KILLYLEAGH and District Men’s Shed (KaDMS) hosted an open night as they celebrated being awarded £19,329 in National Lottery funding to support its work with men’s mental health.
The group, based in Cross Street in the village, will use the money to run activities and to provide support to the men from the district.
KaDMS has been running since March this year and now has 31 members. It was founded following several men’s breakfasts held by the three main churches in Killyleagh to gauge support for such a group.
The group now runs four sessions a week at which men are involved in many activities such as wood turning, furniture restoration, manufacture of walking sticks, candle holders and items for a Christmas sale.
Items such as display cabinets, bug hotels and shelving units have been constructed for local community groups, while the men have had two outings with visits to the Aviation Museum and Crumlin Road jail in Belfast.
The new funding from The National Lottery Community Fund, which distributes money raised by Lottery players for good causes and is the largest community funder in the UK, will see the purchase of new woodworking machinery and a Polytunnel as well as funding outings and events in the shed for the members.
Mark Turley, Chairperson of the KaDMS, said: “We’re delighted that The National Lottery Community Fund has recognised our work in this way. Now, thanks to National Lottery players we will be able to provide a safe space for men to come together and work with each other to the mutual benefit of all in preventing social isolation and allowing men to make new friends.
“This is important because there are several men in the district in need of this type of project. We would also like to thank all those in the local community who have given us support by means of equipment and materials and the County Down Rural Community Network have given us amazing help in setting up the Shed. ”
David Sinclair, a member and trustee, said: “This has proven invaluable to me and other men in the district. It has been fantastic to get involved with the many projects. From painting the periodic table for local primary schools to making a fun water feature for the local pre-school playgroup it has given me a great deal of satisfaction. I have also made many new friends.”
National Lottery players raise over £30 million a week for good causes across the UK.
To find out more visit www.TNLCommunityFund.org.uk
