Latest News

December 21st

Generous Donation

Our shed has been awarded £1,000 by The Norfolk Community Foundation from The Paul Bassham Community First Revenue Fund. This generous donation will ensure we can complete the drainage works associated with the toilet. Our Chairman has acknowledged the donation – see below.

FAO GRAHAM TUTTLE

Wow! You should see the smile on my face on opening the mail and finding the very generous cheque enclosed!
It could not have arrived at a better time, as we are engaged in a project to provide a toilet and refreshment facilities and – because our Shed is an old village blacksmiths Forge – it is not connected to the mains – so we are going to have to construct a soak away and a drainage trench.
I was just scratching my head wondering what to do about funding the cost of this very necessary work, that once complete, will enable us to expand our opening times and to be a more welcoming venue for a wider group of older men who tend to need toilet facilities.
We are presently working with South Norfolk Council ‘Waste Management Team’ towards becoming a Recycling Cafe, whereby we will offer our skills to the local community to repair items that are uneconomical to repair and would probably end up in landfill. Having a refreshment area and washing facilities to offer visitors will be a great benefit.
Please pass on my heartfelt thanks to the Paul Bassham Community Fund and assure them that this gift is really, really appreciated.

With kind regards,
Henry Gowman
Chair of Poringland and District Men’s Shed

 

December 20th

Today was the last day the shed was open before the

Xmas holiday. A convivial morning of drinking tea, coffee and enjoying some festive food – mince pies and sausage rolls warmed on the workshop stove. But as the adjacent photos show some work was carried out by the shedders.

This year has seen the shedders repairing various items for the local community and

today the latest repair, a bird table was returned to its owner. In 2017 we shall become one of South Norfolk Council’s Repair Hubs.

🎄XMAS OPENING🎄

The shed will be open for tea and mince pies on Tuesday 20th December. CLOSED on Saturday 24th Xmas eve and will re-open on Tuesday 27th .

November 26th

The BIG BREAKFAST IS BACK!

We are eating our way through another Big Breakfast on Saturday December 3rd. This time the venue will be at the Aldis Farm Shop. They have recently taken over the cafe from the previous occupant. Contact Henry Gowman on  07906 701891 to book your place.

 

November 9th

Do you have surplus tools that are no longer used? TWAM is an organisation that is looking to recycle tools. The local TWAM contact is Keith Lian – 01508 470620

November 8th

Another useful woodworking link has been sent in Allcrafts have lots of ideas. Why not give some a try?

October 27th

Our Chairman Henry Gowman recently returned from a woodworking course and these pictures show  what can be achieved. Well Done Henry!

October 22nd

One of our PDMenshedders has sent in a link to a website 1001 Pallet .com so if you are stuck for ideas on what to make next take a look.

South Norfolk Repair Hub – making a bird box!

On Monday 10th October there was more noise in the Breckland Hall than from a rock band in full swing; Queenshill pupils were bird box making under the watchful eyes and careful instruction of the guys from Poringland and District Men’s Shed’
Hammers flashing in the afternoon sun, nails being “bludgeoned” into unremitting wood, faces screwed up in concentration and determination and, as far as I’m aware, not a swollen finger or drop of blood in sight.

Your Parent Governor, Sharon Blundell, together with a number of teachers, were there to see “fair play” and ensure we were all on our best behaviour. They needn’t have worried, pupils and instructors got on famously, with exemplary behaviour on both sides and a super batch of ‘crafted’ bird boxes to show for our efforts.

It was a real pleasure to have such an enthusiastic and able group of young people and our hope is that we have ‘fired’ an interest in making things from wood and that lots of young voices will be imploring Mums, Dads and Teachers to get the saws and hammers out and have a go at another project!

The Guild of St. Stephen & St. George – Gildencraft Stone Masonry C.I.C

Today , Wednesday 5th October 10 of us had a slap up breakfast at the Britannia Cafe before going to visit the newly formed Stonemasons Guild in St Clements Church on Colegate. This was a fascinating visit and this project deserves every support.

 

 

This photo was sent in by one of our PDMenshedders. If anyone else has some humourous pictures send them in and we’ll post them up.

 

 

 

Thursday 20th October

We shall be attending this CharityPals event, promoting the shed and it’s benefits.

 

 

 

Monday 10th October

A small team of PDMenShedders will be attending South Norfolk Council’s Community Repair Hub to help repair small items for the general public. In the future it is hoped we might become  a repair hub for our own local community .

 

Wednesday 5th October
We have an invitation to visit The Stonemasons Guild, Colegate, Norwich. So we plan to meet at The Britannia Cafe, Britannia Road, Norwich at 09:00 for a BIG BREAKFAST and then go to the Guild to arrive at 10:30. The visit will last approximately 1.5-2 hrs.
Numbers for this visit have to be restricted so please email sdowall@waitrose.com if you wish to attend. First come first served basis

Extract from September Newsletter.

