UK Men’s Shed of the Year 2018 awarded
This year’s UK Men’s Shed of the Year Award was presented at Shedfest 2018 in Worcester, it went to Princess Alice Hospice Man Shed, in Surrey – created for people living with life limiting illness, their carers and bereaved relatives. The aim is to give these Shedders confidence, companionship and a positive outlook during a particularly difficult period in their life.
In making the award the Chairman, UKMSA – Nathan Sarea said “We are delighted to be able to give this award to Princess Alice Hospice Man’s Shed. They have done amazing work in bringing together the patients, staff and community to create this unique Shed. Loneliness is a serious issue which affects people of all ages and backgrounds and is often a particular problem at difficult times in our lives. This Shed has shown how we can help people stay positive and feel valued throughout such times.”
The Princess Alice Hospice Man Shed aims to reach out to bereaved men, men who are full time carers and who need someone to talk to, and to men coming to terms with their own terminal illness.
Helen Sergeant Community Engagement Officer from the Princess Alice Hospice said, “We are so proud to have won Shed of the Year 2018 – we have seen the therapeutic benefits of the Man Shed – for session leaders and shedders – are enormous and we are extremely proud of it. It truly changes lives, it gives people happiness, it gives them confidence and comfort and helps them move on with their lives. “Our members have been involved in all sorts of Shed activities from making memory boxes, bird houses and Christmas decoration to designing and building products to help our patients here at the hospice.”
One Shedder said “I have cancer, I’ve recently started to visit the Shed and I’ve made some smashing friends. When you walk in it feels like the sun has come out and the heaviness has lifted from your shoulders. Talking to people who know what you’re going through really helps.”