Wexford Working Men’s shed

Wexford’s Working Men’s shed was established in 2013 to address health issues and the vacuum of opportunity in the local area. “The shed was about men’s health. We discovered that there were many people in Wexford town who had health problems, and there were men who had nothing to do,” says Paddy Caulfield. “There were plenty of women’s groups, but as far as men were concerned there was very little.”

Paddy is secretary of Wexford Working Men’s shed, which has a strong focus on health. “The fact that the shed was funded to look after men’s mental health problems is what would make us different. We would concentrate a lot on that,” says Paddy.

Wexford Working Men’s Shed has been able to create a social environment, which is helping to banish the loneliness that men in the area were accustomed to, by hosting events such as breakfast mornings.

“We hold breakfast mornings and up to 50 men come along to the event. They were able to get their blood pressure checked as well,” says Paddy.

The social benefits of the organisation have been an extremely attractive feature of the shed. The shedders are able to enjoy the company of others while availing of activities such as wood turning, and at the same time contributing to their local society.

“We would be involved in the community in a very big way. We have done a good bit of work for people that we know who need things done and we did work for Tidy Towns,” says Paddy.

Located on the ground floor of the Old Gaol, the Wexford Working Men’s Shed is open every Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 12pm to 5:30pm, and new members are always welcome.

“We are on Facebook, and we gave out leaflets last year in the surgeries and in unemployment organisations,” says Paddy.

For more information on Wexford Working Men’s Shed, contact Paddy on 086 365 5101.