WESTBURY Shed which offers people a space to socialise while working on community and individual projects is planning to reopen with a new workshop in May, following pandemic closures.
Founded in 2015 by local resident Dan Gmaj and a small group of like minded, local people, it built on the Men’s Shed movement ethos developed in Australia.
With the support of Westbury Town Council, they initially functioned from the Chestnut Grove allotment, which continues as a Shed resource. Small workshop premises were then secured at the LA Works in Alfred Street. Dan’s knowledge and skills helped to form the basis of Shed, and when he moved on to other community projects in February 2018 he left a solid foundation upon which original and new members continued to progress and develop the non-gender specific Shed.
Membership numbers increased and larger premises were secured at the same site, where community and individual projects were undertaken. Continued support from Wiltshire and Westbury councils and other local organisations, including Imperial Charity, has enabled Westbury Shed to develop and grow, resulting in a move to workshop premises at Westbury Community Project, with charitable status being awarded in 2019.
The Welfare of the Elderly committee at Grassacres Hall agreed that a Portacabin could be sited on their premises to allow Shed members to be involved in small projects and crafts away from the larger machines and equipment in the main workshop. In return, Shed members agreed to maintain the hall’s gardens and paths, a good example of the community working together to provide a range of local resources.
Unfortunately, before the move to the WCP premises was completed, Covid struck.
Trustee, Linda Hallowell, said, “Little did we know that 12 months later our lives would continue to be ruled by Covid. Brief relaxation of government rules allowed a small number of members access to the workshop and allotment; contact with other members has been maintained through social media and email. For those members who do not have access to these forms of communication, phone and word of mouth has been invaluable in maintaining contact, reinforcing the importance of community groups in supporting the emotional well-being of us all.
“Shed members, like so many others, have reported a wide range of experiences and emotions throughout the pandemic, anxiety being one of the key emotions expressed. Initially getting through the first months of lockdown was managed with stoic acceptance, however with hopes being dashed of an ‘early release’ from our imposed isolation worry and anxiety increased for some. Many expressed concern that they may transmit the virus to others and wondered how things would ever return to their way of life previously taken for granted.
“The vaccination programme has seen most members reporting a sense of optimism, that there is light at the end of the tunnel, others however report a sense of nervousness about the future and a sense of responsibility in keeping others safe, demonstrating that community initiatives such as ours will continue to be needed more than ever in the future. To this end Westbury Shed committee is planning with optimism and enthusiasm; Westbury Community Project will open its doors on 12th April allowing, within restrictions, a core group of members to ensure a fit for purpose workshop is available to enable group session to begin in May.”
Whilst 2020 plans were put on hold, members are committed to reviewing and reinstating these where possible. The new workshop allows Shed to continue its development, potentially offering access to a range of users including the younger generation; helping them to develop practical and social skills, individuals who may find themselves needing to learn new skills in order to access employment, or those who benefit from interaction with others for emotional support in a non-challenging environment.
Linda said, “It is well documented in numerous research findings that coming together in a casual, informal manner with a shared purpose enables positive communication, reducing the demands on services such as GPs and other health services.”
Proposed projects for the future include helping young people to build soap boxes for the deferred Soap Box Derby and continuing to be actively involved in community projects which have been undertaken in the past. These have included supporting Christmas celebrations, repair of cemetery benches, town fingerposts, notice boards, running a Repair Café and supplying the Westbury Food Project with fresh produce from the allotment.
Linda concluded, “From small beginnings Westbury Shed will continue to grow and support our local community in whatever way we are able to contribute. To support and empower Westbury and surrounding villages’ residents, and to always remember that a cup of tea and a listening ear is sometimes all that is wanted or needed.”
