Caunton Engineering is proud to be fabricating the steelwork for a new Men’s Shed being built in Brinsley, just a short distance from our headquarters.

This project brings together local heritage, community wellbeing and engineering expertise to create a facility that will benefit residents across the area for years to come. As a Nottinghamshire-based business, it is particularly rewarding to support a project so close to home and help deliver a space that will have a lasting impact on the local community.

The new Shed is being developed by Eastwood Shed, a local charity dedicated to reducing social isolation and improving wellbeing through practical crafts, skills sharing and community engagement. The facility will offer a welcoming environment where people can learn new skills, work on personal projects and enjoy the companionship that comes from working alongside others.

Inspired by the international Men’s Shed movement, the facility will be open to all adults aged 18 and over. Members will have access to a fully equipped woodworking workshop, dedicated areas for crafts and creative activities, space for electronics and computing projects, and comfortable social areas where people can meet, chat and exchange ideas.

Caunton Engineering is providing the steelwork that will form the backbone of the new facility, helping to create a robust and versatile building capable of supporting a wide range of activities. Once complete, the Shed will become a valuable community asset, providing opportunities for learning, creativity and social connection. The project will also support Eastwood Shed’s partnership with Tools With A Mission (TWAM), with space dedicated to collecting and refurbishing donated tools, sewing machines and computers that can be given a second life supporting communities overseas.

For many people, particularly those who have retired or live alone, opportunities for regular social interaction can become limited. The new Shed aims to address this by creating a welcoming place where members can work together on community projects, learn from one another, share skills, enjoy a cup of tea and, most importantly, build lasting friendships.

Paul Lake, Chair of Eastwood Shed, said: "We are being contacted by so many people who want to get out and meet others. So many people, men especially, finish their working life and miss the companionship and banter of the workplace. Eastwood Shed will be a place where they can come, work together on community projects, make something for themselves, refurbish a tool that someone no longer needs to give it a new life enabling someone to make a livelihood again through TWAM, or simply sit and have a chat over a cup of tea."

The project has been made possible through the generosity and collaboration of several organisations, all of whom have contributed materials, services and expertise free of charge. Support has been provided by Bowring for transport, Metsec for support rails, Hadley’s for the shed structure, Eagle Platforms for plant equipment, Worksop Galvanizing for steel paint protection, and STREtek for Falcon timber boarding.

Caunton Engineering has also donated significant expertise and resources to the project, including the steel grillage, site engineering, design and coordination of the frame and ground screw positions, fabrication, and overall project management. This collective effort highlights the power of local businesses working together to support a project that will deliver lasting benefits to the community.

We are delighted to be involved in bringing this project to life and look forward to seeing the new Men’s Shed become a thriving hub for the local community. It is a fantastic example of how collaboration between local charities and businesses can create something truly meaningful, leaving a positive legacy for generations to come.