It’s My Shout and BBC Cymru Wales have come together in order to provide a platform for up-and-coming film makers. This new series of short documentaries, New Voices From Wales, shows the breadth of talent on offer in Wales, as well as offering a revealing look within different communities on a range of themes.
The Nest (Thursday, 1 April)
The Squirrel’s Nest in Bridgend is a workshop where men can go to open up about their mental health issues. It’s part of The Men’s Shed movement, which aims to provide an escape from the stresses and strains of life.
Photographer Mandy Thomas produces The Nest. She speaks to founders Alan and Don about how they first met and what drove them to start up The Squirrel’s Nest. Having visited for many years, Mandy also gives an insight into how much of a supportive community the members of the workshop have become to one another, whether it be from talking about their struggles or working on one of their many carpentry projects,
It’s part of The Men’s Shed movement, which aims to provide an escape from the stresses and strains of life.
Due to the Covid pandemic, the workshop has currently been closed to members for nearly a year, with only trustees allowed to meet there once a week. The lockdowns have proven to be a struggle for some of the members who previously relied on the company within The Squirrel’s Nest to help them through their difficulties. Without that support system, times have been particularly hard for some, digging up some painful memories.
Where to watch the show.
Link to the programme website with additional billings and a clip: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p099hlgn
Here is the iPlayer page where you can currently stream the programme: https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/p099hlgn/new-voices-from-wales-series-4-4-the-nest