Newport men’s Shed is part of the national Men’s Shed movement formed to provide opportunities to enjoy hobbies, learn new skills, enhance the environment and address the issues of the inclusion of people with disabilities and the social isolation of men in later life.

Despite the name, the Newport group operate out of the sheltered housing facility at New Barn close Madeley where the they have a well-equipped woodworking shop. The group has also resurrected the dilapidated walled garden at New Barn for the benefit of the residents and have been involved in an extensive remodelling to make the pathways wheelchair friendly and to provide raised beds.

On 23rd May we received an urgent request for a grant of £200 to buy materials needed to complete that work in time for a planned open day in July.The request happened to arrive on the day of our monthly meeting and members had no hesitation in approving the requested grant. A few days later, Lions Graham Powell, Colin Thompson and Charlie Miller went along to New Barn to have a tour of the shed and the walled garden and to present a cheque to Willie Gormley of men’s Sheds.