Broadstairs Town Shed Hosts Drink IQ Better Drinking, Better Living Session
by Arshad Siddat
This month I had the pleasure of travelling down to Broadstairs which is a coastal town located in Kent, specifically on the Isle of Thanet. Broadstairs is situated on the eastern coast of England and is approximately 80 Miles east of London. Thanet district lies between the towns of Margate and Ramsgate. The town has a rich history and was a popular holiday destination for Charles Dickens which adds to the town’s cultural significance. Broadstairs is known for its beautiful sandy beaches, including Viking Bay which proves to be a great hit for families and tourists.
The Shed is currently situated in an industrial estate which has two floors. The upper floor has a generous meeting room, a separate floor to hold on stock and ample workshop space with a decent carpark. The Shed’s exciting news is that they are currently receiving funding to refurbish the whole roof to allow in more light and to create a warmer space.
We were greeted by Helen and Richard who gave us a tour of the Shed who aim to promote the health and wellbeing of older people, through participation in woodworking and carpentry activities for the community. The Shed opened its doors in 2014 by Laura Sandys and has now expanded into a larger state-of the-art Workshop, to accommodate the 150 registered members, from all walks of life, all levels of ability who come together to make a community group – their Shed ‘family’.
The Better Drinking, Better Living workshops are for anyone who wants to mindfully moderate their own drinking or feel more confident supporting others to do so. They include practical information — such as understanding alcohol units and strengths — alongside simple tips for having open, supportive conversations if the topic comes up. The sessions have been shaped with input from members of the UKMSA Health and Wellbeing Group and are delivered both online and in person.
Beth Rochford, DRINKiQ Ambassador, and Cathal Wogan, Blurred, who both developed the Better Drinking, Better Living programme were joined by me and Jon Whitfield, one of our UKMSA volunteer Ambassadors and founder of the Octopus Foundation and Shed Project as we popped along to Broadstairs Town Shed to spend a couple of hours to deliver a tandem workshop about alcohol moderation.
Jon shared his personal experiences with excessive drinking, highlighting towards the audience that without proper regulation and self-awareness, the consequences can be catastrophic. He explained that alcohol misuse can lead to serious health risks, including liver disease, heart disease, and certain types of cancer. He also spoke openly about the impact alcohol had on his life and the reasons he decided to give it up. Jon’s respect and vulnerability encouraged attendees to openly share about their own experiences with alcohol.
I would like to congratulate Jon on reaching six years of being teetotal a significant and commendable achievement.
His honesty encouraged the audience to ask thoughtful, competent questions, and it quickly became clear that many attendees were reflecting on their own relationships with alcohol.
“I didn’t realise that I was drinking more than the required amount because when your at home you just pour to what you think is acceptable, but I will definitely be more aware of my pouring and will pass this on when around family and friends..” Attendee Feedback
“ Workshop was great it has really opend my eyes.” Attendee Feedback
Broadstairs received the UK Men’s Shed Health and Wellbeing award for 2025. For more info about the winners of the awards, see here UK Men’s Sheds Awards 2025 – UKMSA Men’s Sheds Association. Julie Kemp who is the wellbeing officer and Pete Stockwell who is one of the original Shedders work tirelessly with their team to produce a timetable of health and wellbeing focusing on everyday, which means a jam packed programme of events for the whole month. I spoke to a gentleman who travels 6 miles to attend the shed 3 times-a-week and he said that this has benefitted him immesively. Not only does the Shed give him the social connection he was missing but also a sense of purpose in engaging in creative projects.
I would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to everyone at Broadstairs Shed for the warm welcome you gave us during our visit. The wonderful display of cakes was truly appreciated, but even more inspiring was seeing the incredible work you do every day.
Your commitment to supporting health and wellbeing within the community is amazing. The safe, friendly, and purposeful environment you create makes a real difference to the people who attend.
Thank you once again for your hospitality and for the positive impact you continue to make for your members and the wider community.