with the UK Men’s Shed Association.
What are Men’s Sheds all about?
They are community spaces for men to connect, converse and create. The activities are often similar to those of garden sheds, but for groups of men to enjoy together. They help reduce loneliness and isolation, but most importantly, they’re fun.
What is happening currently?
Wickham Market Shed is currently in the development stage. A group of interested participants have been meeting since January 2020 on a regular basis to research potential locations for a Shed, as well as visiting three local Sheds to find out more. This has helped guide the group in deciding what they would like to aspire to.
Sadly Covid-19 curtailed these meetings at the end of March but the Partnership has not been resting on its laurels and has continued to investigate locations for a unit and is currently in discussion with a local landowner.
The Parish Council Environment & Leisure Committee, at their meeting on 19th Oct, gave their support in principle for the project. We have been hoping that the Diocese of St Edmundsbury & Ipswich would give their decision to locate the Men’s shed on the Glebe but sadly they are not in favour. So we will continue our search to find other possible locations and turn this project into reality,
Want to find out more?
Most Sheds attract mainly men, but our group is open to all. Would you like to join us?
If you’d like to find our more please contact us by emailing the Partnership at [email protected] or telephone 01728 747782 and leave a message (office is currently unattended due to Covid-19 but messages checked when possible).
What is the Shed likely to look like?
Here is a picture of a typical shed that would potentially suit our needs.
Typical Projects
There are so many projects and activities that can be undertaken by the Men’s shed members. Here are just a few ideas.
Possible Locations for the Shed
We had hoped to site the shed on the Glebe Allotment site but that option is no longer available to us so we are continuing to look at other sites around Wickham. Unfortunately, our investigations are being curtailed somewhat with the current Covid-19 restrictions. We will post updates as and when we have them.
Have you got some wood working or metal working tools that you no longer need?
We would be happy to receive them and can refurbish if necessary. This can also include workbenches, lathes, saw-benches and so on – anything goes! Should we find we don’t need them ourselves we will pass them on to ‘Tools With A Mission’ – TWAM – a charity that refurbishes tools and sends them to developing countries.
Acknowledgements
We are grateful to Keith and Paul Noble from Designfolk for designing our Wickham Men’s shed logo