YMCA Fairthorne Group is a local community charity and when our local community is in need, we are here to help! Recently the Isle of Wight Age UK were looking for a new location to launch a Men in Sheds group and YMCA Winchester House, Shanklin was the perfect fit.

The Men in Sheds movement was started to tackle isolation in men over 60. Meeting in local ‘sheds’ the men undertake DIY activities whilst sharing and learning new skills. Utilising a disused workshop at Winchester House, the men have already begun to take on projects such as building fences and creating allotments.

YMCA Isle of Wight Manager, Simon Davies said: “We are delighted to welcome the Men in Sheds Project to YMCA Winchester House. The project is a fantastic way of helping older men be positively involved in the local community.”

The group welcomes new members every Monday, 2pm-4pm. If you are interested in joining, please contact Age UK on 01983 525282. We’re looking forward to seeing what projects the men undertake in the future!