Camberley and District Men’s Shed Supports Mental Well-being

“I’d just had enough.” Neil Baker experienced a mental health crisis as he neared his 60th birthday. After retiring from a demanding career in financial technology, he found himself with considerable free time. However, Mr Baker soon realized he was not alone; what began as informal discussions among friends in a Surrey back garden has since developed into the Camberley and District Men’s Shed, an organization where collaborative work fosters connections and aids emotional recovery. The charity, which currently has 50 members, has been actively constructing its new premises at a former sports pavilion situated on London Road’s recreation ground. Surrey Heath MP Alasdair Pinkerton is scheduled to officially open the pavilion at 12:00 GMT on Friday. This event will provide an opportunity for the group to welcome prospective new members, offer tours of the Shed, and showcase examples of their craftsmanship. Among its recent undertakings are the renovation of benches for the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, the creation of shelters for animal charities, the construction of mud kitchens for children supported by Barnardo’s, and the production of planters for care homes. Nevertheless, participation is not limited to those skilled with tools. Mr Baker stated, “It’s about men getting out and doing something, rather than retiring or being on their own.” He elaborated, “It’s about coming down, getting active in events, projects, bringing their own projects down or even just coming down to watch and have a cup of coffee and chat.” He further explained, “We’ve got guys at the shed who are [skilled]- we’ve got one particular guy who’s a carpenter who has been really good at teaching skills, but we’ve got people who have never done anything at all.” He added, “It’s people from all sorts of backgrounds. It’s all sorts of people.” Mr Baker also noted that the group is not exclusively for men, having recently welcomed its first female member to the Shed. Follow BBC Surrey on Facebook and on X. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@bbc.co.uk or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250.Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.