The Wendover Shed will be similar to a garden shed – a place to pursue practical interests at leisure, to practice skills and enjoy making and mending. The difference is that garden sheds and their activities are often solitary in nature while the Wendover Shed will be the opposite. It will be about social connections and friendship building, sharing skills and knowledge, and of course a lot of laughter.
For a long time research has shown the negative impact of loneliness and isolation on a person’s health and wellbeing. Recently it is better understood that loneliness and isolation can be as hazardous to our health as obesity and excessive smoking. Surveys from mental health charities are finding that millions of people report feeling lonely on a daily basis.
The Wendover Shed will be established along the lines of the UK Men’s Shed Association. It will be about meeting like-minded people and having someone to share your worries with. It will be about having fun, sharing skills and knowledge with like-minded people and gaining a renewed sense of purpose and belonging. As a by-product of all of that, sheds like ours reduce isolation and feelings of loneliness, they allow people to deal with mental health challenges more easily and remain independent, they rebuild communities and in many cases, they save lives.
