Aim: Broadstairs Town Shed needs to install an accessible lift to make this exciting, worthwhile and successful project open to even more members
We're an independent, volunteer run community project from Broadstairs Town Team Ltd in sunny Thanet, on the Kent Coast. We started the Broadstairs Town Shed in May 2014, thanks to a huge amount of community support which helped us win the People's Millions.
The Town Shed is a place for older people, predominately older men, (we welcome lady members too!) to get together, and participate in meaningful and rewarding DIY/woodwork based activities. We also offer tablet computer classes and have links to other local community groups.
Joining the Shed can help tackle loneliness and isolation, and allows members to share and learn new skills and increases community involvement & engagement. We also have an active Health and well-being programme, and are linked to a local pharmacy and Doctor's practice for support and referrals.
As the months have gone by, this exciting, life enriching project has gone from strength to strength as it grows and more and more people are becoming involved. We now have over 90 members, and a queue to join, and the Little Shed is feeling a bit, well, little!
Thanks to the generosity of a local sculptor we now have a new home, which our shedders have now competely refurbished and equipped as a wonderworkshop.
Our new space will also allow us to offer even more people our shed therapy, offer more computer classes, and also provide a space for other community groups to meet. All the labour and a large amount of the materials have been donated, but there is one thing we SO need to address and this is where we need your help
A lot of our 'Shedders' have mobility issues and whilst the Big Shed has workshop space on the ground floor accessible to all, our communal break out space where most of the chatting and laughter (not to mention consumption of tea and biscuits) goes on is on the first floor.
So, we need to install a platform lift, to allow wheelchair users to fully access all we have to offer, but also to help many of our users that just find it difficult to 'do' stairs any more.
We're doing our bit and are already working hard making and selling wooden products, and doing community projects to raise funds but need that extra help that you can bring by becoming part of our Shed family.
Rest assured your pledge and involvement would make such a difference, we would be able to offer access to those otherwise left out of joining in so many other community acivites and being part of such a worthwhile community group.
Thank you for reading about our amazing project, and if you would like to know more, please check out our website and Facebook page.
We'll happily show you 'round if you are local, or fancy a trip to the seaside.
www.broadstairstownshed.org.uk or https://www.facebook.com/broadstairstownshed/
Sheds rule, and ours has become a lifeline for so many people. Help us make it completely accessible so that we can help the projct flourish, and be able to accomodate more older people with mobility issues.