FRADE, a local charity that aims to tackle poverty and reduce waste going to landfill, have announced new funding to increase and expand their successful Middlesbrough Men’s Shed Furniture Restoration programme. The Men’s Shed was officially opened by Andy McDonald, Member of Parliament for Middlesbrough.  The funding, provided by The Big Lottery’s ‘Building Connections’ fund, will expand the Men’s Shed project for the next two years.

The Men’s Shed, which runs every weekday, aims to reduce isolation in men by providing the opportunity to restore and improve donated furniture in a friendly and supportive setting.

“It gives me something to get up for in the morning,  I just love coming to FRADE,”

said Bob, who regularly visits the Men’s Shed. Bob went on:

“Sometimes you get people that maybe have little problems and when you’re all talking together you can solve those problems –you know, when we’re having a cup of tea, nice and relaxed, someone might say something, and you can help them out.” “It gives me something to get up for in the morning,  I just love coming to FRADE,”

Research shows that social isolation and loneliness can have a profound effect on mental and physical health. The project, based at FRADE’s Middlesbrough store, hopes to help men forge new friendships and tackle isolation whilst restoring donated furniture which has been saved from landfill. Furniture restored by the Men’s Shed is sold in FRADE’s stores at low prices to people experiencing material poverty.

“This is an amazing opportunity for us to increase and improve on our Men’s Shed, which is one of few groups in Middlesbrough aimed specifically at men,” said Christine Garcia, CEO of FRADE

Christine went on:

“We know from our experience that men suffering isolation and loneliness are happier attending sessions with a focus and an outcome, rather than simply for social reasons, and restoring furniture is a great way to encourage more men to come out and socialise whilst doing something that benefits their communities. It’s a win-win!”

The Men’s Shed welcomes anyone with an interest in carpentry who wants to share or enhance their skills to restore furniture.

More information on the Men’s Shed, and how to get involved, can be found here: Men's Shed