Now we are established at the Forge we have a clear idea of what the costs of maintaining the Shed are. It’s c£1000pa to cover insurance and utilities etc. Whilst we have, until now, enjoyed generous grants from various sponsors these cannot be guaranteed in the future. We have examined the current £1 “tea money” charge and with current levels of usage this wouldn’t cover our annual costs jeopardising our financial viability. Therefore we are asking that all members pay £2 per visit from October 1st. This will still include unlimited tea,coffee and biscuits. Once the annual costs have been covered any surplus monies will be used to subsidise social events. We hope you will understand the need to do this and feel it still represents value for money

September 3rd

Saturday 3rd September sees the return of the BIG BREAKFAST. This time we are off to enjoy the  breakfast offering at Green Pastures Farm Shop, Mill Road, Bergh Apton (just off the A146). We are meeting at 9:00 am and the Shed will open, as usual, at 10:00 am.

August 16th

 

Alan Young, Chairman of Gosport Men’s Shed was in Norfolk and decided to pay us a visit. Welcome Alan!

 

 

August 2016

 

The Shed gets rockin’

A local resident has been making a rocking horse. Unfortunately he cannot complete the project so our shedders have stepped in and when finished intend to donate the horse to the East Anglian Children’s Hospice

 

 

 

 

 

Sunday 17th July:    South Norfolk Show

We shall be attending this event . This is a great opportunity to promote what we do and possibly attract some more members. We shall be providing bird box “kits” for members of the public to try their hand at bird box building. If you would like to lend a hand on the day then Contact Us or just turn up with friends and family and enjoy the day.

http://www.south-norfolk.gov.uk/onshow

Shoulder to shoulder: Don’t forget the UK Mensshed Newsletter can be viewed via our website. Or you can sign up for your own copy of course!

                        

Tuesday 14th June 

Men’s Health Event

Poringland Library 

2-5 pm

We shall be supporting this wellbeing event.

 

Saturday 4th June

We will be holding a BIG BREAKFAST at The Forge: We have some food left from our

Open Day so come and join us for breakfast at 9:30.

Saturday 28th May

Tuesday 17th May

May’s Big Breakfast will take place at Mandy’s Diner, Brooke Industrial Park, Norwich Road, Brooke. Meet at 09:30. Pay for what you eat. This is our fourth Big Breakfast and is a chance to informally chat about plans for the shed or anything else that needs discussing! Everyone welcome. (Please note this was originally planned for Saturday 14th but has been postponed to Tuesday 17th).

22nd April

We have been awarded £400 from Queen’s 90th Birthday fund. This will be used to purchase a hot water boiler and marquee. We shall celebrate the occasion with an Open Day and Tea Party starting 2pm Saturday 28th May.

The BIG BREAKFAST is back.

This Months BIG BREAKFAST will take place @ The Poringland Community Café,Poringland on Tuesday 12th April @ 09:30.

Go to k-teas.co.uk for more information on this new cafe

Diners pay for whatever they eat.

Following on from the last two very successful breakfast get togethers, we are having breakfast, followed by a community Litter Pick in the area surrounding the Poringland community centre.

Each Spring SNDC encourages the local community to get out & tidy up their litter black spots. PDMS supported the initiative last year, and will do so again on Tuesday 12th April. Sacks & litter grabbers will be provided. Wear suitable clothing.

All Mensheders are welcome to participate in either the breakfast, the litter pick, or both.

If you intend to come, please email sdowall@waitrose.com stating whether you intend to just have breakfast, just litter pick, or both. Replies by close of play Saturday 9th April please so we can ensure numbers can be accommodated.

Hope to see you there!

 

24th March

New release on SNDC website

 

22nd March

Local cycling group enjoys tea & cake at The Shed.

One of the cyclists sustained minor injuries when passing by. Two of our shedders administered First Aid and took him home. The rest of the peleton enjoyed shed hospitality!

Easter:

The shed will be CLOSED on Easter Saturday and will re-open on Tuesday 29th @ 10:00

11th March

Norfolk Homes have very generously donated a quantity of building materials. This donation along with a grant from Saffron Community Foundation ensures we can build our Eco-toilet. More information can be found on our sponsors page.

12th March

We are holding a Men’s Breakfast in The Cafe at Brooke (adjacent to Spurgeons) on Saturday 12th March at 09:30am. This is an opportunity for us to informally take stock and talk over our plans for the future. If you would like to come along then ‘contact us‘ to book. You pay for what you eat.

7th March.

We have been awarded £1,000 grant by Saffron Community Foundation to provide materials for an Eco-toilet. We are most grateful to Saffron and well done to shedders Les & Tim who presented our case successfully.

9th March

Mike Jenn Founder & Chairman of UK Men’s Shed Association is awarded “Point of Light”

New Director of Services for UK Menshed Association 

Februay 2016

Some of our shedders had their First Aid training this month. This will ensure we have a safe working environment. Many thanks to one of our sponsors, Adnams Southwold for providing funding.

August 2015

Julie Ringer’s work recognised.

Julie has been a great support, helping to get our Shed established so,it was great to see her efforts recognised.