Older persons’ funding programme helps ‘Shedders’ rebuild after fire
Members of the Clevedon Men’s Shed are rebuilding after vandals set fire to their wooden decking, a workstation and timber store in May this year.
The 'community workshop group applied for £5,000 in funding from the North Somerset Older People’s Community Grant to provide a gate, fencing, security lighting and CCTV cameras to help make the site secure.
The North Somerset Older People’s Community Grant is a partnership between Bristol-based charities Quartet Community Foundation and the St Monica Trust, and is open to groups in North Somerset that offer activities and projects supporting older people.
Confidence to rebuild
David Young, Secretary and a Trustee of Clevedon Men's Shed, said: “The site was previously accessible to the public and if we had just rebuilt the decking without first making the site secure, there was always the chance that it would be burnt down again.
“The funding from the North Somerset Older People’s Community Grant was pivotal to the future of the club, as it gave us the confidence to rebuild and we’re exceptionally grateful to the St Monica Trust and Quartet Community Foundation.”
An immense benefit
Clevedon Men’s Shed is a group for mostly older men to meet, socialise and to work on community outreach projects. The group currently has 43 members and meets twice a week.
David said: “The group was originally set up with the purpose of addressing loneliness, social exclusion and social isolation among older men in the local area. Now that it has matured over the last 5 years it has become a registered charity.
“We have members who are bereaved, are full-time carers for their partner, have retired and miss male company, or are just looking for enjoyable and useful things to do in their retirement.
"The group is an immense benefit in terms of well-being to everyone involved.”
Charitable Giving
In 2021, the St Monica Trust’s Charitable Giving awarded more than £800,000 to individuals, families and organisations across the region, helping to tackle issues that affect the lives of older people.
The St Monica Trust’s Charitable Giving Lead, Catherine Robinson said: “The environment the Shedders have created is such a special place for the group’s members and they generously help so many others in the community.
“We are very proud to join the community of Clevedon in supporting their rebuild through the grant scheme which will allow older people to continue to enjoy this highly regarded and much loved facility.”
Quartet Foundation
Quartet Community Foundation awarded some £5 million to charitable groups across the West of England region, managing funds on behalf of individuals, companies, charitable trusts and statutory agencies.
Suzanne Rolt, CEO of Quartet Community Foundation said: “The members of Clevedon Men’s Shed have picked themselves up after a devastating event and are looking to the future with a positive spirit.
“This makes them an inspiration to others and Quartet Community Foundation is proud to be a partner in this important community grant programme in North Somerset.”
Click here for more details about the North Somerset Older People’s Community Grant Programme or email julie.newman@quartetcf.co.uk. Information on the St Monica Trust’s Individual Giving Fund can be found here.
