Men's Shed finds permanent home after two-year hunt

A community group offering people the chance to learn new skills and build connections is opening a new permanent home after a lengthy search.

Nigel Thorne, who set up Newbury Men's Shed, said finding the new base had taken two-and-a-half years.

The new site, next to Shaw Social Club, opens on 1 August.

The Men's Shed movement began in Australia in the 1990s and has since spread worldwide, with hundreds of groups established across the UK.

Thorne said the group, originally set up to get older men "out of the house and busy", has attracted far wider interest than expected.

"I've been quite surprised at the age group that I'm attracting. There are a lot of people younger than 50 that are interested in learning different things," he said.

Activities include woodworking, electronics, 3D printing and laser cutting, alongside an allotment the group has also taken on.

Thorne said the sheds offered more than just new skills, describing conversations between members about serious health issues.

"There's people that have come, maybe they've had something wrong, maybe cancer or something like that, and they've been able to discuss it with someone else that's got exactly the same thing," he said.

He added that finding the right community had been the easy part, unlike the search for premises: "It was difficult finding the property, but actually finding the people, the community is so strong.

"It's just so obvious that things like this are needed."

The group currently has 48 members signed up, with more than 560 people following its progress on social media.