Men's Shed Fleetwood awarded £8k grant for big base revamp

Men’s Shed, which offers support to men suffering from loneliness and depression, applied to Fleetwood Town Council for £7,336 earlier this year, to enable members to renovate the building on Manor Road, including dilapidated kitchen facilities there.

After several deferments, the council agreed at its latest session to grant the funds to the charity - and upgrade the sum to £8,000.

Councillors heard that one of the reasons to improve the kitchen was to allow members to serve breakfasts to ex-service veterans and others in need of company and support.

The charity, which is seen as a vital safe haven for those struggling with mental health worries, already serves the breakfasts but is having to provide the sessions at other venues because its own facilities are not adequate.

The kitchen proposals are just one part of Men's Shed's overall plans, however - the charity is working towards an £80,000 scheme to improve the whole premises and is applying to other funding bodies to deliver it, having raised some funds itself.

Coun Mary Stirzaker, chairman of Fleetwood Town Council, said after the meeting: "Mental health is a major issue in Fleetwood and if anything, more help is needed.

"Men's Shed does an excellent job in helping to combat social isolation, which is a potential killer.

"We agreed unanimously to support this charity, which is doing some really good work in the town.

"I have seen the current kitchen facilities the charity has and they are definitely not fit for purpose."

The charity, whose base its the former Beehive Community Centre on Manor Road, had originally been looking to buy second hand catering equipment for the purpose.

But council members agreed that, with the recent coronavirus pandemic, the charity could now be better able to buy new equipment at reduced rates, and the grant was increased to £8,000,

In his original application for grant support at the beginning of this year, the charity's founder Tony O’Neill said: “We are currently delivering six sessions across a number of venues, including a veterans’ breakfast which currently runs out of a church hall.

“We would like to increase activity by supporting people suffering from social isolation and food insecurity by hosting additional activities and food-related projects from The Beehive.”

Men’s Shed was forced to close in March to prevent the spread of coronavirus, but opened its doors again at the end of July.

The grant will be presented to the charity at a later date.

Dave Smith, from Men's Shed, said afterwards: "The grant will be used towards the overall building project, not just the kitchen, and we have some great plans.

"We're very grateful to Fleetwood Town Council for this support."

Men's Shed is also looking for ideas for additional use of the premises and Dave said people could put their ideas through the Beehive letter box.

During the council meeting last week, staged via social media platform Zoom, councillors also deferred proposals to tackle a worsening pothole problem at the Fleetwood Marsh nature park until the next meeting on Tuesday October 28.

Meanwhile, the council is ready to accept applicants for a vacancy which has occurred following the recent resignation of one of its councillors.

Coun Rosemary Cunningham was one of the two representatives of the council’s Rossall ward before she stood down for personal reasons last month.

The town council is hoping to appoint a successor to the role at the public meeting on Tuesday October 27 and will consider the method of co-option rather than holding an election.

Coun Mary Stirzaker, chairman of Fleetwood Town Council, said: “If anyone is interested in giving up a couple of hours a week and trying to do something to help their town, we would love to hear from them.”

Applicants, who must reside in the town, should phone the council on (01253) 872444 to make arrangements to pick up an application form.