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Top awards for Men's Sheds volunteers

Simon Rouse Simon is bald and is wearing a black suit jacket, white shirt and pink and white floral tie. He has a white moustache and beard, and is holding a large wooden plaque that says "the strength of the shed is each individual member. The strength of each member is the shed." He is also holding a small brown trophy.Simon Rouse
Simon Rouse accepted the award for shed of the year in the House of Commons

Helping their communities and fundraising for projects has led to two awards for Men's Shed groups in Shropshire.

Mark Mantle, who said he had barely left home for 20 years before joining a group in Ludlow, was named Volunteer of the Year while Shrewsbury Men's Shed took home Shed of the Year.

The awards, held at the House of Commons on Tuesday, aimed to celebrate the shed movement and recognise the work that members do.

Men's Sheds are workshops where men can socialise and connect with others. Members build, repurpose or create thing and support community projects

The shed groups meet an "unmet need", said Simon Rouse, from Shrewsbury Men's Shed.

"There's a crisis, and while men won't seemingly go to preventative health initiatives, or won't go to lots of charities, they seem more than willing to go to a men's shed."

Simon Rouse A corrugated metal building with a large brown sign on it. The sign reads "Shrewsbury Men's Shed". There is blue sky in the backgroundSimon Rouse
Shrewsbury Men's Shed was once a stable block

Shrewsbury's shed was formerly a stable block at the West Midlands Showground.

The members' first major project was building the space - which is now home to workshops, a greenhouse, commercial kitchen and patio area.

"We’ve been helping the food hub, the cycle hub, Shropshire inclusive dance, Clunbury county primary, Greenfields county primary," said Mr Rouse although their next project will be to design and make next year's UK Shed Awards trophies.

The award will help with grant applications.

"I hope people who look at grant applications will think that their money is going to be well spent, and is going to help an awful lot of people," Mr Rouse said.

Simon Rouse Six men are sitting around a table, talking to each other. They are eating from bowls and plates full of food. There are plants and chairs in the background, as well as a green field out of the window.Simon Rouse
Men's Shed members socialise and connect with others, as well as helping community initiatives

Ludlow Men's Shed is part of Hands Together Ludlow, a non-profit group supporting the community.

Mark Mantle was described by other members as the "linchpin" of the group.

"I make bits and pieces to sell, which brings the money in for our side of the rent on the building... and just kind of helping people when they come in for various jobs and projects," he said.

"I had a trophy...and a framed certificate as well."

"It hasn't really sunk in yet."

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